George Wright

Reflections by Lyn Larsen
Excerpted from Theatre Organ, July/August 1998

The musical creativity and output of George Wright is certainly enormous, unequaled, and probably well known by anyone who has ever had even a passing interest in the theatre organ. George was also an extremely interesting, multifaceted, and unique person away from the more usual setting of an organ console and a theatre.


George Wright at the
Gaumont State Theatre, Kilburn
While George was the organist and music director for St. Mary's Catholic Church in Whittier, California, he produced and conducted a full presentation of the Requiem by Faure, as well as presenting memorable Christmas Eve services for a number of years.

He improvised and performed the background music for the soap opera General Hospital five days a week through the 1960s. He had a great love and knowledge of art, architecture, flowers, theatre, and fine food. His understanding of the technical inner working of the theatre pipe organ began while he was in high school, and he continued striving throughout his entire life to constantly improve and refine a sound which he regarded as his ideal theatre organ ensemble.

George was also involved with, and supportive of a number of charitable causes. True to his very private nature, these were never the subject of any conversation. He preferred to just help out here or there as anonymously as possible.

George Wright left a wonderful musical legacy that will never grow old, and will never be equaled.