Hi List -

Here's another poignant and funny story about pedal boards. Closing night of
the Liberty Theater in Portland Oregon was to feature the mighty Wurlitzer
played by local organist Glenn Shelly. That organ was an early example of
Robert Hope-Jones I think dating from 1917 (I could be wrong). Mounted in
four chambers, one on each side and two atop the proscenium, it was
possibly the largest or one of the largest instruments to that date. Anyway,
the film playing that night ironically was I WANT TO LIVE. The theater was
packed. Half way through the program a pedal note stuck and the audience
groaned. Shelly fished around in the pedalboard and pulled out - - a pencil!
Unfortunately, the projectionist started the movie on time. The audience
stomped on the floor for a good 10 minutes to no avail. The organ was saved
and was supposed to be installed in Portland's new coliseum, but as has
happened in Portland on another occasion, the architects decided there
wasn't room for it. It was broken up and much of it became part of the
Portland Organ Grinder pizza joint instrument - and of course that organ is
gone now too so far as I know. The other organ was the E.M. Skinner in the
civic auditorium. It was supposed to be put back in the remodel, but once
again architects had their say (no room, no room!) and it ended up installed
at the Alpenrose Dairy barn instead (it was featured on the OHS convention
recording of the Portland year).

Jon in Aspen

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