Australian organist Scott Harrison and NorCal's Chris Nichols visit the Arlington.

    On Saturday, 26 April 2008, Scott Harrison and Chris Nichols visited the Arlington Theatre and Scott played the Great Theatre Pipe Organ of the Arlington for over four hours.  Both Scott and Chris were given a tour of the chambers and percussion shelf.  Scott really enjoyed the Great Theatre Pipe Organ of the Arlington and particularly liked the tonal qualities of the Morton saxophone rank (in the solo chamber).

    Scott owns a music store in Melbourne Australia, is an accomplished theatre pipe organist, and was on vacation in the US.  Chris has worn several hats in the NorCal Theatre Organ Society (which maintains the big Berkeley Wurlitzer organ).

    Chris hosted Scott and the two of them had traveled by car from Berkeley to Santa Barbara by way of San Simeon.
Scott Harrison at the console

Scott Harrison at the console of the Great Theatre Pipe Organ of the Arlington.


Scott Harrison at the console
Scott warms up.  Yes, if it looks like gold, it is (gold leaf).


Scott plays to an empty house

Scott wanted to play an intermission medley for a movie audience, but unfortunately the
theatre was not showing movies that weekend.  Only the theatre stage crew, Chris Nichols,
George Ferrand and Bruce Murdock were on hand to appreciate Scott's playing.
The on-stage speakers are part of the movie sound system and have nothing to do with
the Great Theatre Pipe Organ of the Arlington.  All of its sounds are produced by pipes and
real instruments in the chambers along both sides of the auditorium in the spanish village.