Bob Castle plays Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in Denver home

Bob Castle, who played for decades as organist at Denver's Paramount Theatre, plays the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in the Denver home of Dr Bruce Belshaw. As the console rises on the hydraulic lift from the pit, he plays strains from Puccini's Madame Butterfly. This is followed by his version of a popular tune dating from 1916, Poor Butterfly.

Dr Belshaw constructed his Denver home expressly to accommodate a large theatre organ. His son, Don, who works with the Denver organ-building firm Morel & Associates, spent years doing a thorough restoration and installation of this instrument. After the passing of Dr Belshaw, the residence was sold and the organ was sold and removed to a new location in the midwest.

This video shows extensive application of the theatre organ playing technique known as the "Crawford Slide," named after the person credited with its innovation, Jesse Crawford.

The complete 30-minute video includes a tour of the organ works and pipe chambers by Don Belshaw, an interview with Bob Castle and an interview and selections played by the home dweller, Dr Bruce Belshaw. It is available from www.zarex.com/bin and details are accessed by entering "9024" in the Search Box on the site.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Wurlitzer
• theater
• theatre
• organ
• pipe
• Denver
• Colorado
• Poor
• Butterfly
• Madame
• ATOS
• Bob
• Castle
• Midnight
• Pipes

[antoninprochazka]

Can things be more surreal than this... Bravo Dr Belshaw...

[bonzo874]

I hope its not still in storage ,but in a happy home somewhere

[Streetcar1743]

I am a member of the St. Louis Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society and I love theatre organ. Each time I attend a meeting, I learn more and more about these beautiful historic machines along with the various pedal moves and some of the various names of them.

[521wurlitzer]

This first composition "Japanese Sunset" was composed by a woman by the name of Jessie L. Deppen in 1916. It was not from "Madama Butterfly" which as we know was Giacomo Puccini.

[patsaxon]

It is too bad that no one appreciates the organ like it used to be? The organ is the most fun musical instrument to play on! Even though I play keyboard professionally with bands, I still love playing the organ as I have enjoyed since the age of ten.

[Larsky1010]

Lovely registrations on a beautiful installation! Bob's playing is marvelously accurate and expressive. What a shame the organ is no longer in this location.

[HallieAdrienne]

Beautiful palying, Bob.

[etsacela]

Equisite playing and sound.....couldn't imagine that you and the organ were rising up into your living room..tremendous!

[InTuneATTtrombone]

DUDE, this dude is awesome.

[cruddiestcrudever]

Near where I live theres still an old one screen cinema from the 40's with a huge theater organ that comes out of the floor at the start and end of movies, they also have special organ festivals its great!