I was a student at Hollywood High in 1967. We had a magnificent organ in our auditorium and Gaylord Carter came to play the score for a film by Harold Lloyd during an assembly. He informed us about what a beautiful organ we had there. Remember, this was the 60's of the Beatles. He gave us a "tour" of our school's organ much like he did in this video.The film (I'm 70 now and, alas, cannot remember the title -- but Harold was a football player) and the music began, and all of us ... ALL of us ... were enchanted with the film and Gaylord's organ brilliance. When it was over our principal (Dr. Charles Sutcliffe) came to the stage and introduced a special guest who, unknown to us, was in the audience the whole time. It was Harold Lloyd himself and he received a standing ovation that seemed to go on forever. He (and Gaylord) became patron saints of the Sheiks (our school's name) that day. I will never forget it. We all learned the meaning of history that day. Thank you Richard Simonton for bringing back a wonderful memory to an old and appreciative fan of Harold and Gaylord. I owe you ... bigtime!
Thank you , VERY MUCH, for your comment. It's now on Facebook for my HHS friends to read, including my younger brother, who arranged the screening of The Freshman and was friends with Harold and Gaylord.
I was at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles in 1971 when Mr. Carter and Mr. Lloyd both were the guests of honor and did a similar assembly. Mr. Carter at the pipe organ and Mr. Lloyd talking about various films he starred in. He even gave away that secret about his clock stunt! What a day! Not too long before Mr. Lloyd's passing. We were very lucky!
Gaylord played a concert in Toronto in the 60's on a Conn theatre organ with dozens of speakers and amps. He didn't have to apologize for the setup. He could make great music on a slide whistle if that's what was available. A true musician!
Always a pleasure to hear the dear departed Gaylord Carter! You are missed! I was honored to be in attendance in his home several times for parties or AGO-Long Beach events. You are still the master of the theater organist!🎹
In 1970, I was invited by a friend of a friend of Richard Simonton Jr. to the home in Toluca Lake. It was in the basement theater with a huge Wurlitzer. Gaylord Carter played a couple of tunes on the organ. Harold Lloyd sat in front of me and we watched Movie Crazy - one of his early sound films. Afterwards a couple of us talked to Harold but he seemed to me to be a bit fuzzy in recalling information. He passed a few months later. But what a great memory. Now I am the organist at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo getting ready to play Safety Last! (April 24, 2022)
When Harold Lloyd says that if his car is damaged, he'll sue for $10,000: that amount in 1920 would equal $155,163 in 2024 money. That was quite a high-class automobile!
So good to hear Gaylord again. I helped prepare the WurliTzer at the San Gabriel Civic and the Kimball organ that used to be in the Wiltern Theatre for his movie presentations.
Way back in the 1960's (my teenager years) I had an organ teacher by the name of Mel Noggle. He was a theater organist from Chicago during the silent movie days. His hands were pretty gnarled up with arthritis but he could still play some great jazz organ music. If I'd had him as my original keyboard teacher back in the second grade, my life might have been entirely different.
Man what a sound! So rich and full. The e bay has some great ones this week. A 1966 custom 3 manual theater organ for practically nothing! And a very very rare Estey Grand Minuet with colored Theater tabs!
In the early 1980s I was lucky to have heard Mr. Carter play the 4 manual/74 stop Wurlitzer at San Sylmar a.k.a. Nethercutt Museum (www.latos.org/venue_organ/san-sylmar/) . Much like this video, he provided a demo of the organ & an improvised accompaniment to a silent Greta Garbo film. It was fabulous to actually hear such a grand instrument put though its paces by a musician who was there and learned first hand an art that we can only imitate.
Gaylord only played the music for the Haunted Mansion scene of the ghosts dancing. He received a $150 check from Disney every few years to renew the contract.
That instrument no longer survives intact. The console is in Kansas; the pipes are in Virginia as part of another organ. Sad end to a pipe organ with a glorious history.
