71 75 PB
71 75 PB
71 75 PB
The
greats'
one.
THEWURLITZER
ELECTRONICPIANO.The
one electronic piano
chosen by so many
all-time greats.
The overwhelming
choice of talented
musicians like Richard
Carpenter, A&M record-
ing artist Pete Jolly, Pete
Fountain's pianist
Godfrey Hirsch,Mel
Torme, Duke Ellington,
Ario Guthrie, David
Clayton-Thomas, Marian
McPartland, Paul Revere
and the Raiders.
What makes the
Wurlitzer Electronic Piano
the greats' one? The
unusual effects that
come from built-in
vibrato and volume
control. Portability And,
most important, that
dependable Wurlitzer
sound.
It's something you can
share with these all-time
greats. Simply visit your
Wurlitzer dealer and ask
for the greats' one.
WURLilzER
leads the way
AUG U ST , 1973
cover- photo .. .
The Organ Grinder Restaurant (near completion) was a
highlight of the 1973 ATOS National Convention in Port-
Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society land, Oregon. The Convention story unfolds beginning on
page 23. (Restaurant photo by Bill Lamb - Monkey photo
Volume 15, No. 4 • August, 1973 by Stu Green.)
ATOS National Membership is $10.00 per
calendar year, which includes a subscription
to THEATRE ORGAN , the official pub-
lication
Society,
of the American Theatre Organ
Single copies $1.25. Make check or
in thii iiiue .••
money order payable to ATOS, and mail
to P.O. Box 1314, Salinas, California 93901.
FEATURES
Editorial Address 4 RAID! ........................................... Elmer Fubb
THEATRE ORGAN
P.O. Box 1314, 10 A Hollywood "Discovery" ........................... Lyle W. Nash
Salinas, California 93901
12 The Life and Times of Milton Charles (Conclusion) •....... Lloyd E. Klos
Advertising Address
ATOS Advertising 15 Good News from Louisiana ........................ Dolton McAlpin
2231 North Burling Street
Chicago , Illinois 60614 23 Blueprint for Fun (Convention Story) ..................... The Staff
National Headquarters 39 Board of Directors Annual Meeting ............•.......... The Staff
ATOS
P.O. Box 1002 41 Hall of Fame
Middleburg, Virginia 22117
42 Registration and Relativity ............................. John Muri
Phone (7 03 ) 554 -8321
Past Presidents
Richard Simonton Feb. 1955 - Oct. 1958 Serving as President of the American Theatre
Judd Walton Oct, 1958 - July 1961
Tiny James July 1961 - July 1964
Organ Society for the past year has been a most
Carl Norvell July 1964 - July 1966 rewarding experience, and my thanks are ex-
Richard Schrum July 1966 - July 1968
Al Mason July 1968 - July 1970 tended to all who have worked with me to
Stillman Rice July 1970-July 1972 make the year a success.
Honorary Members Our membership has increased to an all-time
1959-Jesse Crawford 1967-Erwin A. Young,Jr. high of 4620, and approximately 3200 of this
1960- Farny Wurlitzer 1968-R ichard C. Simonton total are organized into 40 active chapters.
1961-Mel Doner 1969-Judd Walton
1962-Leonard MacClain 1970-Bill Lamb
Good material for THEATRE ORGAN has
1963- Eddie Dunstedter 1971- Georgeand Vi Thompson been received in sufficient quantity to enable us
1964-Reginald Foort 1972-Stu Green to enlarge the publication for the entire year
1965- Dan Barton 1973-AI and Betty Mason
1966-W. "Tiny" James
and there are additional improvements under
consideration for the year ahead. You will
EDITORIAL STAFF notice also that our publication has been
Editor - George Thompson
Associate Editors - Ray Brubacher further improved through the addition of sev-
Lloyd E. Klos
Peg Nielsen eral important advertisers.
Editor - Emeritus - W. "Stu" Green The activation of a separate membership office in Salinas has expedited the
Photographer - Bill Lamb
Publisher - Al Mason issuance of membership cards and has kept membership records up-to-date to
Editorial Assistant - Don Lockwood
Advertising Manager - Len Clarke within a few days of receipt of information.
Circulation Manager - Vi Thompson I am honored that the membership has asked me to serve in this office for
THEATRE ORGAN (title registered U.S. another year. It is with full knowledge of the work involved that I accept with the
Patent Office) is published bi -monthly by determination that every effort will be expended to work for an even greater
the American Theatre Organ Society, Inc.,
a non-profit organization, Erwin A. Young,
ATOS. You have provided me with an excellent team of officers and directors with
Jr. , President. All rights reserved. Entire whom to work. My greatest desire is that our far-reaching lines of communication
contents copyrighted 1973 by ATOS, Inc., within the society can grow stronger and that I can realize more of the fun of
Office of publication is P.O. Box 2329.
Livonia, Michigan 48150. belonging through knowing more of you personally in the next year.
POSTMASTER: Second Class postage paid
at Livonia, Michigan, IF UNDELI VE RAB LE,
send form 3579 to ATOS Circulation De-
partment, Box 1314, Salinas, California
93901,
THEATRE ORGAN
Tiny. Laurel glared at him but was
glad the organ wouldn't be missed.
Tiny laughed, "I didn't mean that,
just wanted to get your reaction. I
never heard this organ. No one has for
ten years. It's been silent that long."
I noted a two manual Conn on the
altar, the obvious replacement.
The instrument was supposed to be
a late Smith, built by Hope-Jones'
associate Fred Smith who worked out
of Oakland during the '30s. But later
investigation indicated that the only
genuine Smith parts were the console
relays and switch stack. Therefore, it's
doubtful that Fred Smith assembled or
installed it.
As Tiny left, Linda beamed, "Gee,
he's kinda famous. Did a hitch as prez
of ATOS. Heard he plays, too." Back
to the organ.
The swell shutters are genuine "gee
dad" Wurlitzer, the type used on a
style 185. The chimes are early style
"M" North Tonawanda. The huge
chest proved to be a Roosevelt, vintage
circa 1900 and well-built. The switch
stacks were also Wurlitzer. Pipe work
is similarly varied.
The Open Diapason is Morton. The
String, a Gamba, is Roosevelt. There
are two unmarked open Flutes, one a
Celeste, one Harmonic, and the Vox
Humana is actually a small scale Vox
Mystica from a Fotoplayer built in
nearby Berkeley. It is set up as a
church organ, with fewer and lighter
voices on the upper manual (Swell)
and the Open Diapason on the lower
Great. There is unification in the
Harmonic Flute, but most other stops
appear only at 8' and some at 4'.
There are two synthetics, an "Oboe"
and a "Clarinet." The only pedal 16' is
the Bourdon. With so little unification
the stopkeys occupy only about one
third of the horseshoe stoprail.
"What a mish-mash," I mumbled,
half aloud.
"But it's going into the home of a
guy who knows how to transform a
mish~mash into a silk purse," said a
voice behind me, literally booting me
out of my reverie.
