THE
STOP RAIL
A publication of the Valley of the Sun Chapter
Of the
American Theatre Organ Society
Volume 30 Issue 5 May
2006
P.O. BOX 36151, PHOENIX, ARIZONA 85067-6151
Web Site at: www.theatreorgans.com/az/phoenix/
“The Valley
of the Sun Chapter is a recognized tax-exempt educational and charitable
organization under section 501-C-3 of the Internal Revue Code
and is a non-profit corporation
organized in the state of Arizona”
From the desk of our President
Hi All
… April was a travel month for me. I volunteered to help my wife’s father
move from Oak
Harbor Washington back here to Arizona. I did find time to get a little Theatre Organ
in on the trip. Our first weekend out we just happened to be in Stockton California the weekend of Morton Madness. So, we went on
the tour. The featured artist for the day was Jim Riggs. This tour
features 2 Robert Morton Organs and both are the same specifications. One
was built early in Morton production and the other was built late in
production. The stop list and ranks may be the same but the sound is
anything but the same. Two organs with the same artist allowed us to hear
how totally different the Organs are. One was mellow and loud in a small
room and the other was bright and crisp in a larger room. Sunday found us
at Bella Roma to hear Kevin King and the 3 manual 16 rank
WurliTzer. Kevin has a great style and makes
that WurliTzer sound a lot bigger that it is.
Monday night found us at the Berkeley Community Theatre We
were there to pick up some parts I had purchased. After the parts were
lowered from their 7th floor storage room, Bill would not let us
leave without hearing their Pride & Joy. The Nor
Cal WurliTzer is the best example of a brand new WurliTzer I have ever seen. The club has spent many
hours to make sure everything has been restored just like new. The sound
is unbelievable to hear. Thanks to their playback system we were treated
to a full concert preformed last November by none other than Tom
Hazelton. What a treat! Thanks Bill Schlotter
and your team for a great day. Wednesday found us in Portland Oregon where we were treated to a tour of Bob MacNeur’s
new studio. Donna Parker was our tour guide for the day. What a
beautiful facility. Donna took the time to play for us on a Allen George Wright 4 manual organ being stored in the
studio. The room is very live and will be a wonderful home for Bob’s
Wurlitzer. Donna then took us to the church that Jonas Nordwall plays in downtown Portland. Jonas took us on a tour of the Organ
there. Jonas has been adding and changing the ranks for many years and
the result is magnificent. We then picked up some parts from Mike
McDonald and headed to Washington to make our final stop at Tom Blackwell’s for the
last of my WurliTzer
Parts. Well fun was over and it was time to embrace the moving experience
and the long drive home with loaded trucks. I have pictures, see me at
the next meeting and I will be glad to show them to you. That’s all for now.
~ Bill
Carr
NO MAY MEETING
There will be no May Meeting. All of you
attending the National Convention, in Florida, will be able to attend without any conflicts… Have
a Great Convention
Calendar of Events
May 24-28 2006
A.T.O.S. NATIONAL
CONVENTION
TAMPA FLORADA
(See your Theatre Organ
Magazine for details)
June 11th 2006
Membership Meeting
Orpheum Theatre
Phoenix Arizona at 2:30 pm
Guest Artist
Lew Williams
(Full directions in the
June Newsletter)
July 9th 2006
Membership Meeting 1st
Christian Church
Phoenix, Arizona at 1:00 pm
Guest Artist to be
announced
(Full directions in the
July Newsletter)
I
think that we may have set a record for attendance at the chapter meeting held
at Pete Knobloch’s home on April 8th! Those of
you who were there will know what I mean! After a short business meeting
we enjoyed a program presented by Don Story. Don played
Pete’s Aeolian electronic pipe organ, but with the addition of a Miditzer computer program. This added the
digital sound of a Wurlitzer 216. Before starting, Don stated, “If you hear any
wrong notes today, blame it on the computer”. The master of
“obscurities-R-U only stumped us with a couple of numbers we didn’t recognize
this time! But he announced the titles for your reporter’s benefit!
