Julie DiNisio
Staff Writer
Bob Gulledge, house organist at the historic Byrd Theatre, knew he wanted to play the organ for years, and he knew not just any organ would do – it had to be the Byrd’s “Mighty Wurlitzer.”
Now, Gulledge is one of the few theater-organ players in the city.
“There are maybe four people in Richmond who can sit down at an organ and know what to do with it,” Gulledge said.
Gulledge, who grew up in Richmond, persisted through five years of piano lessons and eventually came under the teaching of Eddie Weaver, the house organist for the Byrd at the time. He taught his pupil all the skills necessary to wrangle the Mighty Wurlitzer into submission.
According to Gulledge, there were 19 theater organs in Richmond in the 1920s. Out of the three that remain, only two are in their original buildings, the Wurlitzer at the Byrd and another at the Landmark Theater.
The weekly organ performances at the Byrd are exclusive events, as the organ at the Landmark Theater is in a state of disrepair.
Gulledge summed up the presence of the organ by saying, “It’s sort of a novelty.”
Gulledge calls his music taste “eclectic,” with classical artists like Bach and Mozart listed next to The Eagles and Aerosmith.
When choosing music for his Saturday night performances, he follows his own rule: “Don’t play at ‘em, play with ‘em.” Gulledge often plays sing-along songs for the audiences on Saturday nights, which has become a tradition of the Saturday night Byrd Theater experience.
Gulledge finds it important to “be relevant, even more than current.” Often, he makes his song choices as he’s surveying his audience, just moments before he and the Wurlitzer – and a spotlit disco ball – rise from the Byrd’s orchestra pit.
He also acknowledged the need for variety. “Don’t play it to death,” he said. “If it doesn’t work with the audience, then drop it.”
If audience turnout is any indicator, Gulledge and the Wurlitzer certainly know what works with the audience – the Byrd is typically packed on Saturdays with moviegoers who schedule their Byrd visits to hear Gulledge play.
“I’m still amazed at the reaction we get from the audience … the crowd just really seems to appreciate it…even after 81 years,” Gulledge said.
Because of the organ’s immense size and grandeur, it isn’t hard to believe that citizens of Richmond still flock to see Gulledge play. The impressive instrument has innumerable buttons and switches all incomprehensible to anyone but Gulledge and the few other remaining organ players. The organ’s mechanisms include drums and a train whistle, used during the era of silent films.
The Mighty Wurlitzer, like all theater organs, was specifically designed for its theater. It is estimated it would cost close to $2 million to recreate the organ because of the intricacies of the instrument.
Gulledge said that in the Byrd Theatre’s ongoing attempts to maintain its splendor, “The easiest money to raise is for the organ. People respond well to it, and we’ve already been able to make some repairs.”
One of Gulledge’s favorite parts about the job is “seeing a child’s face light up when he first hears the organ.” He has been playing at the Byrd Theatre for years and considers it the highlight of his week. In summing up his involvement with the Byrd and his love for it, he said, “I’m really proud to be part of this tradition.”
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