GALLERY
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The California theatre
A picture of the California Theatre Robert Morton installation, which was the very first Robert Morton theatre pipe organ installed in a theatre, in 1917.
St. Francis Theatre, San Francisco -- note the non-RM bench and the "organ pipe" style of builder's plate.
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From the Collection of Jeff Fox
The organ console of the American Theatre's 2/6 Robert Morton, now dismantled and dispersed. As with many of Robert Morton's early instruments, the stop tabs are all in white. Elongated music racks were not uncommon on instruments of the era, including other brands such as Wurlitzer. The demands of playing for both silent films and vaudeville consumed a lot of music!
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R.P. Jennings residence (?), Mexico city
This is a Style 300, three manual, fourteen rank organ ordered by R.P. Jennings of Mexico City, very likely for his residence. Mr. Jennings appears to have been involved in finance, including activities involving the shipment of substantial amounts of gold bullion from Mexico City. He was the agent of Wall Street brokers, Zimmerman & Forshay. specialists in foreign currency (particularly German), which brokerage house failed in 1923.
Of particular note is the absence of the "stile" type console which used posts to support the front of the console. Instead this attractive console uses large, graceful corbels, fully four or five years before Paul Carlsted designed a console cabinet which finally did away with the stiles.
Its fate is unknown..
Of particular note is the absence of the "stile" type console which used posts to support the front of the console. Instead this attractive console uses large, graceful corbels, fully four or five years before Paul Carlsted designed a console cabinet which finally did away with the stiles.
Its fate is unknown..
BOVARD AUDITORIUM
At left is the famous organist and transcriptionist, Edwin LeMare, at the console of the largest pipe organ produced by Robert Morton, for the Bovard Auditorium on the campus of the University of Southern California. At 85 ranks, it was the largest organ ever produced by the firm and included two 32' stops (an Open Wood and a Bombarde) . In spite of the impression given by the horseshoe console, tt was not highly unified, and was in fact possessed of a straight classical specification.
The contract for this organ came in just after one of Robert-Morton's first major financial crises and temporary factory closings, and when the factory reopened, this was the first organ produced (in 1920), allegedly at a cost of $50,000.00. (4 : 7) Undoubtedly, the money from this job helped to give the company enough momentum to sail into the gravy days of the 1920's, more or less in the black.
The Bovard organ acquired a three manual drawknob console in the 1950s. Over time, the style of the organ grew out of favor, and in the early 1970's, the organ was dismantled and dispersed. The 32' Open Wood is now in the organ which resides in the "Crystal Cathedral" in Garden Grove, California. Much of the other pipework and mechanism went to a church in the San Fernando Valley, although occasionally a stop from this organ turns up in the "organ classifieds". Photo below supplied by Jim Lewis.
The contract for this organ came in just after one of Robert-Morton's first major financial crises and temporary factory closings, and when the factory reopened, this was the first organ produced (in 1920), allegedly at a cost of $50,000.00. (4 : 7) Undoubtedly, the money from this job helped to give the company enough momentum to sail into the gravy days of the 1920's, more or less in the black.
The Bovard organ acquired a three manual drawknob console in the 1950s. Over time, the style of the organ grew out of favor, and in the early 1970's, the organ was dismantled and dispersed. The 32' Open Wood is now in the organ which resides in the "Crystal Cathedral" in Garden Grove, California. Much of the other pipework and mechanism went to a church in the San Fernando Valley, although occasionally a stop from this organ turns up in the "organ classifieds". Photo below supplied by Jim Lewis.
