SILENT MOVIE: "PETER PAN" (1924)
Scott Smith, Organist
Sunday, October 21, 2012 - 3:00 p.m.
Peter Pan (Betty Bronson) is a magical boy who refuses to grow up, and brings the Darling children (Wendy, John, and Michael) from London to Neverland, where they have adventures that include a confrontation with the pirate Captain Hook and his crew. Wendy and her brothers and the Lost Boys are captured, but rescued by Peter, who forces Captain Hook (Ernest Torrence) to walk the plank and be eaten by the crocodile who once ate his hand. The film closely follows the plot of the original play, and even goes so far as to incorporate much of its original stage dialogue in the intertitles. Among the added scenes that you'll enjoy include Nana the dog, pouring out Michael's medicine and giving him a bath. The film was celebrated at the time of its release for innovative use of special effects (mainly to show Tinker Bell), and in 2000, was deemed "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant" by the United States Library of Congress. Organist Scott Smith is a native and lifelong resident of Lansing, where he studied both theatre and classical organ during his formative years. Beginning as a teenager, he performed regularly on the Barton organ at the Michigan Theatre in downtown Lansing as its last House Organist, from 1972 to 1980. When the organ's new home was secured at the Grand Ledge Opera House, Scott became House Organist, beginning in 1995. He was responsible for the organ's redesign and oversaw the installation and tonal finishing. Scott was one of the original incorporators of Lansing Theatre Organ, and has served as the organization's President since it's inception. In addition to concertizing and accompanying silent films, he also lectures about various aspects of pipe organ history and his writings can be found on the pages of numerous professional pipe organ journals. He is also the owner of Scott Smith Pipe Organs, LLC, a full-service pipe organ business that services and restores both theatre and church/classical pipe organs.
APPLAUSE, APPLAUSE!
Clark Wilson, Organist
Sunday, November 18, 2012 - 3:00 p.m.
Reviving our Art of the Composer series, we offer tribute to composer Burton Lane, who would have turned 100 years old in 2012. Lane's most popular and successful works include "Finian's Rainbow" (1947) and "On A Clear Day You Can See Forever" (1965). He is also credited with discovering the remarkably talented Judy Garland when she was no more than thirteen years old. His best-known songs include Old Devil Moon, How Are Things In Glocca Morra?, Too Late Now, How About You?, Everything I Have Is Yours, I Hear Music and the title song from "On A Clear Day." A native of Ohio, Clark Wilson began his musical training at age nine. While growing up, he accompanied numerous stage musicals and was organist at several churches. Following several years with the Schantz Organ Company, Wilson began a professional playing career on the staffs of numerous pipe-organ equipped restaurants. He is associated with Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, where he is on the organ staff as well as having assisted with the planning and installation of the world’s largest Wurlitzer organ. Wilson’s recording credits include seven albums. He has concertized and accompanied silent films extensively in the United States, Canada, Australia, and England. Wilson is currently the resident organist and organ conservator at the famed Ohio Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. Along with a busy concert and silent film accompaniment schedule, Wilson operates his own pipe organ business. He has received both the Technician of the Year and Organist of the Year awards from the American Theatre Organ Society, the only person to have ever done so. Welcome Clark back for his fifth Riverside Pops concert!
SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW!
Donnie Rankin, Organist
Sunday, February 10, 2013 - 3:00 p.m.
Donnie Rankin first took an interest in the theatre organ at the tender age of three when he first heard the sounds of the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Civic Theatre in Akron, Ohio. Following that initial introduction to the King of Instruments, he frequently played on his great-grandfather's home organ. In 2000, Donnie acquired an instrument and began taking formal lessons. Classical piano training followed in 2005, and his budding talent quickly blossomed into first rate musicianship. Since then, Donnie has won several organ competitions and awards, including being named the Overall Winner of the American Theatre Organ Society’s Young Theatre Organist Competition in 2007. Donnie began studying with noted organist Jelani Eddington in September 2007. Since that time, Donnie has performed for theatre organ audiences from coast to coast. He resides in Ravenna, Ohio, and is a staff organist at the Civic Theatre in nearby Akron, playing the very same organ Donnie first heard when he was three years old. When he has free time, he enjoys: boating, bowling, cinematography, photography, cycling, archery, marksmanship, and assorted backyard sports. Some more productive hands-on activities he’s been involved with include re-soldering PC boards for home organs, and restoring antique tractors, his latest a 1966 John Deere. Welcome, Donnie!
ENTER ELLIOTT AGAIN!
Christian Elliott, Organist
Sunday, April 7, 2013 - 3:00 p.m.
Making his second appearance on the Riverside Pops concert series, noted organist Christian Elliott is equally at home performing literature of the church or theatre, and is much in demand as a scorer of silent films. In addition to appearances at numerous film festivals and on college campuses, this California native has performed at conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and American Institute of Organbuilders, programs on BBC Radio and at the famed Hollywood Bowl. In the development of his own unique style, Elliott has studied with a diverse group of famed organists, including Richard Purvis, Frederick Swann, Gaylord Carter and Lyn Larsen. After a distinguished career of eleven years as Senior Organist and Associate Minister of Worship at the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church, Christian transitioned to a corporate career in 1999. He continues at Menlo Park as Principal Guest Organist, where he now performs on a monthly basis, as well as performing silent film presentations and solo organ engagements all across the United States. Elliott has six solo recordings to his credit. He is much in demand and rarely appears in this part of the country. Don't miss it!
(All events take place at the Grand Ledge Opera House, 121 S. Bridge St. (M-100), Grand Ledge, MI. All programs/artists subject to change.)
Tickets:
Tickets $12 in advance from LTO Box Office or Grand Ledge Opera House office, and $15 at the door.
Season tickets available ONLY from LTO box office, and are $40 for one ticket for each performance OR take advantage of our Mix 'N Match program, where you can pay $40 for four tickets in any combination of performances.
Tickets can be purchased in advance from the following venues:
Lansing Theatre Organ, Inc.
P. O. Box 26154
Lansing, MI 48909
517-394-9881
* Cash, money order, checks only. NO credit cards. *
Arts Tickets Box Office
Arts Council of Greater Lansing
1208 Turner St. (Old Town)
Lansing, MI 48906
517-372-0945
http://www.lansingarts.org/
* Cash, money order, checks, credit cards, online *
Grand Ledge Opera House Office (rear of building)
121 S. Bridge St., @ River St.
Grand Ledge, MI 48837
* Cash, money order, checks, credit cards *
Ticket orders received one week or less from the day of performance will be held at the LTO box office and available as a will call.
RELATED EVENTS:
HOLIDAY TRADITIONS (formerly Holiday Home Tour)
Saturday, December 7 & Sunday, December 8, 2012
Various organists / various times
Grand Ledge Opera House, 121 S. Bridge St. (M-100) @ River St., Grand Ledge
CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SEASON 2012
Scott Smith, Organist
Saturdays throughout the Christmas season - 12:00 Noon - 5:00 p.m.
(call ahead to confirm)
Mole Hole of Marshall, 150 W. Michigan Avenue, Marshall (1-269-781-5923)