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ATOS News

News about ATOS and the world of Theatre Organ internationally.

ATOS to Re-Master the Atlanta Convention CD

Thursday, February 27th 2014

During the recent mid-year meeting of the ATOS Board of Directors in Atlanta, one major topic of conversation focused on the issue of the Atlanta Convention CD release.

Without hesitation, the board determined the recordings must be re-mastered, issues corrected, and the new CDs distributed to those who have purchased the recordings.

“There were simply too many errors involved,” said board member and artist Jelani Eddington. “ATOS should not be presenting this product as a representation of the great performances of the Atlanta convention.” The board unanimously agreed.

Closing Chord: Doris Stovall

Monday, February 3rd 2014

Doris Edwards Stovall (1934-2014)

As a General Manager of a major theatre, she might have been the best friend ATOS and a great theatre organ ever had.

Doris Edwards Stovall, former general manager of the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and the Embassy Theatre in Fort Wayne, IN, passed away in Snellville, GA on February 1, 2014. She was 79.

A Georgia native, she never lost that famous Southern charm. She was graduated from Toccoa High School in 1951, and the Harrison Draughon School of Commerce in 1953.

New Kimball Theatre Organ in Ashtabula, OH High School

Thursday, January 23rd 2014

Lakeside High School of the Ashtabula Area City School District is located in Ashtabula, Ohio and opened
in 2006. The campus consists of High School, Junior High School, Performing Arts Center and an Athletic
complex. With enrollment of 1100 students, Lakeside High is the largest high school in Ashtabula
County. With a three member administrative team and a dedicated staff of professional educators, the

Closing Chord: Jeff Barker

Wednesday, January 22nd 2014

(from Garden State Theatre Organ Society page at http://www.gstos.org/Jeff_Barker.htm)

We are sad to report that local theatre organist Jeff Barker passed away suddenly on December 31, 2013.

Ken Double's Blog Jan. 7, 2014

Tuesday, January 7th 2014

Ken Double’s Blog
January 7, 2014

Hello New Year – Good-bye Pounds!!

So have you written any checks yet, and put “2013” on the date line?
And have you dared to venture on to the scale so soon after the holidays?
And for the 187 million of us humans stung by the “Arctic Vortex,” have you ventured outside much? GADS!!

A Hot Time at the Firehouse

Saturday, December 7th 2013

Ice cold and snow, but hot music in a hot location. That's one way to describe my latest wanderings, this time back to Indiana. Dick and Linda Wilcox, the owners of Uniflex 3000 relay systems, moved to delightful Union City, IN, so named because the state line dividing Indiana and Ohio runs right through the heart of town. (Not unlike another theatre organ friendly town, Bristol, TN).

Closing Chord: Robert F. Mertz

Wednesday, November 27th 2013

Despite his quiet and genteel nature coupled with the fact that he was a relative “late-comer” to the world of the theatre organ, Lafayette, IN native Robert F. (Bob) Mertz, who passed away November 24, 2013, had a major impact in the theatre organ world in a short period of time. He was 89 years old.

President's Blog: A Halloween Hangover

Monday, November 4th 2013

We dubbed it A HALLOWEEN HANGOVER

This time, the travels took me to Lafayette, IN, a town I called home on two different occasions in my professional life, and a place where I jumped in with both feet into the world of theatre organ. I call it “my musical home.”

As I turn 61 this week, it is hard to imagine I moved to Lafayette in 1976 for my first job in TV, and in 1979 began working toward installing a theatre organ at the old Mars Theatre, now Long Center. Gads, does time indeed fly by. We premiered the organ in 1982.

Watch Out! I'm Kinda Ticked Off! (10/21/2013)

Saturday, October 26th 2013

Yup, I was on the road again, and delighted that Dunkin Donuts coffee tastes good and kept me awake. (This coming from an avowed tea drinker!) I pulled into Atlanta Sunday night/Monday morning about a quarter-to-one.

And was promptly awakened early with the pounding of hammers and the voices of the work crew re-siding our condo’s. Now, I was gone four days. The foreman knew I was going to be gone four days. They were scheduled to start on my unit BEFORE I left town. And when did they start?? The day I got back. Murphy of Law’s fame is laughing hysterically someplace.

President's Blog: Random Thoughts While Preparing for Yet Another Road Trip

Friday, October 11th 2013

I’m off and running again Wednesday (Oct 17, '13), including a stop with the Manasota chapter down in the Sarasota, FL area. It will be good to see John Fischer, Norm Arnold, Chuck et. al. that have focused their chapter’s energies around the great Wurlitzer at Grace Baptist Church.