Slowly I turned, and my heart did a
flip-flop; it was none other than
Dewey Cagle, who would have had the
rank of no less than Field Marshall,
had the Northerners decided in favor
of combat.
"I'll bet this in strum en t goes in to
the Haggart home as a fully loaded
theatre organ," declared Dewey to the
assembled throng. They had all ceased
THEATRE ORGAN
work to size up Dewey because he's Lee, who after an encounter with
kinda famous in both the pipe and ticker trouble , could only stand by,
plug-in fields, having been a co-found- waving a confederate Dag and cheering
er of the Pacific Council for Organ the parts haulers from the sidelines.
Clubs and a wheel in ATOS affairs "A guy sure knows who his friends
since the year one. are when it comes to organ moving"
Dewey Cagle didn't fathom how reprised Lee. "See, you didn't need
right he was. Little did he know that the brass knuckles after all, Stu."
at that very moment, back in Granada "Oh, but J did" said the owl-faced
Hills, Lee Haggart was standing on his one, coming slightly alive. "I had to
front curbstone with a newly recon- hock them in Oakland to buy Dewey a
ditioned Morton unification relay, drink of Burpsi-Booma."
ready to clap it onto the incoming More on the Haggart project as it
instrument - even before it had been develops. □
fully disassembled 400 miles up the
Pacific coast. And he had dusted off
that Morton set of Tibias which had
been neatly stacked beneath his bed
for no one knows how many years.
"Aren't any of you northerners
sore because we're latching onto this
mess of pipes?" asked Bruce Haggart.
"Nope," answered Dewey. "I've
known about this odd assortment of
parts for years. Besides, there are more
pipe organs for sale in the Bay Area
than there are buyers. So load her up
and haul her away."
At that point we all glowered at
Stu, who had predicted a pitched
battle.
"Did you bring your brass knuck-
les, Stu?" asked Dewey, turning to
leave. Stu grunted and pointed to his
old army bag. "Where's the bar?" he
muttered dully. Lee Haggart (left) points out to a willing but
clumsy helper that a pipe's lip shouldn't be
"Load her up?" screetched Laurel.
used as a handle.
"Load her on what? We need a truck!"
So we drew straws and Dan Murphy Laurel gets the feel of the console, now
placed where it will operate in the Haggart
lost. He departed in search of "drive it
home.
yourself' transportation. Danny re-
Bruce Haggart (center) and Dick Beaver turned in a few minutes with a huge
wheel the blower into Lee's carport - which wheezing bucket of bolts leased from
is already full of organ parts.
the Rentabucket Hauling Co. and
The Roosevelt chest is dollied toward the
Emergency Hospital. The neatly stack-
Haggart driveway. ed organ parts were soon swallowed up
by the van. Meanwhile, Stu Green had
disappeared with Dewey Cagle . Dewey
brought him back hours later, after
Danny and wife Linda had taken off
with the truck for the southward
journey. The crew poured Stu into the
Schroder auto. They expected to pass
the truck pronto but they couldn't
know Danny had disconnected the
speed limiter and the Ren ta bucket was
barreling southward at a goodly rate of
speed. We never overtook them until
we passed the pit stop; nearly 300
miles to the south Dan and Linda had
stopped for a snack.
Next day most of the crew reas-
sembled to unload the truck at the
Haggart home and pipe shop.
THEATRE ORGAN
e WorldAt Your
Vienna.
Project the soaring string sound
associated with great music
here by using the new individually
tunable tone generators . Venice.
The gondoliers ' mandolins
are at your fingertips,
with a Repeat feature that has continuously
Rio de Janeiro. variable speed control.
Hot and cold South American bossanova
is one of fourteen Auto Rhythms,
which can combine for exotic Budapest.
rhythmic effects. Hungarian violins cry and
sing with expressive vibrato sound .
So can you, with
the E-5's Touch Vibrato .
Munich.
The resonance and clarity
of world famous grand halls can be
emulated with the E-5's
continuous Reverb control. Nairobi.
Savage percussion fresh
from the jungle, along with less savage
(and even delicate)
percussion sounds - all built-in .
New Orleans.
The E-5's Wah Wah brings Basin Street flavor
to organ jazz and Dixieland.
Hollywood.
Avant-garde California electronic
music influenced the new Yamaha Portamento ,
Honolulu. with its synthesizer-like sounds in
Recapture moonlit tropical Waikiki five different timbres .
nights with the Glide control/
Hawaiian Guitar effect.
London.
Incredibly real English
Baroque harpsichord upper preset
tones are an E-5 exclusive
New York. (along with piano, guitar, banjo ,
The massive, quick change characteristics vibraphone and chimes).
of giant theatre organs
are an integral part of the E-5.
Its drawer-type preset board
gives you split-second big sound shifts. Paris.
The Yamaha Upper Flute Split
separates flute sound
from other sound and directs it through
a rotary speaker,
for brilliant cathedral-like acoustics.
AUGUST, 1973
world have used the facilities for re-
cording, researching, enjoying films
and music.
Jesse Crawford used the Simonton
Grande Organ for recording all his
final albums.
The great and near -great of ATOS
have visited the theatre and played the
organ.
Today Gaylord Carter enjoys play-
ing for films as much as he ever did -
perhaps more . "Today's audiences,"
he said recently, "are starved for live
music. TV is great but the in-person
relationship and the now feeling is
total magic. Silent film music added the
extra dimension to the enjoyment of
pictures. Accomplished organists kept
your ear busy but never intruded on
the action. A throbbing Tibia or crying
Vox Humana in a darkened theatre
with Janet Gaynor and Charlie Farrell
pledging eternal love was an art blend
you'll never get from bongo drums or
a jangling electric guitar."
Early this year sound film pro-
ducers learned of the theatre organ
magic. Producers of the MGM feature,
Wicked, Wicked, used the Simonton
Grande Organ for special mood music
for some of the terrifying scenes of the
mystery film.
Ladd Thomas, chairman of the
Organ department of the University of
Southern California School of Music,
was the organist. The film producers
obtained the 1925 Phantom of the
Opera score and had Thomas review it
for use with the Duo-Vision picture.
Organist Thomas (he is only 37)
explained the new experience this
way:
"It was an exciting and hectic
experience for me ... creating mood
music for films ... it was my first ...
I used several of the Phantom themes
and also improvised on them ... I
would assume that playing for silent
films (without dialogue) you would be
the sum and total musical punctuation
of the drama . .. You simply brought
out the action in the old silent films
.. . Today you have many sound ef- Technicians at work .
fects of which music is but one. You
approach it differently. Yes, I would Acres estate. (See: THEATRE era. With the theatre organ and old
say the theatre pipe organ as we know ORGAN , June , 1973, Page 4). films we have a matchl ess time
it and for what it was created to do How does Simonton feel about all machine at our disposal.
and accomplish .. . there was never this? "We can review fashions in
anything of its equal ever made." "Nostalgia, or living in the past , is women ' s wear , the car s we admir ed,
The renaissance of the theatre popular because something in our pres- the language we used , our mortality
organ continues. ent lives does not totally satisfy us. outlook and our sense of humor.
