Behind the Scenes with organist Ken Double and the Fox Theatre's Mighty Mo' organ 

I love going to the Fox to listen to this magnificent organ. I wish they had more concerts on it than they do. I would go every time. And that's not even mentioning how spectacular the theater itself is. It's so wonderful that this theater and this organ were preserved as so many great movie palaces weren't so lucky. Between 1910 and 1933 there were approximately 3000 of these organs and of those about 1000 remain, according to the American Theater Organ Society.

I was privileged to know Philip Allen, former senior organist at First Baptist of Atlanta (which had a very large pipe organ). He was one of the very few who were allowed to play the 'Mighty Mo' organ at the Fox and he said it was, indeed, an honor to play it -- and fun, too! Enjoyed watching this...very informative. Thanks!

I am also an organist, the theatre organ is an amazing instrument. It must be preserved. How I dreamed to play one. Awesome!!! how can any modern keyboard or organ compare to this?!

It was really incredible hearing this organ when Phantom of the Opera was at the Fox back in October.

Billy Corgan brought me here, love this.

As a young man and resident of Atlanta during the 1960s, it was always a thrill for me to be able to hear the Fox Theater organ well played.

my great grandfather Edwin sawtelle played that organ in the 1920s and also in Hawaii it is nice that these organs are being preserved

I'm from Hagerstown, Maryland and a relative's uncle was an engineer at Moeller's until they closed. The factory still stands, but only as silent testimony to the legends they produced.

Thank you for all your comments. We are glad you liked the video!

One of the original members/founders of the ATOS, Tiny James, was my best friends' father and the inspiration for me to become an organist. Thanks for this posting!!

My late grandfather ( Harold D. Ocker ) supervised the installation of this organ. His only job was at M.P. Moller and retired as a vice president..

Thank you all for the very engaging and interesting conversation!

I have a lot of respect for this man

What a fabulous player - great technique and fantastic choice of chords etc. - more of that please :-)

Of course I would love this because my brother Joe had a big hand in saving this Organ! Joe Patten.

Waow the low note at 4:50 is just amazing sound !!!!

GOOSEBUMPS AND TEARS!!! 💜🔥😪

Greetings from London, UK! How wonderful to have such a beautiful organ in such a spectacular theatre. It truly is a tragedy that so many theatre organs have been destroyed or disposed of over the years, so heartfelt congratulations to you all for maintaining and preserving a unique part of your musical heritage. Long may she continue to thrill audiences with the unique sounds of the theatre pipe organ. Thanks so much for posting this video. With all good wishes and kindest regards, Peter.

Thank You Sir, for this Excellent Introduction to the Theatre Organ where you are shown playing here. I am Subscribing to your Channel as of today, I am a Movie Nut / Movie Buff starting with the years 1896 on Nitrate Motion Picture Film, through to the present day of Digitally produced Motion Picture Images. I will be checking your postings here on your Channel, to hopefully find you have recorded the Theatre Organ in Magnificent Stereo ( here is hoping ). I have quite a number of issues of Your Organization's Magazine "THEATRE ORGAN - JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY" with me here. I am based in Australia. I am hoping American Audiences are currently appreciating what they have available to them through Your Organization and I hope they will search out subscribing to your Magazine and support your organization by attending Concerts spread throughout America.... Best Wishes to the American THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY, and to Mr Ken Double for this posting.

Wow! I want one in my single wide trailer house, lol!

What a time it was. "that great cavernous space really lets it sing"..

It's interesting how the access to the organ console appears to be convenient here. The console access doors for the Detroit and St. Louis Fox open to the back of the console and organists have to hug their way to the seating position.

Fantastic.

Glad you made this video but not much "backstage" to it except one little hallway leading to the organ! LOL

It's worth reminding younger folks there is no amplification or loudspeakers involved here. All the sounds come from pipes in chambers behind the walls. It's all powered by air blowers.

Bravo!

How in the world does a visiting organist learn an unfamiliar instrument? Church or theater organ, no matter, how many hours does it take to learn the console? If you don't use a score, how do you remember which combination to press? Do you take down notes for each song if the registration changes? I'm a church organist and I read music very well but I don't have the chops for the theater organ (which I love).

Dubs!!!!!

Recommended to me by William Patrick Corgan

All the different sounds you describe at 01:10 . are all these replications just coming from air going through a pipe?

Sad to not hear the organ playing

👍

これが劇場オルガンというものなのか。見たことのない楽器だ。

Kinda wish he would just shut up so we can hear the organ

Its a moller organ

500 of 11k is not bad considering the advancements made...AND.don't make these WIND PUMPED whISTLING claptraps sound so damm good!!!!!!!!! They put out of BUSINESS a MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH BETTER SYSTEM FOR 100 REASONS, THE ORCHESTRA.

Definitely not an art for the faint of heart.

To make these organs thrive is to allow more open consoles and allow people to play these. So many are afraid to let someone go near them. So it's like can't play it screw it I will go to my local church and play. The wanamaker I went to see it one time and the organist was so nasty so unaccommodating to this day I see that organ and know I will never get to sit at it. So that is half the problem the second problem is that the organ crowd are not very inviting to let outsiders come in and try to learn it. I play strings and I want to learn the organ and was snubbed (oh a guitarist you need many many years of piano to play organ) so the hell with it So to see these organs again come back and thrive the attitude towards non organists and musicians alike needs to be changed and be welcoming. We need an Arnold Palmer of the organ to promote the instrument. I guarantee that if I walked up to the organ there at that Fox I would not be allowed to go near it not alone play it. That is the problem and that is why the organ is almost dead. Even in the Catholic Church today in Converse Tx I didn't see an organ they removed it two years ago.. not good. and it's happening all over the country no one plays them anymore. sick

This would make a nice bonfire.