Bob Mitchell has passed away at the age of 97. For all who saw him and heard him at a silent screening will never forget him.
He played for us at Cinecon a few years ago during a Mary Pickford film.
A sad loss but what a long life.
Bob Mitchell 1912-2009
Re: Bob Mitchell 1912-2009
What incredibly crappy news...but what a good life.Stan16mm wrote:Bob Mitchell has passed away at the age of 97. For all who saw him and heard him at a silent screening will never forget him.
He played for us at Cinecon a few years ago during a Mary Pickford film.
A sad loss but what a long life.
Fred
Fred
"Who really cares?"
Jordan Peele, when asked what genre we should put his movies in.
http://www.nitanaldi.com"
http://www.facebook.com/NitaNaldiSilentVamp"
"Who really cares?"
Jordan Peele, when asked what genre we should put his movies in.
http://www.nitanaldi.com"
http://www.facebook.com/NitaNaldiSilentVamp"
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silentfilm
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That's a shame. The only time that I got to hear him live was at the screening of Dorothy Vernon of Haddon Hall a couple of years ago at Cinecon.
I've got a 16mm print of the Roy Rogers oater The Bells of Rosarita (1945), and the Bob Mitchell Boys Choir appears in it, singing very nicely. I can't remember if he makes an actual appearance in the film though.
I've got a 16mm print of the Roy Rogers oater The Bells of Rosarita (1945), and the Bob Mitchell Boys Choir appears in it, singing very nicely. I can't remember if he makes an actual appearance in the film though.
Bruce Calvert
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
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misspickford9
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Thats TERRIBLE NEWS! I know he really declined in the last 2 months...he didnt look well. Its such a shame though...the end of an era people. Excuse me I need to go sob in my chocolate now...-
silentstar5
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I recall with great fondness some wonderful experiences being at the Silent Movie Theatre to hear Bob Mitchell accompany silent films. It was truly an event each time. He was beloved by us. The applause was thunderous for good reason; for the performance and what he meant to us. I feel grateful I have those memories and sad that he has passed.
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Michael F. Blake
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For those who may wish to attend or send flowers the service for Bob Mitchell will be held at: Christ The King Church, located at 624 N. Rossmore Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90004 It's at 9:30am Friday July 10th Its located at the corner of Vine & Melrose AveMichael F. Blake wrote:Is there any news of a funeral or memorial service for him??
An interrment at Hollywood Forever will follow with all of his former choir boys who will be singing Over The Rainbow (Bob's favorite song) as he is laid to rest.
Tracy
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silentfilm
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Silent Movie Theatre Bids Farewell to a Friend
By ALYSIA GRAY PAINTER
Updated 2:36 PM PDT, Tue, Jul 7, 2009
Flashback to the Silent Movie Theatre, pretty much any night during the last decade or so. A rough-and-tumble Keaton flick. Buster trips, the organ splats. Buster's up, dusting himself off, the music soars. Buster gets the girl, the music swoons.
The man behind the music and in front of the organ, Mr. Bob Mitchell, passed away on the Fourth of July at the age of 96. Film fans around town will say, rightly, that Mr. Mitchell was one of a kind, a real gentleman with a knack for wringing suspense and drama out of the keys set before him.
We attended his 90th birthday party at the Palace Theatre, and while the film -- we think it was "Seven Chances" -- was grand, and seeing Janet Klein perform was grand, and the ornate setting was grand, and sitting right behind Ray Manzarek of The Doors was grand, the amiable star of the night was the grandest thing of all.
It isn't a surprise to learn that Mr. Mitchell actually provided music for silent movies during the silent movie era of the 1920s. So hearing him, whether at Silent Movie or one of the downtown theaters, was always a treat cinephiles never took for granted. And would Mr. Mitchell always take time to chat in his congenial fashion at intermission? He would.
Say farewell to a friend of film and music with the Cinefamily on Wednesday, July 8th, ahead of a screening of "Love" with Greta Garbo.