Now the Harold Lloyd Foundation We have a void. Maybe we lack daring "Have you ever noticed the titles
trustees have made plans for a motion to try the new - when we know how on an old silent film recently? Some of
picture theatre on the fabulous Green beautiful things were in the by-gone them are dandies ." □
- Conclusion -
The handsome Milton Charles at the CBS microphone in Chicago, around 1940. His big -time "In Chicago, the week's show
radio work started in the Windy City in 1936, and he did such network shows as "Ma Perkins"
and "Vic & Sade." - (WBBM -TV Photo)
would end on Sunday night. By the
next day, you'd have to be ready with
a new presentation. You had to change
your combinations. You had to re-
hearse after 12:30 when the house was
empty. You had to learn what you
were doing. You had to memorize
because you didn't use music. Many
times, I didn't leave the theatre until 5
a.m.I'd be back by noon. But, this was
a part of my life."
At this point, Mary Bowles asked
Mr. Charles about the wonderful skits.
"I heard one which involved a cow-
boy, a car and a crescendo pedal. What
about that one?"
"As a matter of fact, Mary, until
you mentioned it, I had completely
forgotten it. We did a lot of things -
you mentioned earlier the one about
Vallee. That was rather good. I was
down at Cape May , (N.J.) and I went
over to Atlantic City. That was when
Rudy was on his honeymoon, if you
can believe this as a place to go. He
was there on the beach in a roped-off
area. I was swimming, and he hollered ,
'Come here! I want you to meet my
wife.' I went up there and was so
embarrassed by all these people
gawking at us, that I said, 'I'll see you
later', and left. But, that's Rudy.
"It was a funny thing I dreamed up
from that experience. There was a
short film made of (me) leaving in
my car, and going into the alley by the
theatre , through the stage door, and
walking right through the scrim, wear-
ing a white suit. We dreamed up things
like that."
"And" , said Mary, "you played
"Million Dollar Baby In a Five & Ten
Cent Store" because I was there."
"We had a lot of fun," Charles went
Part I appeared in the June 1973
issue of THEATRE ORGAN.
AUGUST, 1973
on. "I remember in Chicago, I had a know, Mr. Bernstein, this is one of the Louis , playing great organs. And when
dear friend, Milton Weil, who had best friends I have. Great man. Walter Preston wanted me for the
done quite well as a publisher, and had Knows just what to do when you're in program, I asked what type organ he
been a representative for Irving Berlin trouble . You can always count on had. 'Oh, a great big Wurlitzer, brand
in the earlier days. He also had a thing him.' new .' When I got there , I looked
about horses. He bought one and I "One event occured before that. I through the peep hole into the studio ,
heard he was in bad trouble. I went was supposed to go to the Capitol and I saw an organ console I had
down to the office to see what had Theatre in New York. Louis K. Sidney designed for the Gunn School of
had in manuscripts. He had a number was a big name , and he called me from Music. It had one of everything on a
called "I'm Looking at the World New York. My con tract was up in small scale . So that was the one on
Through Rose-Colored Glasses." I Chicago at that time. Sidney offered which I had to compete with the other
promised I'd put it on in three weeks me the Capitol Theatre at quite a bit two and it wasn ' t easy. They had it
at the Tivoli. of money. So, I accepted it, because I installed wrong. Instead of installing it
"So I introduced it , and had a thought it was an advancement. This where you had sweep of the long
young tenor, who was pretty good , was verbal, over the phone , and the dimension of the studio , they had put
but people didn't know him. I worked engagement was for a year. I sub- it where the sound hit a wall.
out a routine in which I told the leased my apartment and moved my "It was an experience , and when
audience that 'I have a friend who goes family to New York. But, all the time the Hammonds came in around 1935 ,
to the University of Chicago. He has a I was in New York , I merely went we' d alternate between the Wurlitzer
song which he's written, and if given a down and collected my check. and the Hammond. My concert work
little encouragement, he'd come and "But, they had a working agree- and sustaining shows were done on the
sing for us.' He did very well, and by ment. Paramount had asked Loew's Wurlitzer. In those days , we had to
the time I got downtown, the thing for Dave Rubinoff, the violinist, and sustain ten seconds after system , and I
was a sellout. Milton Weil was in Loew's turned them down. And right had to do two shows in a row in two
business again . Sheet music was a big on top of it, they took me away. Sam studios. I did Ma Perkins in one studio ,
thing. This was a big exposure. We Katz said, 'You can't have him.' It was sustain ten seconds , and did Vic &
didn't have the other media. We had over Louis Sidney's head which meant Sade across the hall. I don 't think I'd
radio - Amos 'n' Andy etc. By the Louis B. Mayer. That's how big this want to do that today. But , it was fun
time I was through at the Uptown, was. It wasn't that I was important, it then.
business was booming for Weil. was the idea of the thing. Sidney told "Pearl Harbor came , and even-
"I was in Philadelphia from 1930 to me to collect my salary for a year, but tually, I came out here to LosAngeles
1934. The contract I had was called a you know I wouldn't do that! I was to CBS, and they had a pretty nice
'play-or-pay' contract. They had to advised to go back and talk to Katz. Wurlitzer down there. That is where
pay me regardless of strikes, theatre He hemmed and hawed until my wife Ivan Ditmars played. When he left for
closings etc, as long as I was there and said, ' Do you want Milton, or don't the service , he had quite a few shows .
available. Once, I went to Europe, you?' He called me and said, 'You're the only
rather than just sit around. I told them "To punish me , they put me into
they wouldn't have to pay me during the Oriental Theatre in Chicago which Milton Charles autographed this picture for
that time. While overseas, I played at I loathed. I was there for a six weeks his friend, fellow organist Joe Brite. Photo
as my 'sentence'. That was before of this handsome musician was taken in
the Granada Tooting Theatre in Chicago. - (J. Brite coll.)
London. They had an organist there 1929. So, those were the little things
who had played in Buffalo, N.Y. they could do. Man , you learn!
named Harold Ramsay , and the in- "Getting back to the New York
stall a ti on was a good Wurlitzer. It was experience, I was up at Steinway Hall
under the stage and the sound came with Morton Downey. He was doing a
right out at you. I played there until broadcast and Walter Preston from
about 4 a.m. for several people, in- CBS in Chicago came to town. We had
cluding the big theatre man, Bernstein. known each other from my Chicago
"I returned to the states and when days, and when he asked if I'd like to
the Mastbaum closed again, I gave go with him to Chicago and join CBS,
them an out as I had a wire from the I said, 'Sure'.
Chicago Theatre. They still wanted me "That's how I got into radio in
to stay. I did until the following April 1936 in a big way . I had done some in
when I went to New York and was a small way previously. We played
told to see Boris Morros at the Para- many of the soap operas, doing five or
mount Theatre. You see what's going six a day, plus sustaining shows."
to happen? (Editors Note: "Sustaining shows."
