Scott Foppiano is acknowledged as one of the leading theatre organists in live performance and recordings, but he is most experienced as an organist who has mastered the art of film accompaniment. He has played in many cities over the years and has a large repertoire films ranging from The Lost World to the Buster Keaton's ever-popular The General. Although Scott is currently living in the Detroit area, he still keeps close ties with MTOS and visits at least once a year. His performances on electronic theatre organs brought into Charlotte's Carolina Theatre (empty since 1979) have been acclaimed by all and won him airtime on local television news programs. Scott has also recorded several excellent CDs. He can play on the Detroit Fox's Wurlitzer all he wants, but Charlotte is not going to let go of him! (Remember, Scott, we still have your parents.)
That's right! During our first 10 years of existance, John Apple and Scott Foppiano were asked to be judges of this important competition. The Young Theatre Organ Enthusiasts are the hope of the future when it comes to theatre organs. Any instrument not played by young people is doomed to failure and eventual obscurity. MTOS has been looking to sponsor a young person from our area, and we believe that this will become easier when we install our own local instrument.
You bet. Michael Johnston and John Apple have one of the largest collections of organ recordings and organ music (especially out-of-print) you'll ever find. Through Michael's Music Service, we offer free reference and referral advice for anything organic; this includes advice on how to find music, where to buy, sell, or trade organ recordings, how to get specifications, and so on. We have provided this popular service since 1992 to people using the internet. Most requests come though piporg-l, the internet's premier organ list for discussion about organs. We invite you to join us there if you don't mind an additional 15 to 60 messages per day (a medium volume list.) You may also email us (John or Michael) or even call (704) 567-1066.
That's right! Charlie Clayton was responsible for obtaining the award of $50,000 from the State of North Carolina in 1997. The money was to be used for promotion of saving the Carolina Theatre. The theatre is the only theatre left in Charlotte with its organ chambers, the only building remaining downtown that ever had a theatre organ, and this is where MTOS plans to install its own theatre organ. But first, we had to save the theatre, and Charlie's efforts in getting this generous grant virtually assured us that the theatre would not go down without a fight. See our Carolina Theatre pages for more details.
It's not big, and it's not the $10,000 that was requested, but it's real! Michael Johnston wrote the application for a grant for production of a video history of the Carolina Theatre. The $2,000 will be awarded in Fall 1999 and transferred to Chris Pittman who is already in production and has a teaser available.
Right here in Charlotte sits the biggest of the Allen Custom Theatre Organs. It's got 4 times the normal complement of amplifiers and speakers and can really make a sound. Don MacDonald (assisted by Michael Johnston, tenor) gave a concert on it at the Central Church of God in 1998. Dan White is their organist and the music there really rocks! They also have a Hammond B-3 on stage.
Yes, we've really being lying to you all this time! There actually are theatre organ pipes in Charlotte. But we're sure that you'll understand why we don't count them when we say that we have no theatre organ here. At Calvary Church, they have the biggest Moller (V/205) in the world. We used to have meetings there when Dan Miller was organist. He helped to design their Mighty Moller, and he made sure that there were 2 ranks of theatre organ pipes -- a "Gospel" division -- included. So, in the midst of 205 ranks, there sits an 8' Tibia and an 8' Kinura, with their own separate deep slow theatre organ tremulant .
| We have heard some pretty theatrical sounds from this grand organ. Hector
Olivera, Scott Foppiano, and Tom Hazleton have played to large crowds, and
Chris Elliott has accompanied King of Kings to over 800 people using the
largest organ ever used for a silent film!
Listen to Dan Miller play a little and then visit Michael Laird's Calvary Church page. |
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