Interests

What on earth is a theatre organ, then?

A theatre or cinema organ is an instrument designed by Robert Hope-Jones around 1914 which is more properly known as a "Unit Orchestra".

It features electrical circuitry in order to operate the 'stop tabs' (which bring on the 'instruments' the organists wishes to utilise) and has a series of pre-set buttons which record an organist's preferred sets of 'registrations' (a grouping of depressed stop tabs bringing in a combination of 'instruments')

There are a number of 'ranks' (sets of pipes) which are unique to the theatre organ and give it a distinctive sound.

There are also 'tremulant' keys which give off a vibrato effect on the sound selected.

The overall effect of this instrument is the re-creation of the sounds of an orchestra and for this purpose a number of the ranks attempt to recreate orchestral sounds, such as trumpets, oboes, strings etc., Another unique feature is the use of actual instruments which are played from the keyboards (manuals), such as xylophone, piano, marimba, drums etc.,

It's most expansive period of use was from 1914-1930 when it was used to accompany silent pictures. Apart from the regular orchestral sounds, the organist also had the ability to push finger buttons, or hit toe buttons which would instantly play sounds such as thunder, telephone bells,. bird whistles, sirens - all used to good effect in silent picture accompaniment.

With the advent of the 'talkies', the theatre organ was relegated to being played at interval, change of houses and an organ solo spot on the program.

When television came into peoples home more in the 1950's and cinema attendances dropped, the theatre organ gradually faded away.

But there were devotees - and thankfully for their actions a lot of the instruments were saved and gradually brought back to life. So much so that now in the 21st Century they are now regularly featured in concerts and silent film accompaniment.

Another development of the 21st Century has seen the development of an electronic theatre organ. The individual sounds of each note of each rank have been digitally recorded and can now be played back on a computerised instrument sounding very much like the real thing.

How does it work, then?
First of all there are a vast number of pipes, which are grouped together in what are known as 'ranks', these groups of pipes are housed in what are known as 'chambers' and there are in most cases two of these which are sometimes on either side of the proscenium - depending on the theatre's architecture.
Then there is the 'blower' which supplies air to be blown through the pipes.
The control part of the organ operates from the console, which consists of keyboards (manuals), a pedal board and a whole set of stop tabs and pre-set buttons.

Here you see the typical 'horse-shoe' layout of a theatre organ. This organ has three manuals - the bottom one known as the accompaniment, the middle, known as the great and the top - known as the solo. Above the solo manual are a group of stop keys which turn the tremulants on and off as wells as producing other effects. The rows of white, yellow and red tabs turn on the various instruments or tonal sounds. Below each manual is a row of buttons - these are the preset registrations the organist has set to bring on a number of stop tab combinations.
Is the Theatre Organ difficult to play, then?
The short answer to this is, Yes.
The main things you need to have are dexterity, concentration and co-ordination.
Basically you have to play three sets of music - the accompaniment on the left hand, the melody on the right and a suitable bass or rhythm on the pedals.
In amongst all of this, you have to play say solo instruments, bring in a second instrument on say every third beat (via a double touch feature on the manual) and keep changing stop keys and pressing pre-set registration buttons. Sounds easy doesn't it, some say it resembles trying to fly a jumbo jet.

The Wurlitzer organ at the State Cinema, Kilburn, London, England

An organ console in tasteful mahogony.

A variation of the mahogany console was the mock baroque done out in white and gold with a lot of squiggly bits

Geoff Robertson at the Melbourne Regent

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		THE CINEMA ORGAN IN ACTION
		Rather than write a whole lot of stuff about the theatre organ - it is far better for you to watch one actually played! Here is a selection of videos:-
	This is Jim Riggs, fooling around with cameras, playing Jesse Crawford's up tempo 1929 arrangement of "I Love To Hear You Singing" on the fabulous Little River Studio Wurlitzer Pipe Organ. This is his video tribute to Crawford and was played on the console built specifically for him--watch the crawl at the beginning! A fun, rollicking piece. A slight misspelling, though: the composer's name is "Haydn" not "Hayden".

	Who said that theatre organ is only for old fogeys?! Here is 17 year old Donnie Rankin playing "We'll Meet Again" on the 4/32 Forker Memorial Wurlitzer in Sarasota Florida, U.S.A.

	When I was in Los Angeles a couple of years back, I went to the pictures there to see "Pirates of the Caribbean" at the El Capitan theatre. A lot of picture theatre managers from around the world could learn a few things about presentation from this theatre. Have a look see for yourself in this brief clip from the El Capitan's Wurlitzer organ in action

GO TO MORE VIDEO CLIPS ON THEATRE ORGAN PAGE 2

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	THE THEATRE (OR CINEMA) ORGAN page 1