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MMD > Archives > November 2009 > 2009.11.28 > 03Prev  Next


Roll-playing Theater Organs
By Dave Bowers

My style 135 still has the original roll mechanism, which uses
Wurlitzer Concert Organ rolls.  Many of these have arrangements based
on Wurlitzer Mandolin PianOrchestra and Wurlitzer Concert PianOrchestra
rolls (Philipps PM and PC rolls respectively) and date from before
1920.

Tim Westman, of Woodsville, N.H., did the restoration and also fitted
it with an auxiliary MIDI system (which did not involve altering
anything original), so it can play PianOrchestra, Welte, Weber Maesto,
Popper, and other rolls.

I was fortunate in acquiring much of the roll library originally
belonging to movie producer Cecil B. DeMille and used in his vacation
home in Little Tujunga Canyon near Los Angeles.  This is pictured in
Harvey Roehl's "Player Piano Treasury."

Dave Bowers


Key Words in Subject:  Organs, Roll-playing, Theater

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