Exhibitor's Trade Review (Mar-May 1922)

J 358 EXHIBITORS TRADE REVIEW Volume 11. Number 19 Music for the Photoplay Conducted by NORMAN STUCKEY X %/ rHE design oj this department is to diffuse among musicians and exhibitors correct information on all important subjects pertaining to music for the film ; to improve the quality of musical interpretation and to raise the standard of music in motion picture theatres. Questions concerning music, suitable instrumentation, queries relating to organs and mechanical players, etc., should be addressed to Music Editor, Exhibitors Trade Review. A New Picture Player An instrument has just been devised by the Cob'urn Organ Co.,' Chicago, which makes it possible for theatre owners to improve their music without going to great expense. The Technical Editor, while in Chicago recently, witnessed a demonstration of the new unit which W. S. Coburn, head of the company, has styled the Coburn Gem picture player. It is possible, Coburn says, to huild in this player to any style of piano. Such an installation was made at the Famous This is the Coburn Gem Picture Player attached to the piano. It can be built in on any piano and has the advantage of producing music of both without the player leaving his seat. The device near the player is a Marimbaphone but is not a part of the picture player. Another advantage of this unit is that it will fit a shallow orchestra pit or will serve where there is no orchestra pit or stage Theatre in Chicago where a blind organist is now playing. This installation was made in a shallow pit. There was no room for it on the stage because the picture opening was flush with the footlights. In the Famous it was a case of graduating from the piano to the organ stage. The operation by which the organ is attached to the piano is simple. The piano keyboard is refitted with a combination organ and piano keyboard and a set of organ pedals attached. The player operates both from the same seat. No awkward and disturbing movement of the player from organ to piano and vice versa is necessary. MUSIC Geo. Rosey's Loose Leaf Folio No. 1. 12 Screen Classics, assembled in loose sheets in separate covers. Write for contents and special prices for Leaders. Geo. Rosey Publishing Co., 36-28 East 21st St., New York. Every organ tone is obtained, piccolos, strings, flutes, vox humana and all necessary effects for picture playing. Where comedy effects cannot be obtained on the organ the piano is resorted to. It is said that the violin effects produced by the unit in the Famous Theatre so closely resembles the real violin that audiences have frequently asked the management where the violin player was hidden. "This instrument was devised," said Mr. Coburn, "because of the need of better music effects and a wider variety of them. This is the arrangement of the organ pipes of the picture player. The usual selection of organ tones is shown here and is capable of producing the same effects obtainable with larger instruments. I believe most people will agree with me that it is a bad piece of showmanship to let audiences sit through an intermission staring at each other. This unit was built to provide appealing music, not only for the picture, but during the few minutes that intervene between .shows. Organists can be obtained almost any place to play the instrument and provide little musical specialties during intermissions. There are thousands of houses doing without adequate music and the Gem should provide it for them." Brevities A $35,000 pipe organ has been installed in the new Main Street Theatre, Kansas City, by the Kimball Company of Chicago. David Samuels of the Shubert Theatre staff has opened a musical agency at 1493 Broadway, New York, .where he will book concert artists for moving picture theatres in the United States and Canada. The new Tivoli Theatre, recently opened at Portsmouth, Va., features a large pipe organ and an orchestra of eight pieces. In creating the music score for motion pictures, the art of omission is often as important as that of commission, says S. L. Rothafel of the score for Foolish Wives. The biggest thrills in this picture were emphasized by special effects — in the storm scene only the rumble of thunder by the organ was heard, and in the fire scene only the shrieking wail of the fire engines heightened the effect. A good example of what can be used efficiently in the way of music for the motion picture theatre is to be had at the Strand Theatre, Rochester, N. Y. A large three manual Marr and Colton orchestral concert organ is used for the entire musical program. This is ably presided over by Mr. Grierson, and many people are drawn to this theatre by its splendid musical program. The Strand is the largest of Fenyvessy's stringy in Rochester and is one of the most popular theatres in that city. CUE IN THESE POPULAR HITS! OLD FASHIONED MARIE featured by Ted Lewis in the Greenwich Milage Follies Send for Complete Catalog of Popular ind Classical Muac GIRL ^yAl.Jolson RichmOnd-RDbbiDnS Tk Ontstanding success of his 1658 Bioidway.N.Y newest producUori-Bombo