4/36 Wurlitzer organ

76 Trombones
Alley Cat
Orchids in the Moonlight
Dizzy Fingers
Jalousie
Fly Me to the Moon
Take Five
Blues in the Night
Over the Rainbow
Happy Birthday
Falling in Love With Love
Humoresque (Dvorak)
La Danza (The Chase) – Rossini
The Rosary
South
The Stripper

George Wright  --   San Francisco Fox Farewell Concert, Part 1, February 8, 1963

Larry Vannucci at the SF 3/11 Wurlitzer in the El Capitan Theatre and the  2/10 Wurlitzer in the Senator Theatre Oakland.  The El Cap organ was the only issue by Wurlitzer of a style 230 and was a style 230 sp with a piano.  Typical of the 230, 235, and 240 Wurlitzers the huge solo scale Tibia Clausa dominates.  In Autumn Leaves Larry closes the Solo swell shutters and uses the monstrous Tibia like a distant choir.  These recording have some deterioration, but the level of musicianship is anything but deteriorated.  The style 216 makes its presence known with the jazzy English Horn in "It All Depends On You."  This is the same organ that was moved to the SF Taraval Street  bar, Lost Weekend, where Larry held forth as organist for many years.

13 Track 13

JIM RIGGS- Warnors Theatre- October 20, 1989
Sequoia Chapter, ATOS/San Joaquin Chapter, AGO concert, Fresno, CALIF. - 4/14 Robert Morton
Recorded by Gary Miller on normal bias cassette tape.
Transfer from cassette and editing by Matías Bombal, September 6, 2022.
Program:
Introduction- Sequoia Chapter chairman Tom Borgstrom
20th Century-Fox fanfare with CinemaScope extension/
San Francisco 
Singin' In The Bathtub
Stormy Weather
The Peanut Polka
Why Can't You?
My Sunshine Is You
Medley of Warner Bros. Musicals of the 1930's
Pretty Lady
By A Waterfall
I'll String Along With You
About A Quarter To Nine
The Apartment Scene
All's Fair In Love And War
-Silent Laurel & Hardy comedy- LIBERTY (organ accompaniment not recorded by Gary Miller)
On Slow Boat To China
In t e r m i s s i o n
Television March
-Pantages/Warner's/Warnors organ history and demonstration
 -Second silent short comedy (not recorded by Gary Miller)
Baby- Oh Where Can You Be?
I Concentrate On You
Raymond Scott Medley (next 2 selections)
The Toy Trumpet
Powerhouse
Medley from THE COCOANUTS (1925 B'way/1929 Film)(next 5 selections)
Lucky Boy
Florida By The Sea (chorus: In The Lovely Land Of Florida)
The Monkey Doodle Doo
Tango Melody
A Little Bungalo
My Funny Valentine
God Bless America

Photo:  Warnors Theatre, Fresno interior from balcony- 
Matías Bombal photo

I am beholden to those kind folks that have contributed to the Go Fund Me campaign that makes possible my work in bringing these recordings to the internet for your listening pleasure. THANK YOU.
-Matías Bombal

Playback equipment service, maintenance and repair: Mark Pollock

Contributors to the Go FundMe:
Mark Fontana, Chris Nichols, Mark Herman, Luke Staisiunas, Christopher Attison, Mary Zeppa, Pete Poulos, Donald Binks, John Davey, Frank Vanaman, Richard Glazier, Donna Hill, Thomas Mathiesen, Stephen Ashley, Dennis Wilhelm, Michael Kinerk, Jeanne Nourse and 2 persons that wish to remain anonymous.
Again, THANKS!
Your contribution to the ongoing preservation and digitization of these recordings, that they may be heard in this fashion, may be made here:
https://gofund.me/00ff01ee

Jim Riggs- Warnors Theatre- October 20, 1989

Recorded at Plaza Sound Studio, Radio City Music Hall, 1960, Design Records DCF-1015.

The Wedding of the Painted Doll
The Whiffenpoof Song
I'll See You in My Dreams
Hi Lili, Hi Lo
Chant of the Jungle
At Sundown
Ramona
I Cried for You
The Waltz You Save For Me
Stumbling

Ray Bohr:  The Radio City Music Hall Organ

Recorded at the Lorin Whitney Studio, Glendale, California, 4/34 Robert Morton Organ, on March 12th, April 3rd, and April 4th, 1957.

Decca Records DL8565

Blue Skies
Lady of the Evening
Isn't This a Lovely Day to be Caught in the Rain?
Tell Me, Little Gypsy
They Say It's Wonderful
Soft Lights and Sweet Music
Cheek to Cheek
How Deep is the Ocean?
Say It with Music
A Pretty Girl is Like a Melody
Easter Parade
Say It Isn't So
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm

LINER NOTES:

JESSE CRAWFORD
PLAYS THE MELODIES OF IRVING BERLIN

There are organists -- quite a few of them -- who take pleasure in exploiting the technical resources of the organ.  They can play havoc with the reeds, send shivers through the pipes, teach the venerable old instrument new tricks of tone and tempo, and startle the listener with weird effects in super­jazz. But Jesse Crawford is too dedicated to the tradition of his art to indulge in any of these capers.  He has devoted himself, first and last, to the poetry of the organ. 