Don played two Franz Lehar pieces, and an old dance
tune, “So, You’re the One/”. “The Holy City,” was beautiful, and especially fitting
for the Easter Season. The computer was able to keep up with him on
“Tico, Tico”. “Don’t Take Your Love from Me” was
dedicated to Bill Brown. “Tea for Two” and “I Only have Eyes for You” featured a duet with Don at the
organ and piano rolls. He closed his program with “I’m Always
Chasing Rainbows”. While the rest of us enjoyed snacks provided,
some members played the organ and the piano rolls played the piano. It
was a lovely afternoon. Thank you, Pete, for your hospitality!
Madeline LiVolsi
MEMBERS NEWS
JUDY SHORTT
I announced it at the meeting Sat., but it should be
put in the Stop Rail that we lost another long-time member last
month--Judy Shortt. She had lived in the Toronto
area for the last few years because of health reasons & to
be near family, but she had been active in
the VOTS chapter for many
years, serving on the Board for several years. She had provided a home
to Sean Henderson
from Australia
for several years while he was studying with Walt Strony.
I found out about her death when I was trying to tell her about
Harlan and I called her best friend in Phoenix
for a new phone number. Her friend said that she had died of pneumonia
in March. I will give Madeline Judy's daughter's
address so she can send a card from the club.
I almost got sidetracked & didn't send you this
info right away. I had thrown away the piece of paper with the info on it
(!!!!). Dumb! Judy's daughter is:
Diane Shortt
29
Hare Court
Markham,
Ontario CANADA
L3P 4K5
(905)
294-8191
from Joanne Harris
TOM HAZLETON
Adrian Phillips phoned me and suggested that I let
everyone know that Tom spent three days at Adrian’s house recording the organ there. That was
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Seventy-four minutes of Tom’s playing are
stored in Adrian’s computer, Adrian says that that is some of the finest playing he has
ever heard. When Tom got back to San Diego Monday night, he phoned Adrian to let him know that he was home safe and
sound. Of course, as we know, Tom had a heart attack during his sleep
that night and passed away. The loss to the organ world is
tremendous.
Dale Caplin, Editor
GREAT NEWS
The Stop Rail is now available online
Just go to our Chapter website at www.theatreorgans.com/az/phoenix/ and click
the link called “A New Feature“. Each issue should be available
during the last week of each month. The link belongs to VOTS members Sean
and Dru DeDanaan. If you like
this method of receiving our newsletter, just notify me by email, I will remove
you for the monthly United State Postal Service mailing which will save our
Chapter postage. Dale
Caplin, Editor.
P.S.: Our web site address is also listed on the top of the front page.
ORGAN WORLD NEWS
Some Good News!!!!!!!!! The May company owned Lord & Taylor. Federated Stores purchased the May
Co. in the fall and therefore took over Lord &
Taylor. Federated announced officially that they were not going to keep the
Lord & Taylor Chain. They were making the Strawbridge Department Store in
Philly a Macy's and divesting the Lord & Taylor
Store chain. Of course you know the Wanamaker Organ and the famous store
Eagle are in the Lord & Taylor Store in the Wanamaker Building. Well, a sudden announcement by the Federated
Stores on Friday stated that they were NOW going to close the Strawbridge
Department store in Philadelphia and were taking over the Lord &
Taylor Store in Philadelphia and making it a Macy's store and would include the
Wanamaker Organ and the Eagle as a part of the new Macy's Philadelphia store. We at the Wanamaker Organ are happy with
this news (as we now know the Lord & Taylor space will remain as a Macy's
store), but, know nothing further about the management and plans for the new
Macy's other than they are totally closing the Lord & Taylor Philadelphia
Store June 1st to remodel the Lord & Taylor Store area and reopen sometime
in August as Macy's. The Friends of the Wanamaker Society always have the
all day Birthday Celebration of the Wanamaker Organ on the 2nd Saturday of June
(scheduled June 10th this year) so we are planning to postpone it till after
the new Macy's opens and it is agreeable to Macy's management. There is
nothing further we know about this hard to believe wonderful and sudden move by
the Federated Stores, but can understand their liking of the Beauty and the
Magnificence of the Lord & Taylor Store and its location close to the
Convention Center and all transportation and next to City Hall and the
Wanamaker Organ traditions since 1911 and the annual Christmas Holiday Light
Show. Just a little bit of new information you may not have heard.