"I cooled my heels in his outer were studio or network presentations
office ... nothing for about an hour. - with no commercial sponsorship.)
That was his little way. I saw him Mary Bowles then brought up the
years later out here at the Brown three-in-one program with Ann Leaf
Derby Restaurant with Mr. Bernstein and Eddie Dunstedter. "Yes , that was
from London. I couldn't resist my called Three Consoles, Ann Leaf from
impulse, walked over and said, 'You New York and Dunstedter from St.
AUGUST, 1973
to pay attention. They were giving me soon be installed , and structural alter-
odd s of two weeks downtown. An old ations have been made to the building
friend I hadn't seen in 20 years , one I to allow the installation of several new
had hired to play piano in the mezza- ranks: Clarinet , Concert Flute , Orches-
nine of the Chicago Theatre, gave me tral Oboe , String Bass, and a 16' wood
some good advice: 'Don't take any- Ophecleide.
one 's problems to heart. If you do , Meanwhile , on famed Canal Street
you'll have as many problems as the in New Orleans , interesting things are
bartender and you won ' t make it.' happening at the 3800 seat Saenger
That was good advice. I have been Theatre. The Saenger management has
there 17 years." employed Don May of Baton Rouge to
Mary then recalled that on the completely rebuild the theatre ' s 4/ 26
previous night she had watched her Morton. The Saenger organ was con-
favorite organist play at the restaurant sidered by Morton executives to be the
from 9:30 until 1 :30 without a break , finest-sounding installation they ever
and that he was as fresh when he Tom Comeaux at the 4 / 26 Robert Morton ,
Saenger Theatre, New Orleans.
made. At the time of this writing May
finished as when he began. has finished repairing the massive
"I don't recommend this - people water damage which the instrument
don 't understand how I do it. I don't suffered several years ago, and he
drink , and what do you do at a break? hopes that within six months he will
I talk a bit. But I have a theory that have banished the electrical and other
when I'm busy , I feel better. If you
don't do anything , you ' re just ex-
hausted. I don ' t like to play until my
GOODNEWS problems which typically plague a
long-silent organ. The Saenger manage-
ment is enthusiastically planning to
hands ache , but I have done this at
times. I'm a relaxed player which
helps. "
from use the organ once the restoration is
completed.
The popular organist at the Baton
In answer to a question of types of
music used for scoring pictures when
Milton Charles began theatre work , he
answered , "Improvisation entirely.
LOUISIANA Rouge Paramount is Tom Cornea ux. In
the four years that he has performed
at the Paramount he has earned a wide
reputation among Baton Rouge the-
The greatest improvisor , and most atre-goers. The Paramount audiences
by Dolton McAlpin
organists who heard him will agree , are almost exclusively college-age , and
n
was Oliver Wallace. Sid Grauman heard to satisfy their somewhat eclectic
some of us organists talking about t ' s been quite some time since tastes Comeaux styles his music in a
Wallace, so he brought him here from Louisiana theatre organ activ- light , up-beat mod style. In addition to
Seattle to play in the Rialto on Market ity has been chronicled in his duties as house organist Tom has
Street on a little two-manual Wur- these pages . And good things are hap- found time to become first runner-up
litzer. We all gathered one night to pening. in the Mr. Baton Rouge contest as well
hear him. It was a great experience , Many ATOS members from across as to serve as -a water-skiing instructor.
especially for me. the United States have visited the Comeaux has entertained ·many organ
"Wallace was a god to Jesse Craw- Paramount Theatre in Baton Rouge groups from areas surrounding Baton
ford , and I could see why. We became and have been favorably impressed Rouge. His Sunday morning . Para-
great friends later on, as he went to with the 2/6 Robert Morton there. mount concerts have become a hit
work for Disney , and wrote many This organ gained wide notoriety with organ buffs iri the ·south Lou-
beautiful things for him . We'd often several years ago through two discs isiana area. Recently Tom performed
have lunch at the studio . At night, released by Concert Recording. Now, for 500 members of the New Orleans
he'd come over to the King's Arms and after 52 years of continuous oper- Hammond Organ Club who travelled
listen to me. Such a great man! The ation, the Paramount has received its to Baton Rouge especially to hear him
music he wrote for Disney was an first full-scale facelift, a stem to stern and the Paramount Morton. Tom is
out-growth of his work as an organist. refurbishing of the venerable old currently preparing to assume console
"But , as I said, I improvised , play- vaudeville house . The theatre was duties at the Saenger when the re-
ing not violently to take the play from recently closed for the installation of storation there is completed, and there
the picture. For a big picture like Birth new carpets , screen , curtain and rock- is a record in the works on this
of a Nation, however , I used the score ing chair seats. Fortunately the Morton.
provided . That was obligatory." management of the Paramount has not Although there are only two the-
We have come to the end of the succumbed to the economic ex- atre organs now playing in Louisiana ,
story of Milton Charles, master organ - pediency of draping the theatre , pre - Tom Comeaux and his associates are
ist , as told by the man personally. The ferring instead to retain the unique spreading their infectious enthusiasm
American Theatre Organ Society is flavor of the original decor. Tom for theatre organs, winning new con -
grateful to Mr. Charles for granting the Mitchell , manager of the Paramount verts and spreading the gospel accord-
original interview and THEATRE for 23 years, has been most co- ing to Morton. Chalk up one more
ORGAN thanks him for the use of the operative in financing major additions victory for the renewed interest in
taped interview for this feature. D to the organ . A console elevator will theatre organs. D
~
While we're on the subject of Our travelling correspondent, Doc
Our VOX POPPER travels far and movies, horror film addicts will note Bebko , assures us that things organ-
wide to find choice tidbits for this happily that the Phantom of the Opera wise are moving steadily in the upper
column. In our never-ending search for genre is revived in Wicked, Wicked as middle west. Visiting daughter Barbara
variety we got to wondering how the cadaver-faced Maryesther Denver and her husband David recently the
organ might fare in the distant future, "plays" a bit of the original Phantom family visited Milwaukee's Schnitzel-
perhaps after man has been eclipsed by score while the All-American boy haus Restaurant on two occasions.
other creatures. What better place to monster is shown stalking the girl One was for Sunday brunch, and the
explore for the organ's future than through the lost rooms and hidden group heard No. 2 organist, Gary
"The Planet of the Apes?!" Visiting passageways of an ancient grand hotel. Sette. During dinner, chief organist
the Hollywood set where the final ape Organist Billy Nalle, slowly recovering Don Lorusso did the honors.
Don, who studied with the late
Quentin MacLean, "played things any
fine English organist plays - classics,
pops, sing-alongs and novelties in typ-
ical British style and most enjoyable."
There was an organ group present
from Kenosha and the night before a
big delegation from Chicago.
Owner Gene Tenges remarked that
he is set to host a session of the next
Chicago-based ATOS national con-
vention. He feels that the 3/28 Kim-
ball in Milwaukee's Centre Theatre can
be readied, as well as the Wurlitzers in
the Avalon and Riverside Theatres.
