The Shelby Community Band performed a concert to benefit the flood victims of Shelby County.   Russell Smith, director of the band, programmed a concert filled with patriotic music and traditional marches.    Cindy Houpt once again joined the band to sing several selections.

 The concert raised over $450 for the Victim Relief Fund at the Blue River Foundation.   In addition, over 200# of non-persishable supplies were donated.   These items were delivered to Human Services for distribution to families effected by the floods.   Above, Russ Smith helps unload the items with the assistance of Sandy Hall and Ray Smith of Human Services.

Below is the tuba section warming up before the concert.

Hello All,

At long last, David Bottom of Lexington Kentucky was able to visit the Strand.   David is one of the few theatre organ technicians with experience on Louisville Pipe Organs.   He has been a supporter of our project and helped us in many ways.    His knowledge of the Louisville company and understanding of how they did things will be valuable as we rebuild our organ.    David has found many "pieces and parts" for our project that are extrememly scarce.   In addition to being a meticulous organ technician, David is an expert on safes and their construction.   We still have our safe in the theatre.   It is heavy (1000 pounds) and we don’t quite know what to do with it.   David is helping us with that too.

David was one of the participants in our acquisition of the Louisville Pipe Organ originally installed in the Oriental Theatre in Indianapolis.   In his many trips to this area, he has yet to visit the Strand.   That was finally rectified on June 30, 2008.   We appreciate David’s help and his interest in our project.

Along with the Strand, David is a principle in the restoration of the Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ from the Kentucky Theatre in Lexington.   You can visit his project at http://www.kywurlitzer.com/

The 2008 American Theatre Organ Society’s annual convention wrapped up today with a series of final concerts.    The first concert of the day took place at North United Methodist Church in Indianapolis.    The busses loaded once again at 1:00 for the short ride to Warren Performing Arts Center for the final performance by Jim Riggs.     As expected, Mr. Riggs played an excellent, easy to listen to concert.   

With final goodbyes, the convention comes to a close.   The Strand is appreciative of the opportunity to participate in this years event.   As the saying goes….."next time in Shelbyville!"

The Strand Theatre of Shelbyville is highlighting the events of the 2008 American Theatre Organ Society Convention held in Central Indiana in July 2008.    Our friends and partners of the Central Indiana Chapter of ATOS are the hosts of this years event.   It is a convention that brings theatre organ enthusiasts from all over the world to our part of the country.    By the time CIC-ATOS hosts its next convention, the Strand Organ Project should be installed and a venue for the convention.     We are grateful to CIC-ATOS to bringing world wide awareness to the great theatre organs in Indiana, but also their help in promoting the Strand and its mission to a wider audience.

Day 4 began with a bus ride from the convention headquarters at the Downtown Hyatt hotel in Indianapolis, to the lovely Paramount Theatre in Anderson.   Many of our Strand volunteers have visited the Paramount in the past.   The Eberson designed "atmospheric" theatre is stunning.   Our convention guests were impressed.  
 

We heard Strand friend and Shelbyville regular Ken Double at the console of the Page Organ.   Ken is no stranger, having spent quite a bit of time at Shelbyville’s "other" Uniphone while he was in college.    Ken was introduced by his friend and fellow sportscaster Bob Jenkins.    He opened with "Back Home Again in Indiana."    He played an great concert, continuing the trend of tunes from the 1960’s too.     Not only is Ken a top notch entertainer (and sportscaster), but he is also the national president of ATOS.    Ken has been in the background keeping track of our Strand project from its very beginning.   The Strand appreciates the support of Ken through the years in helping us make our theatre organ a reality.  Below Strand Volunteer Elizabeth F. catches up with Ken after his concert.

At the concert we caught up with Strand friend Justin N.  (a great organ technician too!) and his pal Andrew from Buffalo, NY.    Justin entertained at the open console session following the concert and played an impressive set of tunes.

Following the concert and lunch in Anderson, we traveled up I-69 to Fort Wayne.    Next stop was the Embassy Theatre, home to its original Page Organ.     CIC-ATOS member Mark Herman, and Strand Friend John Ferguson’s student, played an excellent program.   Mark included a wonderful singer and a special guest appearance by long time Embassy supporter and pianist Dyne Pfeffenberger.   Dyne, along with the late Buddy Nolan and Bob Goldstein, accomplished with the Embassy what we strive for at the Strand.    It was a magical moment when Dyne played an early Irving Berlin tune on the piano and was joined by Mark playing four hands.   It was great to see the two generations of musicians share the same bench and the same enthusiasm for the music and the theatre.    

Following dinner, we headed back to the Embassy for a silent film.    "The Winning of Barbara Worth" was accompanied by Strand Friend Clark Wilson on the Embassy Page.    Clark, as always, did a masterful job of bringing this very dramatic film to life with his expert scoring of the film.    A silent film series is one of the things we have to look forward to when our theatre organ is installed.   

Also today we hosted the Shelby County Player’s first day of their summer acting camp on the Strand stage.   They will be in the theatre all week helping introduce young people to the thrill of performing on stage!

The 2008 Annual ATOS Convention started with an early afternoon concert at Manual High School in Indianapolis.   Our artist was the winner of the 2007 ATOS Young Artists Competition in NYC.    Donnie Rankin played a lively one hour set.   His sense of humor certainly tickled a few in the audience.  