We hope to be able to continue with the restoration we have already started of
the Orchestral Division and the New Organ Shop area. It will cost Macy's
nothing as both projects are funded by substantial grants to complete both
projects and the projects will greatly enhance and benefit the Wanamaker Organ
and the Wanamaker Building which is privately owned and all space in the
building is rental
WallyMcLean in Philadelphia.
Last Month’s Mystery Picture is from the Organ Pizza
Place in Tucson, Arizona in last month’s issue did not have an answer to the
question, “Who is the organist?” when it was submitted to me. It is a fun
picture from the past. It was sent by a chapter member who said that it
was taken in 1989. Several people have made guesses, but I do not know
the answer. Madeline LiVolsi says that it was a
picture from 1979, not 1989, and it was Lyn Larsen. She was there
as Bill Brown‘s guest. I can’t disagree with Madeline. If anyone
knows something more, please let me know. Dale Caplin, Editor.
Donation
Our
club has been given a beautiful Hammond Elegante and matching Leslie speaker as
a donation. We are looking for a home in the Phoenix Area to store and
show the Hammond for sale. Anyone interested please call, Dale Caplin (520) 908-0942 or Bill Carr (623) 694-1746 to volunteer.
BOARD of DIRECTORS
President, Bill Carr,
11815 N. 77th Drive, Peoria, AZ 85345
(623)
694-1746
billcarr3vots.atos@cox.net
Vice
President, Tom Fizzell,
2201
E. Siesta Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85042
(602) 243-9546
tfizzell@aol.com
Secretary, Madeline LiVolsi,
3626 W. Vernon Ave Phoenix, AZ 85009
(623)
939-5163
mmlv1@yahoo.com
Treasurer, Dale Caplin, (Stoprail Editor)
2333 W. Irvington Place #26, Tucson, AZ 85746
(520)
908-0942
decaplin@aol.com
Statutory Agent, Pete Knobloch,
1507 E. Fremont Drive, Tempe, AZ 85282
(480)
820-7093
peteknobloch@yahoo.com
Member-at-large, Don Reasor,
11511 W. Cyprus Dr., Avondale, AZ 85323
(623) 877-0635
aaretiree@cox.net
Member-at-large, Nancy Fricke,
7405
E. Camino Santo, Scottsdale, AZ 85260
(480)
607-2970
Local
Chapter dues are $20.00 per year. Name badges are $8.00 each.
Classified ads are free for members. The non-member rate is a flat $10.00
per issue. Mail copy with check (if needed) to Dale E. Caplin, Editor, 2333 W. Irvington Place #26, Tucson, Arizona 85746. Publication deadline is the 15th of each
previous month.
MARKETPLACE
Items for Sale
2 Hammond
Colonnades
2
manuals, 25 pedals one walnut and one white. $1,300.00
each
Eminent classical organ
with two
56 note keyboards & 13 pedals: $600.00,
Allen 282C
2
manual 32 pedal classical in Walnut with 2 external speakers: $2,000.00,
Allen 2 manual theatre organ
in light
Walnut with a princess 32-note pedalboard: $600.00 OBO
2 Hammond Elegantes,
one with
a Leslie 715 walnut $1,900.00
and the
other for $1,400.00.
.
Call
Dale Caplin (520) 370-7091 (leave message) or the house at (520) 908-0942
Allen R-211 Theatre Organ
Mint condition. Walnut finish with twp HR-100 external speakers.
$15,500.00. Arizona or Southern
California delivery can be
arranged for just actual delivery cost. Call Don Story at (520) 792-4523
or cell (520) 349-3774.
Hammond
Colonnade
2
manuals, 25 pedals walnut
$1,300.00
Call Bill Carr (623) 694-1746
You can be a part of
our newsletter. Send in your Organ World News or Call editor Dale Caplin at (520) 908-0942 (leave message) or Email to decaplin@aol.com