Jesse Crawford fans will therefore joyously welcome these, his first pipe organ recordings since the advent of long­-playing, high-fidelity techniques. To the younger generation, unfamiliar with the unique musical resources of the theatre organ, the richly harmonized and tonally fresh arrangements will open the door to new and exciting musical delights; to those thousands of pipe organ devotees who regard Jesse Crawford's artistry as the acme of musical enjoyment, this collection of Irving Berlin gems will bring even deeper and greater pleasure. 

It was in Los Angeles that Mr. Crawford developed the style and personality in movie-organ playing that led to his engagement as a featured attraction at the Chicago Theatre, followed closely by stardom at the New York Paramount. During this latter period, his recordings and radio broadcasts established his name throughout the United States and in many foreign lands as synonymous with excellence in his chosen field. His high musicianship, warmth, "heart," expression and dazzlingly original concepts of organ tone coloring made him the inspiration of his fellow theatre organists. His acclamation as the "Poet of the Organ" was, and still is, richly deserved. 

And could there be a happier union than Jesse Crawford's interpretations of Irving Berlin's genius? Faithfully capturing every nuance of these popular masterpieces, Jesse projects all the varied sentiments expressed by Berlin:  the rapturous wonder of "Blue Skies," the ardent constancy of "How Deep is the Ocean?," the yearning of "They Say It's Wonderful," the joyous defiance of "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm," and the pleading insistence of "Say It Isn't So."

By nature a perfectionist, Jesse is never satisfied to rest on his laurels, and his unceasing studies in harmony, arranging, and composition result in constant improvement and growth. The present recordings reaffirm his artistic leadership. They are faithful reproductions of his own incomparable playing (unassisted by any "overlaying" of multiple tape "tracks") and were recorded on the Lorin Whitney Theatre Organ in Los Angeles, where Mr. Crawford again resides.

Jesse Crawford:  Poet at the Pipe Organ

Famed and beloved Chicago theatre organ legend Pearl White is heard here playing a medley of twenties favorites including such hits as "Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away)", "Tea for Two",  "Limehouse Blues", and even a little homage to the Balaban and Katz Brothers with a hint of "Paramount on Parade". 

This recording was made in 1963 on the Fisher Theatre Wurlitzer when it was reinstalled into the Iris Theatre in Detroit, a rare recording before this historic Wurlitzer organ was relocated to the Senate Theatre where it still resides and is lovingly maintained/heard to this day. This archival recording is from the estate of the late Dave Junchen.

Twenties Medley (Iris Theatre, Detroit) - Pearl White

4/21 Wurlitzer organ, Trocadero Cinema, Elephant & Castle, London, England.  Columbia Record DB 761, recorded January 15, 1932.

Quentin Maclean, organ:  Hold My Hand

Reportedly the last time the Hollywood Theatre (Detroit) Barton organ was played, March of 1959. Detroit church organist and former theatre organist John McCreary is heard first, at the 14:00 mark Bill Peck takes over and is a little more peppy.

Hollywood Barton 1959

The most talented and respected pianist in my past was Frank R. Denke, who generously gave of his musical gifts throughout his life. He was San Francisco's "first call" professional, and there was no limit to his skills. A lovely memory is Frank's Christmas medley. I recorded this in his home more than 30 years ago. It is shared on the Internet for the first time.

Franke Denke's Christmas Medley

Quentin Maclean plays the 3/13 Legge organ at CBC Studios, J. Frank Willis reads poetry.  No date.

This program was broadcast over Trans-Canada Network on Tuesday evenings at 11:30 PM.

Quentin Maclean, organ; J. Frank Willis, reader:  "Nocturne" Broadcast, CBC Radio, Organ and Poetry

4/22 Robert Morton organ

American Bolero (track is distorted)
Spring Fever
Piano Prelude # 2 (Gershwin)
Ukulele Lady
Love Letters
Black and White Rag
I Left My Heart in San Francisco
Christmas Medley:  Santa Claus is Coming to Town; White Christmas; Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming; O Little Town of Bethlehem; O Holy Night
Walk Right In
La Cumparsita
Never on Sunday
But Not for Me
A Good Man is Hard to Find
Gold and Silver Waltz
The Glow Worm
?
Hard-Hearted Hannah
Paramount Waltz
Holiday in Rio (Terig Tucci)
American Nocturne (Suesse)
My Silent Love

13 Track 13

Thomas L. DeLay

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