Following Donnie’s concert the 2008 Young Artists Competition was held.   Hopefully the Strand Theatre in Shelbyville will be a performance venue for some of these up and coming theatre organ artists.

Strand Theatre friends Tim Needler, Chairman of the 2008 Convention and CIC-ATOS President and Shawn Chase, CIC-ATOS Treasurer take a quick break for a picture.   The entire CIC-ATOS crew (and Strand Partners) have done a wonderful job of hosting an outstanding convention.   Along with Tim and Shawn, Strand volunteer Elizabeth F. caught up with Strand friend Carlton Smith.   Doesn’t Carlton look calm!

The evening finished with a concert by Richard Hills at the Dessa and Virginia Byrd Memorial Barton Grand Organ located at the Warren Performing Arts Center.      Dessa Byrd played this organ in its heyday at the Indiana Theatre in Indianapolis.    As a side note, Strand volunteer and Shelbyville Native Ruth R. lived in Dessa’s former home on the near North Side of Indianapolis.   Small world.

Richard played a fine concert.   A special mention of his inclusion of Here, There, and Everywhere from Revolver, undoubtably one of the most beautiful tunes from the 60’s.   It is a natural for the theatre organ.    His encore was fantastic and showed not only the variety of sound the Barton can produce, but also the excellent work of our friend Carlton.

Day 2 of the American Theatre Organ Society’s annual convention brought another day filled with great music and organs.   Our Strand still is the topic of conversations, but we are not alone.    We have friends in Georgia that are restoring their Strand Theatre.   Georgia board member Ron C. spoke at length about the similarities in our projects.    You can check out their progress on their VERY good website:  www.friendsofthestrand.com     

The first concert featured Scott Foppiano on the Hedback Theatre Page/Wurlitzer owned by CIC-ATOS.    Scott played a wide variety of music on this fine 11 rank instrument.    The audience had quite the surprise when Scott was joined by the Indy Pride Jazz Band for 3 numbers.    The Pride band had Strand friends Jason Y. and Cletus G. (sitting in for vacationing Strand Board Member Kurt S.)    The jazz band and organ sounded great.   We are working on booking the Indy Pride Jazz Band into the Strand…it will be fun.    Below is the Hedback Page Console:

After a short break all 525 conventioneers loaded up the busses and headed to Vigo County and the Indiana Theatre in Terre Haute.    The Indiana Theatre was designed by famed theatre architect John Eberson.    CIC-ATOS has a Wurlitzer scheduled to be installed in the Indiana, but it was not ready for the convention.    The Allen Organ Company brought in their brand new "Walt Strony" 4 manual instrument.    This digital instrument was played skillfully by Mr. Strony.    The Indiana is a beautiful theatre, and the Strand volunteers know all to well the work that it will take to restore it to its former glory.   The Indiana’s owner is committed to the success and survival of that beautiful venue.    Below is a console picture of the digital Allen:

The Central Indiana Chapter for the American Theatre Organ Society are hosts of the 2008 national ATOS convention.   CIC-ATOS is in partnership with the Strand Theatre for the installation of our theatre organ.    Here are highlights from the convention.

During the day the Strand hosted visitors from California interested in our theatre organ project.    After touring the theatre, the group also heard the last remaining playable Louisville Pipe Organ Company theatre organ, and toured the warehouse where the Oriental Theatre LPO is stored.   David was host to Jerry, Pat, Wendall, and Dave.   

Wendall is also and expert on theatre projection.  He toured the projection booth and took a look at our modern equipment!      

The Convention started with a cocktail party with Strand friend Cletus Goens at the B3 Hammond.    This wasn’t any ordinary road weary B3, this was a brand new completely digital B3.    It sounded great, but just some how doesn’t seem right without the whirr of the tone generators.   I know Strand supporter Jeff S. would be interested if it weighed the same….and no key click.    

From the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, tour busses took the 500+ attendees to the first concert.   Simon Gledhill performed on the Wurlitzer at Manual High School in Indianapolis.   The Carl E. Wright Auditorium at the school was just renovated.   The organ sounds better than ever.   Simon played a wonderful concert finishing with an encore of "Can’t By Me Love".     Strand Supporters Carlton S. and Justin N. of Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations had the Wurlitzer sounding fantastic.  

Our friends at Mainstreet Shelbyville and WSVX Radio will host a celebration of Downtown Shelbyville on Saturday July 12, 2008.    The proceeds from this event will go to help the Strand Theatre with the rebuilding of our Marquee!!  More information will be posted as it becomes available.

Thank you MAINSTREET SHELBYVILLE  and WSVX RADIO!

The Shelby Community Band under the direction of Russell Smith will be returning to the Strand for a summer concert.   The procees from this concert will benefit our local Flood and Tornado victims.   The program will feature a variety of patriotic selections, marches and band literature suited for all ages.    Featured vocalist Cindy Houpt will be accompanied in several selections by members of the band.  The concert will take place on Friday July 11, 2008 at 7:30 pm.  

Admission is free, but those attending are asked to bring three non-perishable items, such as canned goods or cleaning supplies.   Donations to the relief fund are also accepted.