~
Home Organ Festival Chairman
Tiny James tells us that reservations
are piling up for the event, which is
held annually at Pacific Grove Con-
VOX POPPER Stu (center) looks into the future. - (Apefoto) ference Grounds (near Monterey ,
An ATOS member for some time, is Add the 3/22 Barton in the State Dan Bellomy. A sad closing but with en -
J. Earle Clarke of Aldan, Penna., once Theatre in Kalamazoo, Michigan to the couraging overtones. - (Stufoto)
CQNCEltT
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Attendance at the nine RTOS con-
certs during the season totaled 11,365,
and the group hopes to top that figure
next season as Program Chairman-
President Gary Haines promises "top-
flight artists". Family membership
CORONADO totals 910.
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Portland's Convention Program. - ~-i=:-OJ.:..D~v~Y:- .E:.LcYf.-..TION
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AUGUST, 1973
Rex Koury spiked his program with
brief announcements concerning the
music or the conditions under which
he had previously played it, and quick-
ly warmed up his audience with his
articulate and friendly approach. Rex
didn't know it at the time, but his
program had extended more than 20
minutes beyond the cut-off time of
the house rental (this wasn't discover-
ed until much later,) and still his
audience demanded more.
ARCHITECTS
OF THE CONVENTION
Chapter Chairman
Don and Arlene Ingram are to be con - Len Clarke (left), advertising manager for
Dennis Hedberg gratulated on the smooth manner in which THEATRE ORGAN, listens as Karl Cole
they handled a myriad of convention duties. voices approval of his ad in the magazine .
ChapterVice Chairmanand They are certainly a credit to the Oregon
ConventionChairman Chapter.
Bill Peterson
The full sound in the cavernous Paramount brinos back the memory of days gone by.
ChapterSecretary-Treasurer
ArleneIngram
Boardof Directors
BobBurke Jerry Duffy
Dr. Potter JonasNordwall
TransportationCommittee
Jim Applegate FrankArnold
RonJohnson LesLehne
ClaudeNeuffer Ralph Rice
BobRothschild DeWittWilliamson
PorterEberle
OrganCrews
VOLLUM'S STUDIO
Dick Raupach Ed Maas
Jim Applegate Ron Johnson
BENSON HIGH SCHOOL
BobBurke Jerry Duffy
Mark Reed Jerry Gregorius
Mike De Sart
SCOTTISH RITE TEMPLE
WalterMeisen
ATOS RecordShop
Mr. Swanson
Registration
Table
ArleneIngram GordonPotter
Mrs.Swanson Mrs.Neuffer
( Registration
- 668)
AUGUST, 1973
Thursday, July 26
At nine the next morning it was
back to the buses for trips to the still
unfinished Organ Grinder Restaurant
and its now 3/34 Wurlitzer (built on
the ex-Portland Oriental Theatre ' s
3/ 14). This place , even in its unfinish-
ed state, must be seen to be believed.
From the outside, it's a structure on
non-parallelogram wooden walls, with
a giant showcase front window which
displays the pipework and chests , in-
cluding a set of unmHered 32' Dia-
phones which morning-glory upward.
The inside is an interesting mish-mash
AUGUST, 1973
now winded. This type of restaurant
also seems to call for plenty of bright
brass and percussions which seem
about one foot from the eardrums.
Both artist and instrument were well
doused with applause .
Our next stop was the Scottish Rite
Temple , and the 3/ 13 mostly Wur-
litzer , piloted by able Andy Crow. It's
a mellow sounding instrument which
has grown over the years from a small
Wurlitzer to its present size. It has a
remarkably good ensemble sound con-
sidering the somewhat piecemeal man-
ner in which it grew (as opposed to the
factory-designed instrument). It has
some limitations; its action is a bit
slow and the organist can ' t hear his
music directly because the console is
" around the corner" from the swell
shutters.
It 's an interesting and novel instal-
lation. Both chambers speak from one Organ innovator, and one of the convention
emcees Dennis Hedberg explains the in - The rows upon r ows of lights on the c eiling
wall (with horizontal swell shutters) tricacies of his planned 34 ranks of pizza and pillars never seem to come to an end at
and the console is located at the edge organ while introducing Lyn Larsen. Dennis the Organ Grinder. Note - the pleasing
plans to commit matrimony with local gal effect of the angular cedar planking evident
of the balcony on the same side of the
Margaret Dickson in September. - (Photo especially in the balcony.
500 to 600 seat auditorium. The ac- credit : Stuofoto)
coustics are excellent. Using no PA
system , Andy announced his tunes
from the console , leaning over the
edge of the balcony rail.
A feature of the Crow magic is
many changes of registration within a
selection. The audience responded
warmly to Andy Crow and they let
him know it in the usual manner.
Back to the buses, the Sheraton and
the swimming pool where a great body
of talent was on display - right down
to the last freckle.
In the afternoon cameo recitals
were held featuring chapter repre-
sentatives at the Benson High School's
3/ 24 Kimball , within walking distance
of the hotel.
Chapters had been notified in ad-
vance of the event and ten sent repre-
sentatives . Gerry Gregorius of the
Oregon Chapter was in charge and
acted as emcee.
The order of appearance was deter-
mined by a drawing. Each person was
allocated 10 minutes and played with-
out previous experience at the Benson
installation. Jean Lautzenheiser drew
number one and led off the parade.
Mahon Tullis of Puget Sound was
somewhat familiar with the instrument
as he had played it 35 years ago .
The program included Warren
Lubich of Northern California , who is
well known in the San Francisco area ,
but had never appeared in a national
event until now.
AUGUST, 1973
Although ten chapter delegates
were presented to listeners, an elev-
enth cameo was Neil Jensen 17, of
Australia who had never played a pipe
organ and decided to "have a go at it."
He played so well he rated an encore.
AUGUST, 1973
Friday,July 27
On Friday morning, the buses left
once more for the Organ Grinder for a
program featuring Lyn Larsen ... Out
in front to greet us a genuine hand
organ was being cranked by Virgil and
Ramona Taylor with Pizza Pete, a six
year old monkey, performing on top
of the organ under an umbrella.
Lyn, on leave from the Phoenix
"Organ Stop Pizzeria", must have felt
at home in this radical new conception
of a pasta parlor. After an intro-
duction by Dennis Hedberg, Lyn Judd Walton (dark trousers, left) enjoys the
sprung up to the platform and the sound of a hand-cranked hurdy-gurdy, com- ... Roslyn and Warren Robbins, with chil-
plete with monkey, during the second ex- dren ( R to L) David, Nicky and Andy
music started. It was soon evident that cursion to the Organ Grinder. - (Photo poolside at the Sheraton. (The boys did the
the task of playing the request of pizza credit: Stuofoto) Australian Crawl, of course.)
chompers has not dulled Lyn's delight-
No doubt about the make of this organ, with pipework nestled close to the rink ceiling. The
ful theatre organ stylings one iota. We console is encased in a glass block room of its own on the far side of the rink.
noted Shirley Hannum, a young pro in
her own right, sitting cross-legged on
the thick carpeting, her eyes attentive,
ears soaking up every note. Yes, Lyn is
something of a spell weaver.
