a proud chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society

 

History of the Connecticut Valley Theatre Organ Society
  CVTOS, founded in 1961 as a non-profit organization, is the Connecticut chapter of ATOS, the American Theatre Organ Society, a nationwide organization also committed to the perpetuation of this "King of Instruments" as an important musical medium.

Mission: 

Dedicated to preserving and presenting the music and excitement of the Theatre Pipe Organ in the Connecticut Valley.  Maintaining historic pipe organs in the 1884 Thomaston Opera House and the Shelton High School Auditorium.

In addition to its continuing work of restoration and maintenance of the organs, an added goal of CVTOS is to foster the public awareness of them and to interest young people in them and their music.

There are currently two theatre pipe organs maintained by CVTOS members:

 

THOMASTON, CONNECTICUT

  

 

SHELTON, CONNECTICUT

 

 

 News:

Past President of CVTOS, Colver "Cog" Briggs dies.  "Cog" was a dear friend, lover of the theatre organ, and avid backer of the Thomaston Opera House Marr & Colton.

He was President of CVTOS in 1985 and in 1986, presented the Austin opus 1512 3/15 theatre organ to the Town of Shelton at Shelton High School.

His pride and joy was his Miller/Rodgers custom 3m electronic theatre organ in his home in Southbury, CT.


Further Information about "Cog" Briggs.

 

 

  
Summer Membership Meeting:   August 11, 2007. One of Summer's most wonderful days!

Jon & Meredith Sibley's summer cottage on Leete's Island, Guilford, CT, overlooking Long Island Sound.

Yes, the day was as delightful as it looks.  Jon brought out a calliope, street piano and organette and one of his cannons, all to the delight of members present.

Allen Miller presented a photo history of the Shelton High School Austin, showing the work that has gone into the console renovation.

MEETING DETAILS   (Also...See THE DIAPHONE)

 

 

 

            CHRISTMAS PARTY

Our annual Christmas Party was on Sunday, December 2nd, at the Angevine Tree Farm in Warren, Connecticut.  John and Kathy Angevine again hosted our holiday get-together, continuing what had become a Chapter tradition.

 

 A fringe benefit is that you could purchase your own tree that day and the trimmings as well if you so chose. The beautifully decorated tree and gift shop is sure to offer something new and different for you and/or a friend. The center of attention is, of course, the magnificent 3/10 Robert Morton theatre organ. For any of you new members not familiar with the installation, John rescued the instrument from the Capitol Theatre in Danbury.

 

 

Schedule:    5:00 – 6:00 PM            Open Console

                        6:00 – 7:00 PM            Dinner

                        7:00 – 7:15 PM            Business meeting & election of officers for 2008

                        7:15 – 8:00 PM            Christmas Concert, featuring Carl Hackert

 

 The Christmas Party featured a performance by an excellent organist, Carl Hackert.

Founder of the Hudson-Mohawk Chapter Theatre Organ Society and organ coordinator for Proctor's Theatre in Schenectady, New York, he is a frequent performer on "Goldie", the famous Wurlitzer organ at Proctor's Theatre. He is a graduate of The Crane School of Music at SUNY, Potsdam, New York and is the Allen Organ dealer for his area. He has performed on both organ and harpsichord with orchestras in the Albany-Schenectady area.

 

* A Holiday Theatre Organ Pops Concert *

Clark Wilson, with special guests, The Litchfield County Children's Choir

to Sunday, January 6, 2008, 2:00 PM

Thomaston Opera House

 
 

BIRTHDAY PARTY - THOMASTON OPERA HOUSE

Concert:  * SIMON GLEDHILL *

FINALLY!  The World renowned Simon Gledhill appears at Thomaston

Saturday, March 29, 2008, 2:00 PM

Thomaston Opera House

 

JELANI EDDINGTON

Tribute To Leroy Anderson  Sunday, May 18, 2:00 PM

THOMASTON OPERA HOUSE     Thomaston, Connecticut

Leroy Anderson was one of the most important composers of instrumental music of the 20th century.  Leroy Anderson (1908-1975), is most frequently associated with his well-known compositions such as Sleigh Ride, Blue Tango, and Bugler's Holiday.  Much of Anderson’s music depicts ordinary objects, such as The Typewriter, The Syncopated Clock, The Waltzing Cat, using special sound effects.

Jelani Eddington has completed two recordings of Leroy Anderson’s works, including a re
cently discovered unpublished composition that Anderson wrote specifically for the organ!

Jelani Eddington delighted us by his Tribute to Leroy Anderson on the 3 manual / 15 rank Marr & Colton, a pleasant afternoon of Pipe Organ Pops.  We were delighted to have Eleanor Anderson, Leroy's widow, with us, as well as her son and other family members.
 
   

JUNE MEMBERSHIP MEETING

MIKE FOLEY'S Fabulous Wurlitzer

Tolland, CT, Saturday, June 14, 2:00 PM

Program was presented by Mike Foley and Allen Miller.

 

Summer Membership Meeting:   August 2, 2008.  RAIN DATE August 3, 2008.

Jon & Meredith Sibley's summer cottage on Leete's Island, Guilford, CT, overlooking Beautiful Long Island Sound.

Please come and enjoy a beautiful day at the Connecticut Shore.  Musical surprises are expected.

The picnic and social gathering will start at noon with the general  meeting  starting about 2:30.
Hamburgs, hot dogs and beverages (adult and non-adult) shall be supplied.  We ask those who are coming to bring a salad or a dessert.  A sign up sheet is in THE DIAPHONE. 

Please respond by July 28th.
Directions in THE DIAPHONE

SPECIAL SEPTEMBER MEETING

AL SINGER'S, SEPTEMBER 14, 2008
   

　A CVTOS HOLIDAY THEATRE/DINNER PARTY 

December 7,2008 - 1:30 PM 

By special arrangement with the Thomaston Opera House, we arranged for an extra special December meeting. 

We started the afternoon with Juan Cardona, Jr., ushering us into the Opera House for the matinee performance of “IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.”  This is a special time for Juan, as he celebrates his 15th year as House Organist at the Thomaston Opera House.


IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

December 7, 2008 at 2:00pm

In our American culture IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE has become almost as familiar as Dickens' A Christmas Carol. The story is a natural for a stage adaptation: the saga of George Bailey, the Everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty, whose guardian angel has to descent on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him—by showing him what the world would have been like had he never been born—that his has been, after all, a wonderful life.

This faithful adaptation has all your favorite characters: George and Mary Hatch, Clarence, Uncle Billy, Violet, and, of course, the Scrooge-like villain, Mr. Potter. This fine dramatization not only celebrates the faith of the season, it also celebrates the American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play and the love and support of one's family and community will be rewarded.

 
　After the performance, we escaped to our own winter wonderland in the Senior Center at the Opera House, where we had a very short business meeting followed by a catered Holiday Banquet of Roast Turkey and Spiral-cut Ham with all the fixin’s, beverage and dessert.  Members had an excellent opportunity to socialize.

All of this for only $29 per person!

 

 

 


 

This page last updated on January 28, 2009

Designed using Microsoft FrontPage
 

All images and content are copyrighted by the Connecticut Valley Theatre Organ Society (CVTOS); non-exclusive use by other not-for-profit sites, to promote the history and art of the theatre organ, is hereby granted as long as the images or content  are accompanied by proper credit to the Connecticut Valley Theatre Organ Society.  Audio clips used on this site are used with the permission of the artists and are copyrighted by them.