For what it is worth: I saw the Harold Lloyd comedy "Safety Last" 1923 at the Orpheum Theater (on Broadway in downtown Los Angeles, CA)with live Organ accompaniment. Two comments: 1. It is still a very funny movie with fast editing. I was astounded at the quick pace and contemporary "feel" despite being almost 100 years old. 2. Watching a silent movie with organ accompaniment is an entirely different experience than watching a "talkie"... In some way, it is more enjoyable than sound movies. Curious.
Apparently every movie house in the 1920's had an organ accompanist. One of the worst things about talking pictures was the great number of talented organists that were now totally out of work, and would never find music work ever again... Oh well...
According to the book "Extraordinary origins of Everyday things" the Pipe Organ was invented in 200 B.C. and used for the accompaniment of Gladiatorial Games. Every Gladiatorial Arena in the Roman Empire had a Pipe Organ that played music to accompany the gory spectacle. Once the Christian Church took control of Rome and ended the Gladiatorial Games the Pipe Organ was not heard again, until the Church introduced the Pipe Organ into Cathedrals to attract parishioners around 700 A. D.
copyright (c) 2018
William Schaeffer
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