Here is a page
devoted to the first home of our theatre organ!
In 2007 Videographer James Plumlee of the Tulsa World
made a nine-minute video tour of our organ. You can view it here.
Welcome to the website of the Sooner State
Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. We are headquarted in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, and have our monthly meetings at the Broken Arrow
Campus of the Tulsa Technology Center, 129th E. Ave (Olive) and 111th
St. Our meetings are at 7:00 on the third Friday of the month, (unless
circumstances dictate another date).
|
 |
|
In December 2012 we
elected our officers for the next two years. They are:
Phil Gray, President
Bill Rowland, Vice President
Phil Judkins, Vice President
Wes Eaton, Vice President
Paula Hackler, Secretary
Joyce Hatchett, Treasurer
Carolyn Craft, Program Chairman
(left to right, Gray, Craft, Rowland, Hatchett, Judkins, Hackler, Eaton)
|
| Our chapter owns a 1927
Robert-Morton
3-manual theatre pipe organ (see picture top of page) that we use for
our programs. It was originally installed in the
Capitol Theatre in Steubenville, Ohio, then by a circuitous route found
its way to Tulsa, where we acquired it and got it installed in the new campus
at TTC in the 1980s. |
 |
We also have a rebuilt 1903 Kimball grand piano donated
to us by Don and Dee Miller that used to preside in the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa. |
| Our members have
also restored the 1927 four manual, forty-five rank Kilgen pipe organ at the Performing Arts Center
of Tulsa Central High School. We promote the school's organ teaching program and concerts, which are
open to the public. Our educational outreach includes bringing school children to Central High or TTC for a
theatre organ experience. At right is the Central High School console. |
 |
Our
programs feature some artists from out of the Tulsa area as well as
local organists and usually give time for "Open Console" where members
and non-members alike can try out the organ.
Please feel free to come by and enjoy
our programs, there is no admission charge but donations for organ
maintenance and program expenses are appreciated! And, if you would
like to subscribe our monthly e-mailed newsletter, the
Windline just let us know.
Click here
to visit the national website for the American Theatre Organ Society.
Past,
Present, and Future Sooner State ATOS Events
|
The first program
of 2013 was a Silent Movie Night on January 18. One of the neat portions
of this event was the opportunity to have a Field Trip for homeschooled
kids, where they got to see the organ chambers and console close up,
ask questions and even play the organ!
A great time was had by all.
|
Our February 15 program was quite a treat, also, as we celebrated
our annual Gospel Music Night, with renditions of our favorite
Gospel music performed by some of our local performers on the
organ, piano, and other instruments.
|
On March 15 our attention turned to "Phil Judkins and
Friends." Phil is our crew chief and keeps this marvelous 86-year-old organ in
tiptop shape. This evening he brought his talents to performance, and invited
other local artists to join him in an evening's entertainment.
|
April 19th, we featured guest artist John Ledwon, staff
organist at the El Capitan theatre in California where he plays the former San
Francisco Fox 4/37 Wurlitzer, and bringing his fantastic tunes to our
organ.
|
On May 17, we will feature our own local organist Carolyn
Craft with her own special (and very good) program on our 86-year-old theatre
pipe organ.
|
June is once again our "Silent Movie Night" and on the 21st
we will have three 'two reelers' brought to us by our friend Jim Reid as he sets
up his projectors and shows us great old silent comedies and a western with
accompaniment provided by our local performers on organ and piano.
  
|
Here's what we did last year!
|
The Titanic
|
April 20 brought us to an observance of an
historic occasion: the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the great ship Titanic.
We presented our local performers with music that was actually played on the ship, a very
special program indeed!
|
The White Star Line Orchestra
|
On May 18 we were entertained by guest
organist
Dr. Marvin Faulwell from Kansas City. Marvin is the
staff
organist at the Kansas City Music Hall where he plays a large 4 manual
Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ, and his program was wonderful.
|
|
June 15th was another
Silent Movie
Night, with Phil Judkins, Bill Rowland, and Lynda and Randy Ramsey
accompanying three fine silent 'two-reelers,' on our theatre pipe organ and piano,
complete with a 1920s singalong!
|
|
July's
Program on the 20th featured Carolyn Craft, one of our finest organists,
in another wonderful program on our might theatre pipe organ, with some
excellent piano playing by Dr. Joyce Bridgeman.
|
And, on August 17th we once
again shared a splendid program at the Tulsa German American Society
with the Blaskapelle Band and their 1929 pipe organ.
|
|
In September we viewed a
great silent movie featuring Harry Langdon. These movies are
becoming increasingly popular with the younger set!
|
On October 19 it was once
again Player Piano Roll and Theatre Pipe Organ Duet Night featuring the
Piano Roll/Theatre Organ duet with a set of numbers played on the
digital player piano and theatre pipe organ.
|
November 16 - Paula Hackler
in Concert. Paula is a long-time Sooner State Chapter member and has
participated in many programs. She is a former student of the late Lyle
Thurman. Also, member Rudy Geissler played several numbers in the
program.
|
December 7, 6:00 pm - was our Annual
Christmas Party (for current members only) and was a festive occasion with fine
food and great music.
|
Email
us at SoonerStateATOS@gmail.com
Contents Copyright 2013 by Sooner State Chapter ATOS