Copyright NBC Local Media
Silent Movie Theatre Bids Farewell to a Friend
By ALYSIA GRAY PAINTER
Updated 2:36 PM PDT, Tue, Jul 7, 2009
Flashback to the Silent Movie Theatre, pretty much any night during the last decade or so. A rough-and-tumble Keaton flick. Buster trips, the organ splats. Buster's up, dusting himself off, the music soars. Buster gets the girl, the music swoons.
The man behind the music and in front of the organ, Mr. Bob Mitchell, passed away on the Fourth of July at the age of 96. Film fans around town will say, rightly, that Mr. Mitchell was one of a kind, a real gentleman with a knack for wringing suspense and drama out of the keys set before him.
We attended his 90th birthday party at the Palace Theatre, and while the film -- we think it was "Seven Chances" -- was grand, and seeing Janet Klein perform was grand, and the ornate setting was grand, and sitting right behind Ray Manzarek of The Doors was grand, the amiable star of the night was the grandest thing of all.
It isn't a surprise to learn that Mr. Mitchell actually provided music for silent movies during the silent movie era of the 1920s. So hearing him, whether at Silent Movie or one of the downtown theaters, was always a treat cinephiles never took for granted. And would Mr. Mitchell always take time to chat in his congenial fashion at intermission? He would.
Say farewell to a friend of film and music with the Cinefamily on Wednesday, July 8th, ahead of a screening of "Love" with Greta Garbo.
Copyright NBC Local Media
Bruce Calvert
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
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misspickford9
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silentfilm
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Original Dodger Stadium organist passes away
Bob Mitchell, who was the first official stadium organist for both the Dodgers and Angels in Los Angeles, died Saturday at the age of 96. Josh Premako of the Newhall Signal has an obituary.
... The Hollywood resident had become a Newhall fixture over the last two years, playing organ for the "Friday Night Flickers" silent-film screenings at Heritage Junction. ...
Mitchell was born in Sierra Madre, started playing organ at age 4 and played for silent movies from age 12 until the advent of sound in motion pictures.
He founded the Mitchell Choirboys in 1934, who performed in 100 motion pictures - notably "Carefree," with Fred Astaire; "Angels with Dirty Faces," with Pat O'Brien; "Going My Way," with Bing Crosby; and "The Bishop's Wife," with Cary Grant. ...
Last summer, Mitchell returned to Dodger Stadium for the 50th anniversary of its opening after Stephens made a few phone calls.
Mitchell announced the start of the game, and played the organ for the seventh-inning stretch.
He first played for the Dodgers in 1962, spending four years with the team.
"To the day he died, he knew nothing about baseball," Stephens quipped.
"I never saw him more childlike than he was at Dodger Stadium last year," he said. "He had a blast." ...
Original Dodger Stadium organist passes away
Bob Mitchell, who was the first official stadium organist for both the Dodgers and Angels in Los Angeles, died Saturday at the age of 96. Josh Premako of the Newhall Signal has an obituary.
... The Hollywood resident had become a Newhall fixture over the last two years, playing organ for the "Friday Night Flickers" silent-film screenings at Heritage Junction. ...
Mitchell was born in Sierra Madre, started playing organ at age 4 and played for silent movies from age 12 until the advent of sound in motion pictures.
He founded the Mitchell Choirboys in 1934, who performed in 100 motion pictures - notably "Carefree," with Fred Astaire; "Angels with Dirty Faces," with Pat O'Brien; "Going My Way," with Bing Crosby; and "The Bishop's Wife," with Cary Grant. ...
Last summer, Mitchell returned to Dodger Stadium for the 50th anniversary of its opening after Stephens made a few phone calls.
Mitchell announced the start of the game, and played the organ for the seventh-inning stretch.
He first played for the Dodgers in 1962, spending four years with the team.
"To the day he died, he knew nothing about baseball," Stephens quipped.
"I never saw him more childlike than he was at Dodger Stadium last year," he said. "He had a blast." ...
Bruce Calvert
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com
http://www.silentfilmstillarchive.com