| In
January 1989, four theatre organ enthusiasts met to establish the
non-profit Ottawa Valley Theatre Organ Society with the
vision of resurrecting the sounds of the theatre organ in Ottawa. |
|
The
story of the Society's growth in the 1990's and the establishment
of their current major restoration project is not only a lesson in
history, but the story of unrelenting devotion to restoration
exhibited by Society members over the past few years.
(Read
About the History) |
|
This
major project consists of blending a 1920's Canadian made Samuel
R. Warren (Woodstock, Ontario) theatre organ with a Robert-Morton
instrument of the same vintage in the backstage areas of the
re-furbished O'Brien Theatre in Renfrew, Ontario which opened in
1931. This Theatre is named after M.J. O.Brien, a local
lumber baron and builder of the rail line up the Ottawa
Valley. M.J.'s original home is only five block away.
This joint venture between the Society and theatre owner Murray
Adolph has re-created an authentic venue for theatre organ music
and to this day, remains the only 1920's era commercial theatre in
Canada with a playing theatre organ.
|
| At
the present time, slightly more than one-third of the planned
instrument is full winded, but all 21 ranks of pipes and tuned
percussions are in place. |
| This
is the "Toy Counter" section of the instrument with 20
toys.
The toy Monkey sitting on top follows tradition where
technicians attached at least one stuffed Monkey to this part of
the organ. |
|
 |
The
left bank consists of two tuned percussions. The sleigh
bells are on the top and on the bottom is the Chrysoglotte.
On
the right side of the picture in the back are the Diaphone and
Violone pipes, the largest in the organ, standing 16 feet from
base to top. |
| The
Society is also restoring a small American
Photoplayer
(or "Pit Organ"), circa 1923 from the
Osborne Theatre in Winnipeg, Manitoba, also donated by the
late Thora Park. This organ has a two manual horseshoe
console, a separate blower, and two portable chambers of pipes,
percussions and special effects - - all of which were essential
for the accompanying of silent films. |
The
OVTOS's American Photoplayer Organ |
| A
Baldwin Cinema II electronic organ owned by the Society has been
played at the O'Brien Theatre and Trinity St. Andrews United
Church in Renfrew, and at special events in nearby Arnprior,
Smiths Falls, Russell and Marvelville, as well as at the National
Museum of Civilization in Hull, Quebec and various locations in
Ottawa. |
| Two
reed organs now in storage will be augmented with the addition of
other reed organs to represent various styles of this type of
instrument for eventual display in a museum.
The
Renfrew Theatre Organ is available to those who are interested in
playing or learning to play this unique type of instrument from
bygone years during times when the O'Brien Theatre is not showing
one of its excellent current movies. Interested parties
should contact Vice President Bill Burwell at 613-432-4635 to make
arrangements.
If
you are interested in learning more about Theatre Organs and various
other Societies in North America and abroad, then you may wish to visit
the following sites: |
The
Renfrew Theater Organ being played during the 2000 AGM.
(Photo Sherry Haaima, Renfrew Mercury) |
|
