Theatre Organ: The Sound of American Entertainment

From the 1910s through the early 1930s, the theater organ was the sound of American entertainment. This distinctive instrument was installed in most picture theatres and the organist was expected to provide suitable music for all parts of the program. The organist welcomed visitors with an overture, accompanied the film, give short concerts, and led sing-alongs. This last function, although surprising today, was ubiquitous at the height of the silent era, when theatergoers could expect to join their fellow patrons in song for ten minutes before the feature film. Singing together created a sense of community and often articulated local and national identity. This presentation will introduce the theatre organ in all of its guises. Theatre organist Ken Double will demonstrate the full capabilities of the instrument at the Strand Theatre in Marietta, GA. Dr. Morgan-Ellis will detail the history and uses of the theatre organ, with an emphasis on…