PORTLAND TO PORTLAND
Saturday night Lee Erwin closed the
convention with his concert at Ben-
son High School in Portland, Oregon.
The following Saturday night he
played for a concert in Portland,
Maine.
AUGUST, 1973
motives sitting in the park close to the
rink. Indeed there was something for
everyone.
A new dimension was added to our
"Blueprint For Fun" Friday evening
by Carol Jones who represented the
distaff side. The setting sun streaming
through the windows at Benson High
School created unexpected and ever-
changing lighting effects. Both the
Kimball and the audience responded
affirmatively to Carol.
This instrument is not the easiest to
perform at since the organist cannot
hear the organ as the audience does.
The percussions are apparently placed
deep in the chambers and are not
easily heard by the organist. Carol
ONE MORE TIME . .. President Erwin Lloyd Klos, chairman of the Organists Hall handled this difficulty by selecting
Young accepts the wand of office (a Tibia of Fame nominating committee, announces
pipe) from Master of Ceremonies Judd this year's entrants. soft background stops for her rhyth-
Walton. "Cap" received a standing ovation mic numbers, which proved her profes-
in recognition of a job well done during his
first year in office.
sionalism. Perhaps this expertise was
considered when Conn Organ Com-
pany put her on their artists' staff,
although her looks alone should be
sufficient reason.
Most numbers played were in the
contemporary vein and her taste in
registrations always seemed right ,
which made for pleasurable listening.
Following Carol's concert, the
society's legal obligations were met
with the convening of the annual
membership business meeting, in ef-
fect a resume of the Board of Direc-
tor's meeting.
Saturday, July 28
Bus tours to the fabulous Howard
Vollum studio, located on a wooded
hilltop overlooking the city, was a
major event of the day. Beginning at 9
a.m. and continuing at hour-and-a-half
intervals until three in the afternoon
shuttle buses relayed conventioneers
from the hotel to the foot of the steep
drive up to the Vollum residence.
Through the thoughtfulness of the
Oregon Chapter, cars were waiting to
drive those unable to enjoy the walk
up the hill to the organ studio.
The artist was Tom Hazleton who
AUGUST, 1973
played a recital patterned to show off
the many components of the 4/49
Wurlitzer. It was at this instrument
(when it was the 4/32 Wurlitzer in the
San Francisco Paramount) that Tom
Hazleton began his study of theatre
organ. It seemed fitting that he was
playing the instrument he knows so
well.
AUGUST, 1973
Ably emceed by Judd Walton, the
necessary announcements were given
with dispatch, spiced with subtle
humor.
President Erwin Young called the
role of chapters which revealed that 35
chapters out of 40 were represented. It
also showed the meeting registration
to be 668 , which President Young
commented was more than the total
ATOS membership in 1958 . Our 1973
membership at the present time is
4 ,625 .
Following the announcement of
this year's addition to the ATOS Hall
of Fame , the Honorary Member
Award for this year was presented to
the ATOS publishing team of Al and
Betty Mason.
The outstanding table decorations
depicting Oregon industries and geo-
graphical features were a particular
credit to the ladies of the Oregon
Chapter.
After a steak dinner , announce-
ments and awards, the assemblage was
treated to a band which played a
program ranging from much of the
"Big-Band" era to contemporary . It
seemed to some that being loud was
the forte of the musical aggregation.
For humor they had a slapstick piano
player who did pratfalls off the
bench.
Following the musical presentation,
concertgoers walked from the hotel to
the Benson High School to hear Lee
Erwin's presentation of Rudolph
Valentino's classic silent picture The
Eagle.
Lee's program was a well executed
original score written by him espec-
ially for The Eagle.
Lee Erwin is an experienced silent
picture accompanist and his ability at
this difficult type of music was re-
Dan Engelhard, from Honolulu finds time to chat with Ashley Miller while waiting for an affirmed throughout the evening.
elevator at the Sheraton.
CATOE members (L to R) Charlotte Reiger, Doug Christianson, Rod Elliott and Bill Reiger visit Overheardin conversationat Port-
in the Sheraton lobby. Unfortunately , the Reiger's daughter (back to camera) had to spend a land: San FranciscoorganistWarren
few days in the hospital with pneumonia.
Lubich, while playing "I've Got A
FeelingI'm Falling",felt the console
drop about three inches. By the time
it righted itself the organist had
become so convulsedwith laughter
that he had difficultycontinuing his
program.
AUGUST, 1973
mood the director desired to convey
to the viewer. The musician therefore
must first determine what the director
intended to say, how he wished the
audience to react and the to accurately
time this in to the image on the screen.
It is also necessary that he present the
music in a subdued, unobtrusive man-
ner. In other words, "The Picture's the
thing", and if the organist plays the
film correctly his audience "Lives" the
movie virtually unaware of the back-
ground music which motivates that
feeling.
Using his own score, Lee turned a
1926 vintage silent film into fine
contemporary entertainment. □
or ...
AUGUST, 1973
REUNITED ONCE
cert and received accolades for
Hazleton performed five identical
blend of today and yesterday.
programs at the Howard Vollum Wur -
litzer, the instrument on which he
cut his baby teeth. "A tremendous
instrument," Tom said . . . musically.
Carol Jones, on
leave from Conn,
coaxed some lovely
sounds from the
Benson High
School's 24 ranks of
Kimball.
JEAN LAUTZENHEISER GERRY GREGORIUS BOB ARNDT WARREN LUBICH REYNOLDS GALBRAITH
Potomac Valley Oregon Land O'Lakes Northern California West Penn.
LOREN
•
WHITNEY
Los Angeles
JOHN
•
POLLOCK
Central Indiana
• •
3/24 Kimball, Benson High School. 4/18 Wurlitzer, Oaks Park Skating Rink. 3 / 13 Wurlitzer, Scottish Rite Temple.
• • •
The Annual Meeting of the Board transfer of remaining funds from the in 1976 and Chicago in 1977. A com-
of Directors of ATOS was convened at Ben Hall Memorial Fund to the New mittee will be formed to investigate
the Sheraton Motor Inn, Portland, York project. the possibility of holding a Regional
Oregon on Wednesday,July 25, 1973 New By-Laws were adopted which Convention in London, England in
at 12: 20 P.M. bring ATOS in line with the latest 1976.
Reports from the membership, pub- corporate laws of the State of Cali-
lication and advertising officers report- fornia, and provide a more complete Officers for the year 1973-1974
ed a healthy growth for ATOS during guide for the operation of our society. include Erwin A. Young, Jr., President
the year. New chapters approved include (re-elected), Duane E. Searle, Vice
Dr. C.A.J. Parmentier was selected Alabama, Garden State (New Jersey) President (re-elected) and Jean Laut-
as the 1973 active entrant for the and Land of Lincoln (Illinois). zenheiser, Secretary-Treasurer.