From the Collection of Jim Lewis
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Charlie Chaplin Organ
Photo from Architectural Digest
This is the 2/8 organ installed in the Charlie Chaplin Mansion in the Hollywood Hills, California., in 1923 It had a roll player, a roll top for the console, and a very church-styled bench. The four swell shoes are Echo, Main, Solo and Crescendo. The Vox Humana was installed in the Echo. The other stops on the organ were Open Diapason, Tibia Clausa, Melodia, Stopped Flute, Salicional, Voix Celeste, and Oboe. The high chamber openings are visible at the upper end of the room. The chambers were apparently very tight with low ceilings, based upon the compact Bass Flute windchest and the eight foot end of the Salicional, which was mitered in half (!). The organ found its way to a church in Lodi in the early '50s, where it lost its console, and some of the original stops. It was subsequently purchased by Dr. Oren Hofstedder, who had it in storage for a number of years prior to his passing..
George Wright acquired the Tibia Clausa from this organ (which is now in England). Greg Rister has most or all of the windchests, and the Salicional and the Melodia. The Open Diapason was destroyed in storage, but the other stops have simply disappeared. (photo from Architectrual Digest)
George Wright acquired the Tibia Clausa from this organ (which is now in England). Greg Rister has most or all of the windchests, and the Salicional and the Melodia. The Open Diapason was destroyed in storage, but the other stops have simply disappeared. (photo from Architectrual Digest)
Photo from Photoplay Magazine
Charles Chaplin at the organ, circa 1927. Note that the console has been set into the wall, with an ornamental surround, probably so it didn't intrude so far into the room (notice the screens around the console in the larger picture). Chaplin's "great room" was equipped with a projection booth and a screen which could be lowered, and on occasion he would accompany movies for his guests. It is quite likely that he may have used the organ for composing as well.
The much better photo below shows Chaplin's wife, Lita Grey Chaplin at the console of the Robert Morton, also circa 1927. (photos from Photoplay Magazine)
The much better photo below shows Chaplin's wife, Lita Grey Chaplin at the console of the Robert Morton, also circa 1927. (photos from Photoplay Magazine)
Photo from Photoplay Magazine
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Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles -- Hotel theatre
From the Collection of Jim Lewis
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From the Collection of Dolton McAlpin
The console of the Shreveport Strand 2/13 Robert Morton organ. Note non-RM (but quite functional) music rack. The organ is in its original venue, with some changes to specification and additions to percussions and traps.
GRAND RIVIERA, DETROIT
Photo by John Lauter
3 manuals, 10 ranks, originally installed in the Grand Riviera Theatre, Detroit, and removed in 1969 to Hohner residence. Console decoration shown is not original. The console only had decoration on the side facing the audience when in the theatre. The organ was reported to have been rather "underwhelming" in the theatre, From 1925 onward, Robert Morton began to scale and voice many of their instruments for 15" windpressure, which gave even a small organ rather a formidable presence..
ritz theatre, long beach, california
From the Collection of Jim Lewis
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Tuxedo theatre
From the Collection of John Lauter
The Tuxedo Theatre (closed in 1958) was first graced with a 2 manual Robert Morton organ, in 1921. Apparently the owners of this 1800 seat theatre were pleased enough with the little instrument to order this 3/13 instrument in 1926 -- certainly a lot more organ than they started with!
From the Collection of John Lauter
From the Collection of John Lauter
oxnard theatre, oxnard, california
From the Collection of Jim Lewis
Annex theatre, detroit, mi
This 3/13 Robert Morton, which included a "V'Oleon" stop, was installed in the Riviera Annex Theatre (later "Annex") in Detroit, Michigan, in 1926. It was removed and installed in the Powderhorn Park Baptist Church, as pictured.
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Warnor's fresno
Boasting one of the impressive "dreadnought" style Robert Morton consoles, Warnor's, Fresno, remains an original and intact installation of one of the more formidable organs built by Robert Morton. At 4/14, it is not a huge instrument, but its understage installation and high pressure voicing puts the sound squarely in your face. . .
music HALL theatre, seattle, washington
The 4/16 organ of the Music Hall Theatre, Seattle, Washington. This "dreadnought" style of console became the norm for larger instruments after the reorganization in 1925. Few "stile" type consoles were built after 1925-26. After its installation and long service in the Carl Greer Inn in 1964, Sacramento, the organ found its way into storage where the elements very nearly destroyed it. Rising from its own "ashes" it is now gracing the Bob Hope Theatre in Stockton, California.
