Bob Castle plays Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in Denver home
Posted on December 18th, 2009 by admin
Bob Castle, who played for decades as organist at Denver’s Paramount Theatre, plays the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in the Denver home of Dr Bruce Belshaw. As the console rises on the hydraulic lift from the pit, he plays strains from Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. This is followed by his version of a popular tune dating from 1916, Poor Butterfly.
Dr Belshaw constructed his Denver home expressly to accommodate a large theatre organ. His son, Don, who works with the Denver organ-building firm Morel & Associates, spent years doing a thorough restoration and installation of this instrument. After the passing of Dr Belshaw, the residence was sold and the organ was sold and removed to a new location in the midwest.
This video shows extensive application of the theatre organ playing technique known as the “Crawford Slide,” named after the person credited with its innovation, Jesse Crawford.
The complete 30-minute video includes a tour of the organ works and pipe chambers by Don Belshaw, an interview with Bob Castle and an interview and selections played by the home dweller, Dr Bruce Belshaw. It is available from www.zarex.com/bin and details are accessed by entering “9024″ in the Search Box on the site.
Duration : 0:8:11
[youtube SIvhJ_JBZFo]
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
This first …
This first composition “Japanese Sunset” was composed by a woman by the name of Jessie L. Deppen in 1916. It was not from “Madama Butterfly” which as we know was Giacomo Puccini.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
It is too bad that …
It is too bad that no one appreciates the organ like it used to be? The organ is the most fun musical instrument to play on! Even though I play keyboard professionally with bands, I still love playing the organ as I have enjoyed since the age of ten.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Lovely …
Lovely registrations on a beautiful installation! Bob’s playing is marvelously accurate and expressive. What a shame the organ is no longer in this location.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Beautiful palying, …
Beautiful palying, Bob.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Equisite playing …
Equisite playing and sound…..couldn’t imagine that you and the organ were rising up into your living room..tremendous!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
DUDE, this dude is …
DUDE, this dude is awesome.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Near where I live …
Near where I live theres still an old one screen cinema from the 40’s with a huge theater organ that comes out of the floor at the start and end of movies, they also have special organ festivals its great!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
BRAVO!!!
BRAVO!!!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
i love the …
i love the beginning of this video with the organ rising out of the ground. Heady house for sure
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I can remmber when …
I can remmber when the organs did this in theaters……before, intermission and after the show as you left….Now all we get is the loud talk of the people and “Cell Phones”…….I think with all our progress we have lost RESPECT!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Great sound, but …
Great sound, but WHEW…
Right at the beginning the way the
place is laid out I half expected to
see a coffin sitting there.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
That is a badass …
That is a badass house
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I’ve recently …
I’ve recently become interested in the theater organ after befriending dick smith and several other organ officianados in the baltimore area, great stuff
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
You should have a …
You should have a seat belt for that thing.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
let the lady breath …
let the lady breath and she will sing,you did that
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
The sound at 0:41 …
The sound at 0:41 gives me chills.
I want a pipe organ so badly
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Bravo, beautiful …
Bravo, beautiful feeling in the playing. stunning instrument!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Epic
Epic
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Dr Bruce Belshaw …
Dr Bruce Belshaw sure must have loved Wurlitzer theatre organs to have had his home built around one. I hope the organ, (now Dr Belshaw has sadly deceased), finds, or has already found a good home. Wonderful playing by Bob Castle too.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I love the “Moorish …
I love the “Moorish” console cases. I know a console just like this was in the Paramount, Cincinnati – are we sure this was from the Nortown? I know of only one Moorish decorated this way – the others are the Plaza, El Paso (top and front in swirled gold gesso), Tennessee, Knoxville (red-and-gold with ornate music rest), and the Alabama, Birmingham (red-and-gold, 4-manual Publix 1). So there was another Moorish case? It’s good to see the Indicating Key working properly on this organ.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Beautiful sound …
Beautiful sound from a beautiful organ. I’m guessing this was one of the Balaban models, and it’s one of only a few Moorish-style console cases built – another is at the Tenessee Theatre, another at the El Paso Theatre, and a bigger Publix 1 Moorish at the Alabama Theatre. Love the room it’s in!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
The late Dr. Bruce …
The late Dr. Bruce Belshaw built that modern home around the Nortown Wurlitzer, outside of Denver. The organ is now removed and in storage. I played it in 1985, it was a fine instrument to play, sounded wonderful in that home.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
I believe that it …
I believe that it wasw in the Nortown Theatre in Chicago.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
What a pretty …
What a pretty looking AND sounding instrument.
Very tastefully played and registered. Great job!
December 18th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Wonderful playing, …
Wonderful playing, wonderful instrument!
Do you happen to know where it was originally installed?