ATOS Hall of Fame. Approval was also granted for the Directors taking office for a two-
A report on the Harold Lloyd addition of the State of West Virginia year term are Jean Lautzenheiser,
Foundation indicated progress on the to the territory of the West Penn Richard C. Simonton, Judd Walton
plans for the Ben Hall Memorial The- Chapter. and W. "Tiny" James. Remaining on
atre at the Lloyd Estate, while plans Future convention plans for Detroit the board for one additional year are
were also revealed for a similar Ben in 1974, and San Francisco in 1975 Mary A. Bowles, Allen R. Miller,
Hall memorial in Town Hall, New were reviewed, while approval was Richard H. Schrum, and Albert T.
York City. The board authorized the given for conventions in Philadelphia Mason. □
The Board of Directors, the magazine staff, chapter chairmen ( or representatives) and guests at
the conclusion of the annual board meeting. Business concluded, now it's time for fun!
f
Hallof FameProcedure
There has been confusion and sev-
eral inquiries concerning the method
of determining entrants for the The-
atre Organists Hall of Fame. In the
following, it is hoped to inform THE-
ATRE ORGAN readers and eliminate
uncertainty.
Early each year, Lloyd Klos, Hall of
Fame Committee chairman, compiles
two lists of organists. One contains the
names of 60 to 70 prominent names
who are deceased or inactive. These
names are culled from a master card
file of over 900 organists.
The second list contains the names
of 40 or more organists who are still
active.
These lists are duplicated and a
Honorary members for 1973, Al and Betty Mason with 1972 Honorary member Stu Green. copy is sent to each member of the
selection committee which this year
included Dr. Edward J. Bebko , H.
~ ...
Clealan Blakely , Mary Bowles , John
Muri, Rosa Rio , George Thompson
and Robert S. Wilson. The committee
members are given about three months
The ATOS National Board of Direc- ing records for the Society. to carefully consider the calibre of the
tors, by unanimous vote, selected as organists and make their selections
In 1969 the Mason's undertook the
this years Honorary Member Award which are entered on a ballot which
additional burden of publishing THE- accompanies the lists. A point system
recipients, Al and Betty Mason. ATRE ORGAN magazine and are in
The Mason's involvement with is used to obviate tie votes as much as
large part responsible for its continued
ATOS began in 1964 when the Motor possible. Should a tie result, Lloyd
improvement over the past four years.
City Chapter was formed in their breaks it.
In addition to this impressive list of It must be emphasized that Lloyd
home - Al was elected the chapter's
credits, Al is currently serving in his does not exercise any influence on the
first chairman, and also served as
chairman of the 1967 national con- second year as a member of the committee to name any candidate. He
National Board of Directors. merely acts as coordinator and tab-
vention held in Detroit.
In 1968 Al was elected to the Their dedication to the theatre ulator.
ATOS presidency, and it was during organ, ATOS, THEATRE ORGAN The committee members' final
that two year service that Betty be- magazine and the Motor City Chapter selections for the inactive or deceased
came National Executive Secretary, have resulted in their well deserved members stand. The ATOS Board of
charged with the full-time job of keep- selection for this high honor. □ Directors choose the active entrant
upon the Hall of Fame Committee's
recommendation.
Final results are announced at the
annual convention banquet, as well as
in the August issue of THEATRE
ORGAN. □
A RECORD TO BEAT!
From Associated Press, Mansfield,
England. David Klein, 35, played the
organ for 51 hours non-stop. He was
carried off afterwards, in the state of
exhaustion, to a waiting ambulance. □
Comming. .. l <~ ,~ d
"THENOTE-ABLE
NINETEENTH"
_ ~ 1974 b-
'J NATIONAL CONVENTION •
DETROIT - JULY 11-15 .,
IIIIIPIII PIIIIII by
e e e I Sllllll!
Lloyd E. Klos
One of the newest chapters to be who assisted from time to time, but work on the chimes. The leather cover-
added to the ATOS family is the Cedar Bob stayed with it. ing was shot, so I replaced it with a
Rapids Area Theatre Organ Society. He inherited his love of music quite rubberized cotton material which is
As a result, Davenport, Iowa is now a naturally. His mother was famed cheaper and easier to work with."
full-fledged city on the theatre organ organist, Gladys Gooding, who played As is the case of all restoration
concert circuit, thanks to a highly the Loew's circuit, Madison Square projects of this kind, Bob Beck is not
successful event, starring Hall of Garden, and Ebbetts Field for the old paid for his services, though he has
Farner, Lee Erwin on May 17 at the Brooklyn Dodgers . purchased materials and parts. Other
Capitol Theatre. And, judging from Over 50% of the Capitol organ was parts have been donated by CRATOS
the response of the concertgoers dur- dead when restoration began. Bob and members. Intensely dedicated to this
ing the affair and afterwards, it was his crew worked on Saturday and project, Bob says, "I must have ex-
only the beginning of a glorious fu- Sunday mornings. A worker at pended a couple hundred dollars a
ture. ALCOA, he transferred to a later shift year on the organ. Many people spend
A focal point of CRA TOS activ- to free his mornings for work on the more on their hobbies. This organ is
ities, is the 3/ 10 Wicks which was organ. He had no knowledge of the my hobby."
installed in the Capitol in 1928 at a workings of a pipe organ before he For the benefit of THEATRE
cost of $30,000. Prime movers in the tackled the Capitol's instrument, but ORGAN readers, the solo chamber on
restoration project were Bob and he had studied electronics while in the the left side of the auditorium con-
Carolyn Beck. Bob, though he con- service, and that helped. tains the Tuba, Tibia , Kinura, Orches-
fesses to not being an organist, had "When we started working", he tral Violin, Diapason and Contra Bass.
played the Wicks once a week, be- says, "we found the two pipe cham- The main chamber on the right houses
ginning in 1964 , as a means of pre- bers had been damaged by water leaks the Concert Flute, Violin , Violin
venting corrosion of the electric con- through the roof. Mice, dust, corrosion Celeste, Gross Flute and Vox Humana.
tacts. In 1969, Stan Zimmerman of and other factors were prevalent from The Toy Counter is also in the main
Moline, Ill., started working with Bob years of disuse. Since I like the noise- chamber and includes Auto Horn, Bass
on its restoration. There were others makers, the first thing I did was to Drum , Castanets, Cymbal, Marimba-
A happy sextet poses backstage at the Capitol. ( Left to right): Howard Adams and Brad
Starcevich of the organ maintenance staff; Paul Adams, master of ceremonies; organist Lee
Erwin; Bob Beck, dedicated organ restorer; and Dave Lindner, manager of the Capitol Theatre.
- (Bill Lamb Photo)
against the night sky ... A busload of
organ enthusiasts arrives from Cedar
Rapids . . . A red carpet is stretched
from the theatre's doors to the curb
... Ushers sporting tuxedos
.. . ATOS Staff Photographer , Bill
Lamb snapping pictures of the first-
night activity ... Howard Burton per-
forming on his portable pipe organ in
the lobby .. . All the glamour and
excitement of a real Hollywood pre-
miere!