BLUEBIRD THEATRE, NEW YORK
This Carlsted-designed console graced the Bluebird Theatre's 2/6 Robert Morton in New York City. The organ is complete and awaiting restoration at the University of Oklahoma's School of Music. In 1929, the organ was moved from the theatre (possibly repossessed by Robert Morton) into a private residence in Los Angeles, where it received some changes in specification.
The original stops were Diapason, Tibia, Violin, Vox Humana, Trumpet and Kinura (an impressive battery of reeds for a small organ). For the residence installation the Trumpet was swapped for a Saxophone and the Kinura for a Concert Flute.
The original stops were Diapason, Tibia, Violin, Vox Humana, Trumpet and Kinura (an impressive battery of reeds for a small organ). For the residence installation the Trumpet was swapped for a Saxophone and the Kinura for a Concert Flute.
california theatre, glendale, california
From the Collection of Jim Lewis
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RITZ theatre, indiana, pennsylvania
The Ritz Theatre in Indiana, Pennsylvania, initially installed a small Wurlitzer in 1924,only to be replaced by a small Marr & Colton organ in 1927. In 1928, a canny Robert Morton salesman persuaded them to install a 3 manual 8 rank Robert Morton, with the Marr & Colton being taken in trade as part of the deal. Dick Leibert, staff organist at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, played two engagements at this instrument.
The organ was voiced on 6" (Vox Humana), 10" and 15" (Tibia Clausa) and included a 16' Tuba, 16' Diaphone/Diapason, 16' Tibia Clausa, 8' Concert Flute, 8' Violin and Celeste, 8' Clarinet, and 8' Vox Humana, along with Chrysoglott, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Chimes and the usual traps and untuned percussions.
The picture above features Dick Stewart at the console, which was factory-finished in white and gold. Specifications can be found in the "Specifications" section. The lower picture exhibits the clean lines of Robert Morton's "Carlsted style" console.
The organ was voiced on 6" (Vox Humana), 10" and 15" (Tibia Clausa) and included a 16' Tuba, 16' Diaphone/Diapason, 16' Tibia Clausa, 8' Concert Flute, 8' Violin and Celeste, 8' Clarinet, and 8' Vox Humana, along with Chrysoglott, Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Chimes and the usual traps and untuned percussions.
The picture above features Dick Stewart at the console, which was factory-finished in white and gold. Specifications can be found in the "Specifications" section. The lower picture exhibits the clean lines of Robert Morton's "Carlsted style" console.
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UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
The photo to the left is of Paul Beaver at the console of the 3/13 Robert Morton located on Universal Studios soundstage A. In its early days it was used to accompany action during the movies being shot on the soundstage. Later, when the soundstage became a scoring stage (where the music for sound movies was recorded), it was used in a great many television and motion picture productions, whenever an organ sound was needed in the score. The Universal organ was one of the last large theatre organs to leave the factory.
The organ was removed from the soundstage many years ago, but remains intact and is now in private hands.
The organ was removed from the soundstage many years ago, but remains intact and is now in private hands.
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From the Collection of Jim Lewis
This is the 3/10 Robert Morton installed in the old KNX radio studio. Information regarding its fate would be most welcome. It is believed to have been an original installation. From Savetheorgan.com -- This was CBS-Columbia Square, Studio 4, a CBS network facility and also housed their local affiliate, KNX. KNX had its own studio down the street on Sunset that housed a three manual, 10 rank Robert Morton. That studio was subsequently taken over by KMPC. It's not clear if the organ was retained at that time. The building was later sold and gutted and became an "Old Spaghetti Factory" restaurant, which has subsequently been closed and the building demolished.