What makes cinema organs sound different?

[ardcarp]

Ferney...you haven't lived!!! That glitzy ole console was rising up through the floor long before transistors (probably even valves!) were invented. Wurlitzer was a pipe organ maker originally, though not Hammond as far as I know.

[Bryn]

Ferney...you haven't lived!!! That glitzy ole console was rising up through the floor long before transistors (probably even valves!) were invented. Wurlitzer was a pipe organ maker originally, though not Hammond as far as I know.

I thought they were originally a 'white goods' manufacturer, then branched into 'butterfly' pianos before going in for pipe organs.

[vinteuil]

I thought they were originally a 'white goods' manufacturer, then branched into 'butterfly' pianos before going in for pipe organs.

"The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to as simply Wurlitzer, is an American company started in Cincinnati in 1853 by German immigrant Rudolph Wurlitzer. The company initially imported stringed, woodwind and brass instruments from Germany for resale in the U.S. Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. military. In 1880, the company began manufacturing pianos and eventually relocated to North Tonawanda, New York and quickly expanded to make band organs, orchestrions, nickelodeons and pipe or theatre organs popular in theatres during the days of silent movies.
Over time, Wurlitzer acquired a number of other companies which made a variety of loosely related products including kitchen appliances, carnival rides, player piano rolls, and radios. Wurlitzer also operated a chain of retail stores where the company's products were sold.
As technology evolved, Wurlitzer began producing electric pianos, electronic organs, and jukeboxes and eventually became known more for jukeboxes and vending machines, which are still made by Wurlitzer, rather than for actual musical instruments."

... thus saith wiki, at least.

.

[Dave2002]

This museum in Brentford is well worth a visit - https://www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/

[MickyD]

Been running since April, 1969 - a half-hour programme chiefly presented by Nigel Ogden. Possibly the last remaining of the Sing Something Simple/Melodies for You-type programmes? The very word "Wurlitzer" reminds me of The Goons (The Mighty Wurlitzer, in which Neddie Seagoon drove such an instrument across the Sahara Desert), and, of course, the old "Knock-Knock" Elvis joke.

Wasn't there also a presenter called Robin Richmond? Or am I getting my programmes mixed up?

[ardcarp]

Wurlitzer enjoyed initial success largely due to defense contracts to provide musical instruments to the U.S. military.

Aha! That's the answer to N. Korea. Get the US military playing Souza marches just over the border and Kim Jong-un will capitulate in no time. (Similar sort of thing done before somewhere? )

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Ferney...you haven't lived!!!

- deprived childhood (Lancastrian - figures!)

That glitzy ole console was rising up through the floor long before transistors (probably even valves!) were invented. Wurlitzer was a pipe organ maker originally, though not Hammond as far as I know.

Wasn't there also a presenter called Robin Richmond? Or am I getting my programmes mixed up?

A quick reference to WIKI says that you are indeed correct, and that Mr Richmond presented the first few series, before Nigel Ogden took over.

[Bryn]

Aha! That's the answer to N. Korea. Get the US military playing Souza marches just over the border and Kim Jong-un will capitulate in no time. (Similar sort of thing done before somewhere? )

The NYPO's 2008 visit does not appear to have had long-lasting calming effects.

[Braunschlag]

- deprived childhood (Lancastrian - figures!)





A quick reference to WIKI says that you are indeed correct, and that Mr Richmond presented the first few series, before Nigel Ogden took over.

Robin Richmond. For a short time I worked for Fox's music shop (Doncaster firm from memory). They started a rather speculative foray into flogging home organs as a franchise is Debenhams in the 1980s and I worked in one such emporium for a mercifully short time. The 'shops' were mostly hidden in a forgotten corner of the bed department where we'd annoy the furniture salesmen with endless toons from The Practical Organist albums. It got a bit too much so they then installed a double glazed booth in which we could really unleash the decibels. On quiet days we'd listen to Derek and Clive recordings at very low volumes.....
Robin Richmond was invited to the grand opening and duly obliged with that seaside anthem known to us all. Mrs Richmond was a bit more interesting. I'd never seen anyone of that age wearing so much makeup, she must have been sponsored by dulux. Very pleasant folks though.
Fox's experiment soon folded, mostly down to them picking a pretty useless new brand, Hohner (great for harmonicas and accordions but useless at home organs).
That was the time that every town had at least one home organ shop.