In 2007 Videographer James Plumlee of the Tulsa World made a nine-minute video tour of our organ. You can view it here.
Welcome to the website of the Sooner State Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society. We are headquarted in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and have our monthly meetings at the Broken Arrow Campus of the Tulsa Technology Center, 129th E. Ave (Olive) and 111th St. Our meetings are at 7:00 on the third Friday of the month, (unless circumstances dictate another date).
Our Sooner State Chapter mourns the loss of one of our valued members, Richard "Dick" Deaver. Dick was an instrumental part of our local chapter for many years as well as a member of the American Theatre Organ Society.
Dick was part of the team that rebuilt the Kilgen organ at Central High School in Tulsa and was on the technical crew that keeps the Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ in good shape for our programs. He also was a musician and performed programs himself, both as solo organist and accompanying silent movies, and an all-around great guy. He will be missed.
In December 2008 we elected our officers for the next two years. They are: Phil Judkins, President Bill Rowland, First Vice President Phil Gray, Second Vice President Lynda Ramsey, Secretary Joyce Hatchett, Treasurer Carolyn Craft, Program Chairman
Our chapter owns a 1927 Robert-Morton 3-manual theatre pipe organ (see picture top of page) that we use for our programs. It was originally installed in the Capitol theatre in Steubenville, Ohio, then by a circuitous route found its way to Tulsa, where we acquired it and got it installed in the new campus at TTC in the 1980s.
We also have a rebuilt 1903 Kimball grand piano donated to us by Don and Dee Miller that used to preside in the Mayo Hotel in downtown Tulsa.
Our members have also restored the 1927 four manual, forty-five rank Kilgen pipe organ at the Performing Arts Center of Tulsa Central High School. We promote the school's organ teaching program and concerts, which are open to the public. Our educational outreach includes bringing school children to Central High or TTC for a theatre organ experience. At right is the Central High School console.
Our programs feature some artists from out of the Tulsa area as well as local organists and usually give time for "Open Console" where members and non-members alike can try out the organ.
Please feel free to come by and enjoy our programs, there is no admission charge but donations for organ maintenance and program expenses are appreciated! And, if you would like to receive our monthly mailed newsletter, the Windline just let us know.
Click here to visit the national website for the American Theatre Organ Society.
Our first program for 2009 was on January 16, when we featured another in our series of silver screen classics, "The Sheik" from 1921 with Rudolph Valentino. The movie accompaniment was played on our mighty theatre pipe organ by Bill Rowland, and an audience of about 300 enjoyed the film and sing-a-long.
Gospel Music Night was February 20, with our talented local artists participating, and a crowd of over 200 in attendance.
The "Rev. Larry meets Ragtime Bill" program was back to entertain on March 27, with Rev. Larry Mitchell and "Ragtime Bill" Rowland on piano and organ with some surprises, including banjo player Joel Burkhart.
Our April program was a joint meeting with our local AGO chapter April 17 featuring organist Cristoph Bull and painter Norton Wisdom at the First Baptist Church in Tulsa.
And, we got to enjoy another visit from one of our favorite organists, the very talented Brett Valliant from Wichita, Kansas on May 15.
June's program returned to the Silent Screen on the 19th as we viewed three "two-reelers" with our local organists Lynda Ramsey, Phil Judkins, and Jeanette Maxfield.
July 17th was special, too, with performances provided by our local organists featuring the music of Irving Berlin. Shown are Bill Rowland, Carolyn Craft, Joyce Hatchett, Lynda Ramsey, Phil Judkins, Joe Maxfield, Jeanette Maxfield, Myra Underwood and Wayne Underwood.
Our August 21 program featured our local organist Carolyn Craft and The Craft Family with a great variety program played on our fabulous theatre pipe organ.
On September 18th we enjoyed another great show in conjunction with the German American Society of Tulsa with their 1929 Geneva pipe organ and the GAST Blaskapelle band.
October 16th was Silent Movie Night featuring the 1925 silent film The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney, plus a vintage cartoon thrown in for good measure. Bill Rowland provided accompaniment on the pipe organ and a crowd of over 500 people enjoyed the show, popcorn and lemonade.
November 20 is Open Console on our organ, come along and bring your sheet music and organ shoes!
December brings us once again to our annual Christmas Party for members (only) on the 18th. Bar-B-Cue and Christmas music for a Joyeux Noel!
Coming in January 2010: The Son of the Sheik with Rudolph Valentino! Bill Rowland will accompany this great silent film on the theatre pipe organ, 7:00 PM January 15.
This was Valentino's last movie, and he plays a dual role of
The Sheik of the 1921 movie and his headstrong son. Agnes Ayres reprises her role as the wife of the old sheik and the young sheik's love interest is played by Vilma Banky.
