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Theater Organ on Catalina Island
By John Ledwon

Yes, there is a 4-manual 16-rank Page theatre organ in the Avalon
Theatre on Catalina Island.  Beautiful theatre and organ even though
the organ could use some help.  Due to the location, it is difficult
to get people to go over there and work on it.

The theatre is unique in that it is round, which makes for some pretty
wild acoustics -- not bad, just different.  On top of the theatre is
a huge ballroom that I believe can hold 5000 people.  During the 1940s
I guess it was 'the place' to go on weekends.  There used to be an old
steamer that held several thousand people that would make the trip from
Avalon Harbor to the mainland and back.  Bob Salabury has several CDs
out on the organ.

Since you mentioned "The Incredibles" I thought I would give a plug for
the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood where I am one of three organists.
We ran that movie for two months during the holiday season, with a 30
minute organ prelude and a 30 minute stage show followed by the movie.
The El Capitan has the former San Francisco Fox Theatre's 4-manual
37-rank Wurlitzer.

John Ledwon


(Message sent Tue 1 Feb 2005, 17:04:53 GMT, from time zone GMT-0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Catalina, Island, Organ, Theater

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