Tweet Detroit, MI June 8 Wurlitzer + Liberty, The Rink, Cops

The Detroit Theater Organ Society (DTOS) will be presenting two public programs June 8 & 9 to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Since the mid 1960s, the Senate Theater, 6424 Michigan Ave., Detroit, MI, one block west of Livernois, has been the home for DTOS and the Wurlitzer theater pipe organ which came from Detroit's Fisher Theater. DTOS was formed in 1961 by the volunteer team that removed the organ, one of Wurlitzer's larger instruments, from the Fisher Theater when it was converted from a movie palace to a Broadway house.

Friday, June 8, at 7 PM DTOS will present a silent comedy program, featuring Charlie Chaplin (The Rink), Buster Keaton (Cops) and Laurel and Hardy (Liberty), with live accompaniment on the 4/34 Wurlitzer by organist Lance Luce. Silent films were often accompanied by a theater pipe organ to add excitement and sound effects. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Saturday, June 9, at 7 PM, Lance Luce will play the Wurlitzer theater organ in a concert of classic pops and Broadway's best. Luce is known in the metro Detroit area for his theater organ performances and as a church organist. Tickets are $12 at the door.

There is a guarded, lighted parking lot on Gilbert St with direct access to the theater.
Both programs are family-friendly.

More details at http://www.dtos.org/
and on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/DTOSonFB

That is quite a famous Wurlitzer organ in theatre organ circles what with its unique Mayan design high-kitsch console with a custom stop tab specification and chamber layout planned by its original organist. I remember having Lance Luce for a short time as a student early on at the beginning of my professional theatre organ career. Ought to be quite a show!

Dennis James, SILENT FILM CONCERTS (also on Facebook)