MMD > Archives > December 2020 > 2020.12.13 > 02Prev  Next


Pearl White, Supertone & Capitol Roll Artist
By Tom DeLay

I have a couple of Pearl White rolls. They are wonderful. One that
immediately comes to mind is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-pWzhdkYP8
Attachment thumbnail I have no idea how old she was, but figuring she was probably in her 70s in the 1970s, she had to have been in her 20s when she recorded these rolls. Supertone did an unknowing and wonderful job of preserving some of the Chicago area theatre organists via the piano roll: Pearl White, Irma Glen (who was a smoking hot pianist), Eddy Hanson and no doubt others. On Dennis Scott's YouTube posting about Pearl White at Shea's Buffalo Theatre, he wrote: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOtOK1ld2EY
Attachment thumbnail ] "Pearl White was one of America's best-loved theatre organists. She was a child prodigy and probably the youngest organist playing for silent movies in Chicago theatres during the 1920s. She also was making piano rolls in 1925, about the time she turned 15. This performance was recorded at Shea's Buffalo in 1964, during the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts (now Society) national convention. The crowd went wild for her "double stuff" a rhythm pattern she came up with while cutting piano rolls. October 26, 2010 would have been her 100th birthday. Happy Century, Pearl!" Tom DeLay Salinas, California [ The party comes alive when Pearl White "Finds" the Piano: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx6Xb1CGiJc&feature=youtu.be&t=80
Attachment thumbnail [ -- Robbie

(Message sent Sat, 12 Dec 2020 16:58:27 -0800 (PST) , from time zone -0800.)

Key Words in Subject:  Artist, Capitol, Pearl, Roll, Supertone, White