Some of you are probably wondering "what in the world is a Wurlitzer?" Others probably think "he's finally lost it!"
Not so. I love organ music, and have been hooked on theater organs for a long time. Wurlitzers were the pipe organ of pipe organs for theaters. Yes, there are the Robert Mortons and the Mollers, but a Wurlitzer was.. Well it was actually "The Wurlitzer-Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra." It put an orchestra at the finger tips of an organist, and this was before digital synthesizers or keyboards!
While looking for a Virgil Fox CD on the web (iTunes Store), ran across some other names, and got to remembering one of my lost albums. It was by George Wright, famous theater organist, who originated in Stockton, then came to the Fox Theater in San Francisco and went on to New York.
What I remember about George was that midnight concert – his next to last one there, in 1963. I was there seeing and hearing two legends – George and the Mighty Wurlitzer. Granted, it was not the largest organ in the world, but it was huge as a theater organ. And "the sound" was like no other.
Spent some time listening to clips from the ATOS (American Theatre Organ Society) and was really impressed by a teenager who won the "Young Organist" competition in Sacramento. The kids name was Donnie Rankin, and you can see and hear him play in this You Tube video.
If you are interested in more information, check out the ATOS website or the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter's website. The NorCal Chapter (San Francisco) has an organ installed at the Berkeley Community Theater and have concerts about four times a year. Who knows, maybe we'll meet there while enjoying the music.
If not, there are several pizza parlors in California that are home to "rescued" theater organs – Wurlitzer, Morton, Moller, etc. Good way to spend your evening – good food and outstanding music. Check out the locator…you might even find one in your city or state.