Lee Erwin had arrived a couple
days earlier for practice sessions and
combination settings , which is the
hallmark of a dedicated musician .
From the time he played the opening
number he finished accompanying the
final scene of Buster Keaton ' s The
General, the 1610 persons who com-
prised the SRO audience (500 were
turned away) , were completely en-
thralled. They were there to forget the
Lee Erwin talks to his audience at the Capitol . - (Bill Lamb Photo)
cares of the world for a couple hours ,
and when the announcement was
made that similar programs were being 1610 $2.50 tickets were sold . After the Capitol Wicks , the Cedar Rapids
considered, it met with loud applause. expenses , the chapter made over Paramount 3/ 14 Wurlit zer, and the
The event was covered thoroughly $1 ,000. The money will be used for 3/14 Barton in the Iowa Th eatr e in
by the press. Cameramen and inter- maintenance and additions to the Cedar Rapids. AU concert s have been
viewers were present, and the 10:30 organ. The CRA TOS board has autho- self-supporting. Other cost s are con-
TV news featured the show. The rized refinishing materials for the con- nected with the concert s - theatre
rivalry among the media was extreme sole and the purchase of a Chrysoglott. rent , projectionist , stage help , artists '
to say the least , and the chapter It is planned to place the console on a fees , tickets and adverti sing. Some
basked in the attention spotlight. How 3-foot lift so that the audience can see cash is invested in savings certificates ,
sweet it was! it better and to observe the footwork and there is a contingency fund in case
Ten days after the show, it was still of the organists. of cancellation of a concert for any
discussed in the papers. A preliminary The money in the CRA TOS trea- reason .
accounting by Mrs. Beck disclosed that sury is used to maintain three organs - Bob Beck says , " Dubinsky Brothe1 ~
owns or leases the three theatres in
Extensive advertising and promotion were responsible for the success of the Lee Erwin concert . which we hold our concerts. We lease
This ad appeared in the Davenport Times - Democrat .
the Paramount organ from th em , and
our legally-oriented members are
DON'T
Ml working up an agreement in which we
can lease the other two , with option to
purchase in case the theatres are closed
or razed. Right now , we have a verb al
agreement.
"We are also planning to buy a
On th~ N~wiy R~itor~d CAPff04 private organ to place in a high school
or civic auditorium. Theatre organs
Witki Pip" O,r9(#ctt must be in locations where the public
G~t yolitTklte-ts
'NOW
For An Exciting
lEE ~, can hear them. "
With the success already realized by
Eveqiqg With ERWIN this chapter , and with ambitious plans
for the future, is there any reason to
doubt that the Cedar Rapids Area
Theatre Organ Society is firmly a part
of the theatre organ ' s renaissance? If
dedicated people who be] ieve in high
standards of organ maintenance , good
artists , and extensive publicity of their
programs , are given a fair chance , the
success of the organization is guar-
anteed. □
'Jama~a
Wlnner wife, Ethel, two sons and two sisters
~
•
D
POTOMACVALLEY
The May meeting of the Potomac
Valley Chapter was held at the Rock-
ville , Maryland residence of our Sec-
retary, Marge Lane , and her husband
Since the Merriken studio itself can accommodate a limited number of guests a large canopy
Bob. The Lanes ' 2/5 Robert Morton was attached to the outside of the barn-studio and additional TO fans sat in what was at one
came from the Newport Theatre in time a pasture. Larry Goodwin counts heads.
Karil Colle
Now Booking 1973/74 Concert Tours.
Organ Concerts
::•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
........:.•.:.•
,...... ·········
.........
..... •-.~···--~=~·-·•,.-•.
,..........
::,., • • • ••·······
••1:,;••
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Theatre Organ Concerts 1735 Boston Blvd. , Detroit, Michigan 48206
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FLICKER
FINGER
~'rJo~~=O=rg=a=n=P=ar=ts=a=nd=A=cc=es=so=n=es=~ PRESENTATIONS
D"RGAN SUPPLY COMPANY
101B LORENZ DRIVE e ANKENY , IOWA 50021
Bill Ballan
THEATRE ORGAN CONCERTS
INSTRUCTION IN THEATRE ORGAN STYLING
HOWARD A. BURTON
3045 3RD AVENUE MANUAL - PEDAL RELAYS FDR
MARION, l □ WA 52302 CHURCH - THEATRE 610 Asylum Ave., Suite 628
PHONE [ 31 9] 377-0846 RESIDENTIAL PIPE ORGANS
Hartford, Connecticut 06105 Phone: (203) 278-5787
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TORRENCE/PERROTTA MANAGEMENT
,~~LEE
ERWIN . . .. .
1102 Stasia St. • Teaneck, N. J. 07666 • (201) 837-7362 ..Management Ted Creech, 306 East 15th St. Ne~Yo~k-. NY
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was smoking.
synopsis of club activities is offered. In April we attended a Miami Phil- nostalgic, jazz or classical. The high-
January found the chapter on a harmonic Society sponsored concert light of his recital was a cleverly
tour of Gusman Philharmonic Hall featuring Virgil Fox and the orchestra. arranged, flawlessly played, medley
(former Olympia Theatre). Mr. Dutch May found us in the Palm Beach from Snow White - a portion of his
Kasper, of the theatre stage crew, Studios of Sunrise Music Company convention program that he promised
treated us to a demo of the atmo- with Bob Ralston as the feature artist to do for us. Open console provided a
spheric and other lighting effects. Hal on the Thomas T.0. few surprises, climaxed by an eight
Stanton, a former Florida State The- The Jureit organ has never sounded hand duet ( quartet?) with John and
atre Manager, provided the anecdotes. better and our featured artist for June, Cal Jureit on organ and Art Venecia
This chapter is currently working on John Steele, was in top form. He and Betty Lee Taylor on the concert
restoration of the original 15 rank played selections from everyone's grand.
Wurlitzer. "book of favorites", whether mod or STEVE FITZGERALD
DR.C.A.J.PARMENTIER
Theatre Organ Concerts
Contemporary, Classical and Nostalgic Numbers
CONCERT ORGANIST AND ENTERTAINER
Personal Representative
ENCORES UNLIMITED, INC.
CONTACT MARY A . BOWLES ROBERT E. DILWORTH
Phone (301) 647- 7056 Rt . 2. Hopewell Road 2012 Wildwood Drive
Available for Concerts lost Lake OR Woodland Park
Lower Magothy Beach Road Marlton . N .J. 08053 Wilmington , Del. 19805
1973-1974 Season Severna Park, Maryland 21146 Phone 1609) 983 · 1535 Phone : 13021 998 -2803
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POPULAR MUSIC
WURLITZER
3581 Homestead
at (Lawrence
Road
Expressway)
THEATRE PIPE ORGAN
821 Winslow
(Downtown
Street
- Off Broadway)
by
SANTA CLARA, CALI FORNI A REDWOOD Cl TY , CALI FO RN IA
~I, HSR0181\1NS PHONE 248 -5680 PHONE 365-6543