submitted by Bill Gaillard
The theater organ was developed to accompany silent movies. With the advent of talking picture there became less need for such an instrument. Interest in these small to very large instruments lessened until the advent of Hi-Fi in the early fifties and the performances at Radio City Music hall and other venues.
[private]We are fortunate in the Capital area to have a fine instrument at Proctors Theater in Schenectady. This is a Mighty Wurlitzer of three manuals (rows of keys) and eighteen ranks sets of pipes) and complete percussion.
Concerts by musicians from around the State are offered on the second Tuesday of each month. A schedule is on the Web site of the Hudson-Mohawk chapter of the American Theater Organ Society.
Bill Gaillard is a member of that Society, and he will be playing the organ at Proctor’s along with two other members in a concert on Tuesday, March 8 at noon. The other members are Pam Sharpe and Carl Hackert (former Allen Organ Salesman who sold Bill his three manual, fifteen rank digital theater organ for his home).
This concert is at noon, at Proctors and the public is invited free of charge.[/private]