MATTHEW BASON

CRYSTAL FALLS – The Packerland Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society with featured artist Matthew Bason will be hosted by the historic Crystal Theatre for a concert and social at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The afternoon will show off the Crystal Theatre’s theatre pipe organ — the Mighty Moeller. Included in the program is an accompanied short silent comedy film and an hour concert presented by the featured artist.

The remaining time is an opportunity for organists or pianists to try out both the Moeller Organ, and the Steinway D Concert Grand Piano. This event is an opportunity for everyone to enjoy these amazing instruments played by international and regional artists.

The featured artist, pianist, vocalist and organist Bason, from the United Kingdom, is one of the U.K.’s most popular musical entertainers and concert artists. His reputation has grown to an international level.

He regularly travels to mainland Europe, U.S. and Canada to play organ and piano concerts, with the rest of his time devoted to teaching and performing across the U.K. Bason is a concert artiste and demonstrator for Allen Organs U.K. — builders of some of the finest digital classical and theatre organs.

He is a resident organist at The Scarborough Fair Collection, in Filey in Yorkshire, England.

The North American Theatre Organ Society is an international non-profit organization comprised of worldwide volunteer members who are committed to helping preserve and perpetuate the musical theatre pipe organ heritage that began in the early 20th century.

The Packerland Theater Organ Society is a chapter for Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan of the ATOS. The PTOS is dedicated to the presentation and preservation of the theater organ, the voice of the silent movie.

Crystal Theatre’s vintage pipe organ has an interesting history of its own. Built in 1927 for the Chicago Conservatory of Music, it was first used to train organists to accompany silent film productions. When “talkies” changed the film industry, the Mighty Moeller was eventually partnered with pizza parlors. 

In 1991, Crystal Theatre’s restoration committee rescued it from Green Bay, where it had been stored by the Pied Piper Pizza franchise. Over the next two years, a group of dedicated individuals meticulously reassembled the gigantic instrument.

To accommodate its 1,620 pipes, a large chamber was constructed across the back of the stage. The pipes range in size from that of a thin pencil to 16 feet long and weighing hundreds of pounds.

The organ console itself has three keyboards but the combination of numerous stops can produce the voices of 23 individual instruments, resulting in an orchestra of sound. In addition to the 23 ranks, the organ connects with an upright piano, percussion instruments and a variety of sound effects. 

Ticket are $10 in advance, $5 for students younger than 18 or with active student ID.