Cover Photography: Phil Howard
Liberty Spectra-Sonic-Sound SL 9003
1956
This is an interesting Liberty project. The book-fold jacket features a 6-page insert that tells the story of the organ used to make this recording. Another organist of note, the actor best remembered for his role as George Wilson on CBS's TV series
Dennis The Menance, Joseph Kerns, built his house around this organ which was purchased from Warner Brothers Studio in 1955. The insert features photos of Kearns space age home, exterior and interior images along with additional photos of the organ. I can't find any online mention of the house, that is, if the structure still stands today.
The album isn't consistent, conceptually, but there are a few atmospheric tunes to enjoy and of course, there is the great story to enjoy.
From the inside cover: About Johnny Duffy - Johnny Duffy is without a doubt one of the country's leading organists. He is equally at ease in the concert halls or as soloist in a swank supper club. As musical director for many of the major networks' top radio shows, he has brought many well-known themes to the ears of listeners everywhere.
Johnny is a true son of Erin, having been born in Kildare, Ireland. His youth, however, was spent in Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania, a little town near Pittsburgh. His musical background includes years of study with Walter Kelsey, Clarence Mader and Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco. The ability to play both semi-classical and popular music on the pipe organ and make it a thing of beauty is Johnny Duffy' greatest gift to the musical world.
About Joseph Kearns - Joseph Kerns was a leading west coast theatre organist for many years and played for an additional three years in Salt Lake City and Provo, Utah. His career as a theatre organist was terminated in the early thirties, and he joined radio station KSL, Salt Lake City, as an announcer.
Pior to joining KSL, he appeared in Salt Lake City stock productions for many years. After a six-year stint as staff announcer and program director at KSL, he came to Hollywood as an actor.
Since that time, he has been a regular on many top radio and television shows. His many credits include the Burns and Allen show; the Jack Benny show, as the vault-keeper, Ed; the narrator – the voice of Suspense; Judy Canova show, as her goofy boyfriend, Lukie; and the Whistler.
Despite his varied successes in show business, his first love has always been the magnificence of the theater pipe organ.
Also from the jacket notes: One of this admirable group is Joseph Kearns of Hollywood, California. This gentleman has gone to considerable expense and devoted most of his time recently to renewing and refining one of these glorious instruments. Having been a theatre organist at one time and a continuing organ enthusiast, he jumped at the opportunity to acquire a Wurlitzer – the second of only three of this specification made by Wurlitzer. It was made specifically for motion picture recording, and is voiced differently from the average organ. this particular instrument was completed January 31, 1929, for Warner Brothers. CBS bought it in 1948 and retained it in storage. Mr. Kearns bought it from CBS in February, 1955, and at that time began drafting plans for a structure in which to house it. This structure now serves not only as his home, but as a permanent abode for the organ and one of the most impressive settings in which a theater organ has ever been placed. Few people in Hollywood realize that within a stone's throw of Hollywood Blvd. and Vine St. there exists a carefully planned and beautifully decorated modern 2 1/2 story structure which is virtually built around an organ console. Mr. Kearns designed the house himself. After he got the organ, he realized he had to have some place to put the contents of the crates and boxes that had filled four storage rooms from floor to ceiling. So he built a house.
Of course, it wasn't quite so simple as that. He and his contractors spent hours contemplating special construction problems, sound proofing, air conditioning, proper acoustics, etc. The console, which alone weighs a ton and a half, was placed right in the center of the living area. They had to use special steel beams and girders to support it. Aside from the fact that the dwelling is primarily functional as housing for the organ, it is extremely livable as a home.
The console, or key-desk, is placed in an alcove on the inner wall of a thirty-foot living room, with a decorative grille, for the pipes to speak through, on the opposite wall. The instrument was in mint-condition, as it had been carefully packed and crated, and had been playing up till the time of dismantling. The console consists of three manuals, full complement of pedals; two swell pedals; one crescendo pedal, nine toe pistons, 30 manual pistons and 175 stop tablets, which operate the many hundreds of pipes and percussions. There are 18 ranks of pipes, enclosed in two large chambers; all highly unified (another contribution by Hope-Jones!), complete with couplers, full "toy-counter," chimes, vibraphon, marimba-harp, as well as a Wurlitzer upright piano, playable from the console. The combination setter-board system, in back of the console, is accessible from a rear hallway.
Mr. Kearns engaged Henry Pope, who originally disassembled the organ at Warner Brothers, to reinstall it. He and Mr. Pope spent three months uncrating and sorting the parts. Construction on the house was begun in May, 1955, and the organ was installed by November. Mr. Kearns moved into the house in December, and the organ refinement was begun. The organ was playing well by the latter part of the construction of the house and made it possible to install the organ and have it playing in such a short time.
From Billboard - December 22, 1956: A meticulous engineering job has been done on this waxing of performance by a superior organist on a superior instrument. For pipe organ enthusiasts the sound will frequently be a revelation. Duffy has chosen a well-balanced program, mostly standards plus a couple of his own compositions, which offer a sampling of his instrument's virtuosity in a variety of musical moods. This should be fine sales bait for lovers of pipe organ listening.
Port Au Prince
Cuban Love Song
Come Back To Sorrento
Cross Country
Moon Of Makakoora
Cornish Rhapsody
Moonlight On The Ganges
It Happened In Monterey
Autumn In Rome
Down The Old Ox Road
Pigalle
American Rhapsody