Thank you Richard. This is gold 💛
I was a student at Hollywood High in 1967. We had a magnificent organ in our auditorium and Gaylord Carter came to play the score for a film by Harold Lloyd during an assembly. He informed us about what a beautiful organ we had there. Remember, this was the 60's of the Beatles. He gave us a "tour" of our school's organ much like he did in this video.The film (I'm 70 now and, alas, cannot remember the title -- but Harold was a football player) and the music began, and all of us ... ALL of us ... were enchanted with the film and Gaylord's organ brilliance. When it was over our principal (Dr. Charles Sutcliffe) came to the stage and introduced a special guest who, unknown to us, was in the audience the whole time. It was Harold Lloyd himself and he received a standing ovation that seemed to go on forever. He (and Gaylord) became patron saints of the Sheiks (our school's name) that day. I will never forget it. We all learned the meaning of history that day. Thank you Richard Simonton for bringing back a wonderful memory to an old and appreciative fan of Harold and Gaylord. I owe you ... bigtime!
Thank you , VERY MUCH, for your comment. It's now on Facebook for my HHS friends to read, including my younger brother, who arranged the screening of The Freshman and was friends with Harold and Gaylord.
I was at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles in 1971 when Mr. Carter and Mr. Lloyd both were the guests of honor and did a similar assembly. Mr. Carter at the pipe organ and Mr. Lloyd talking about various films he starred in. He even gave away that secret about his clock stunt! What a day! Not too long before Mr. Lloyd's passing. We were very lucky!
Gaylord played a concert in Toronto in the 60's on a Conn theatre organ with dozens of speakers and amps. He didn't have to apologize for the setup. He could make great music on a slide whistle if that's what was available. A true musician!
Always a pleasure to hear the dear departed Gaylord Carter! You are missed! I was honored to be in attendance in his home several times for parties or AGO-Long Beach events. You are still the master of the theater organist!🎹
In 1970, I was invited by a friend of a friend of Richard Simonton Jr. to the home in Toluca Lake. It was in the basement theater with a huge Wurlitzer. Gaylord Carter played a couple of tunes on the organ. Harold Lloyd sat in front of me and we watched Movie Crazy - one of his early sound films. Afterwards a couple of us talked to Harold but he seemed to me to be a bit fuzzy in recalling information. He passed a few months later. But what a great memory. Now I am the organist at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo getting ready to play Safety Last! (April 24, 2022)
A superb organist&Organ we must preserve these memories
When Harold Lloyd says that if his car is damaged, he'll sue for $10,000: that amount in 1920 would equal $155,163 in 2024 money. That was quite a high-class automobile!
So good Gaylord to hear you back on the 'bench'.... Rock on!! xoxo
So good to hear Gaylord again. I helped prepare the WurliTzer at the San Gabriel Civic and the Kimball organ that used to be in the Wiltern Theatre for his movie presentations.
Gaylord still has it!!
God bless Gaylord Carter and Harold Lloyd. May they both rest in glory.
Completely fantastic! Thank you for posting this gem, Mr. Simonton.
Way back in the 1960's (my teenager years) I had an organ teacher by the name of Mel Noggle. He was a theater organist from Chicago during the silent movie days. His hands were pretty gnarled up with arthritis but he could still play some great jazz organ music. If I'd had him as my original keyboard teacher back in the second grade, my life might have been entirely different.
Man what a sound! So rich and full. The e bay has some great ones this week. A 1966 custom 3 manual theater organ for practically nothing! And a very very rare Estey Grand Minuet with colored Theater tabs!
In the early 1980s I was lucky to have heard Mr. Carter play the 4 manual/74 stop Wurlitzer at San Sylmar a.k.a. Nethercutt Museum (www.latos.org/venue_organ/san-sylmar/) . Much like this video, he provided a demo of the organ & an improvised accompaniment to a silent Greta Garbo film. It was fabulous to actually hear such a grand instrument put though its paces by a musician who was there and learned first hand an art that we can only imitate.
amazing.
He also played for The Haunted Mansion attraction at the Disney theme parks!
I love that
Did Gaylord Carter played Underworldly Concerto (Grim Grinning Ghosts)?
Gaylord only played the music for the Haunted Mansion scene of the ghosts dancing. He received a $150 check from Disney every few years to renew the contract.
@@steamboatism Alr, thanks for the attention
Where, is that organ at
That instrument no longer survives intact. The console is in Kansas; the pipes are in Virginia as part of another organ. Sad end to a pipe organ with a glorious history.
PS it was in North Hollywood, California, when that video was made.
How many ranks did this organ have?
@@danielmurphy4415 36 Ranks.