"Moving Picture Theatres Assist Much in Spreading the Gospel of Good Music" [article]

"Moving Picture Theatres Assist Much in Spreading the Gospel of Good Music" [article]

1920

A descriptive article discussing silent film music practices and musicians at several Ottawa theatres.

Inscription: Moving Picture Theatres Assist Much In Spreading The Gospel of Good Music | Best of Compositions Are Well Rendered in Various Ottawa Film Houses and the Delightful Music Is Arranged To Fit the Pictures. | A VERY definite development has taken place in the musical feature of the moving picture theatres in Ottawa during the past few months. The orchestral advancement has been the result of serious thought on the part of those in charge of the picture houses, so that the programmes offered are all the more attractive to the general public. The best of compositions are well rendered in several of the theatres and the orchestral accompaniment for the pictures is both tuneful and appropriate. | The Regent Theatre has had a capable musical organization for a number of years and considerable progress along musical lines is also found at the Centre and Family theatres. At the Centre Theatre, the musical director is Milton Blackstone, who was formerly first violin at the Regent Theatre, Toronto, and director of the St. Denis Theatre orchestra, Montreal. He was also a solo-member of the Allen Theatre orchestra, Toronto, for a period. Those who are familiar with the music as rendered by the very large orchestras in the Toronto theatres are strong admirers of Blackstone's achievements in Ottawa. The Centre Theatre has a ten-piece orchestra, including an organ. The musician who presides at this organ is Mr. Cliff Payne, who also officiates as a recital accompanist on various occasions. | Credit to Mortimer. | Lionel Mortimer is the man in charge of the ten-piece orchestra at the Family Theatre and to him goes much of the credit for appropriate musical accompaniment in that house. Mortimer has been striving to obtain artistic results and he is meeting with results. Mortimer pays particular attention to "cue sheets." The latter outlines appropriate musical selections for a screen feature and also designates the playing time of the various musical numbers during the presentation of the feature. Following the cue sheet of a big film attraction involves considerable work and it also necessitates the use of a voluminous library of sheet music. During every appearance of the villain on the screen the orchestra plays a "heavy" composition, while the scenes in which the hero is shown are accompanied by a ballad selection or some air that suggests romance, sincerity of kindred theme. As an instance of the intricacy of the ordinary cue sheet for a feature such as "The Right to Happiness," which was shown recently at the Family, it should be mentioned that one selection is seldom played continuously for more than four or five minutes. There are many occasions when a special "strain" is not played longer than 45 seconds or one minute because of the use of "flash-backs," brief visions or intermediate flashes during the evolution of the screen story. Perfect moving picture orchestration consists of playing WITH the picture. An audience is literally carried away by the film story when the picture and orchestration harmonize to a complete extent. | High Class Musicians. | High class musicians are found at the REgent Theatre and they specialize with the overtures. Condutor Rudolph Pelisek features music of a classical nature without special regard for the picture theme. The music at the Regent in itself attracts many patrons and difficult numbers are rendered in a manner that pleases all. One member of the Regent Theatre Orchestra is Mr. A. Tremblay, who is also organist at the Basilica and a composer on his own account. | The Imperial Theatre is the only large theatre in Ottawa which does not boast of an orchestra simply because it is the policy of the house to specialize with the organ. Mr. Jack Neville, the presiding artist, is particularly capable as an extemporaneous player. He aims to follow the theme of all pictures by providing appropriate music for the actual scenes and he obtains many singular effects. One of his finest achievements this season was his accompaniment for "The Woman Thou Gavest Me," a feature that was presented a number of weeks ago. | Pomeroy Was a Star. | It is known by only a few people in Ottawa that Mr. Harry Pomeroy, manager of the Strand Theatre, started out in life as a professional musician. A number of years ago he was a member of the World Comedy Four, a vaudeville act that covered practically all of the big-time circuits. He developed into a musical comedy director and was employed as such with a Weber and Fields show for several seasons. Pomeroy was employed as the musical director of a theatrical production that played Buffalo all during the time of the Pan-American Exposition. During the early days of the moving picture business, Pomeroy provided a musical specialty for a show of which he was the manager. At the Strand Theatre here, Pomeroy makes good use of a small orchestra. This organization comprises three artists, Kellard Gamble, piano soloist. Harry Massey, xylophonist, and Mrs. Mitchell, relief pianist. The latter is also heard at many functions around the city. Harry Massey was formerly associated with Willie Eckstein, a well known Montreal pianist, and was originally with Early Fuller's Rector Cafe orchestra, New York.

English

“Moving Picture Theatres Assist Much in Spreading the Gospel of Good Music. Ottawa Journal. April 1, 1920: 18.

Microfilm from Ottawa Public Library.