When Gaylord was in Cincinnati in 1981 to dedicate the former Albee WurliTzer at Emery Theatre, which I spent many a Saturday working on with the Ohio Valley Chapter organ crew, he also paid me a surprise visit at our house and played the small pipe organ that I designed. What a thrill!
Gaylord was a friend of mine. He was always fun to be around. I used to visit him at his home in San Pedro that overlooked the ocean. Always he is remembered.
It was none other than the late Gaylord Carter who dedicated the WurliTzer 260 Special that I spent many a Saturday afternoon working on at Emery Theatre. It has since been reinstalled in the Ballroom at Cincinnati's Music Hall. He once visited our house and played the small pipe organ I designed between 1974-1976.
Well, from the time all of us are born we begin to die, You have to remember last month, on Aug.3, Gaylord would've been 105 years old. He DID make it to age 95, when he passed on Nov.20, 2000. His last two concerts were at age 90, one at the Avalon Theatre on Catalina Island & the other at the Oakland Paramount. He retired with grace at a nice round number-90-and held court receiving friends in his Neutra-designed house in San Pedro overlooking the Pacific ocean for almost another 5 years.
What a wonderful video! Gaylord played for my parents' wedding on the Bride and Groom radio show. I was a guest at the Simonton Bijou - heard Gaylord and Harold Lloyd was sitting in front of me.
Interesting set of coincidences: The first Wurlitzer Gaylord ever heard was the Miller Theatre in Wichita, which is the basis for the organ that now has the console seen in this video. He also played the final performance in the theatre in 1970. Gaylord grew up from infancy in Wichita, and moved to California in 1922, which was the year the Miller theatre opened.
The organ used in this video is of course the Simonton Bijou Wurlitzer then in North Hollywood, California
@rhopejones Is this the same organ that Mr. Carter used for his score to "Steamboat Bill, Jr."? Because the organ on that score is one of the best I've ever heard, no doubt also thanks to Mr. Carter's brilliant registrations. Did he ever write any articles or books on his registrations or just playing for movies in general? Is there any more than this of him teaching on video?
This is great. I guess all the silent film organists are gone now. It was a wonderful skill to have.
calcorrfan 1 month ago
Thanks for posting this
UK cinema organ fan here
gillyyorkie1965 2 months ago
When Gaylord was in Cincinnati in 1981 to dedicate the former Albee WurliTzer at Emery Theatre, which I spent many a Saturday working on with the Ohio Valley Chapter organ crew, he also paid me a surprise visit at our house and played the small pipe organ that I designed. What a thrill!
acoustics101 7 months ago
Gaylord was a friend of mine. He was always fun to be around. I used to visit him at his home in San Pedro that overlooked the ocean. Always he is remembered.
DouglasUrantia 1 year ago 3
It was none other than the late Gaylord Carter who dedicated the WurliTzer 260 Special that I spent many a Saturday afternoon working on at Emery Theatre. It has since been reinstalled in the Ballroom at Cincinnati's Music Hall. He once visited our house and played the small pipe organ I designed between 1974-1976.
acoustics101 1 year ago
Outstanding! I'd love to buy a DVD of this and other Gaylord things. I'm so glad to have found this.
michaelsmusicservice 1 year ago
Are there any recordings of his performance of Gottfried Huppertz score to Fritz Lang's Metropolis?
astroboy1960 1 year ago
This man was a genius! Why did he have to die?!! His scores for Wings and The Mark of Zorro are my favorite scores for silent pictures.
Bellboy285 1 year ago
Well, from the time all of us are born we begin to die, You have to remember last month, on Aug.3, Gaylord would've been 105 years old. He DID make it to age 95, when he passed on Nov.20, 2000. His last two concerts were at age 90, one at the Avalon Theatre on Catalina Island & the other at the Oakland Paramount. He retired with grace at a nice round number-90-and held court receiving friends in his Neutra-designed house in San Pedro overlooking the Pacific ocean for almost another 5 years.
dennman6 1 year ago
Great stuff!
Thank you for putting a treasure like this up on YouTube so that folks could see it...
Kiddman32 2 years ago
What a wonderful video! Gaylord played for my parents' wedding on the Bride and Groom radio show. I was a guest at the Simonton Bijou - heard Gaylord and Harold Lloyd was sitting in front of me.
8891randy 2 years ago
Interesting set of coincidences: The first Wurlitzer Gaylord ever heard was the Miller Theatre in Wichita, which is the basis for the organ that now has the console seen in this video. He also played the final performance in the theatre in 1970. Gaylord grew up from infancy in Wichita, and moved to California in 1922, which was the year the Miller theatre opened.
The organ used in this video is of course the Simonton Bijou Wurlitzer then in North Hollywood, California
rhopejones 2 years ago
@rhopejones Is this the same organ that Mr. Carter used for his score to "Steamboat Bill, Jr."? Because the organ on that score is one of the best I've ever heard, no doubt also thanks to Mr. Carter's brilliant registrations. Did he ever write any articles or books on his registrations or just playing for movies in general? Is there any more than this of him teaching on video?
This is terrific, by the way; thanks for posting!
KawhackitaRag 1 year ago
@KawhackitaRag The Preston Fleet WurliTzer Theater Organ, I think.
calvertsch 4 months ago
Same console, but different organ. This was recorded before the console left California for Kansas.
steamboatism 2 years ago
This is the same organ that you see Jim Riggs playing on his "Phantom Duets" videos on here.
W4KSR 2 years ago
Thanks for sharing this fine glimpse into the 'old music'.
bill08033 2 years ago 2