Silent Film Organ Performance
James began performing films with orchestras in 1971. From 1975 to 1989, James was the final appointed "Resident Organist for the Ohio Theatre" in Columbus, Ohio reviving a professional position vacated in 1942. James had his organ concerto with orchestra debut with the Chicago Symphony at Orchestra Hall in 1984. James toured in the 1980s with silent film stars Lillian Gish and Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers, providing musical accompaniment on national tour revivals of their motion pictures. The New York Times reported on December 13, 1981 that James would play at the recently restored Pascack Theater in Westwood, New Jersey, a deluxe movie house with facilities for stage productions and a specially built Wurlitzer pipe organ for accompanying silent films. James "follows the technique and style of the old-time accompanists, cueing the music exactly to the action and mood on the screen." In 1999, James was appointed House Organist for the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California, House Organist for the Paramount Theatre in Seattle and House Organist for the Historic Everett Theatre in Everett, Washington plus Theatre Organist for the San Diego Symphony.
Read more about this topic: Dennis James (musician)
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