Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol, Tenn.

The Northeast Tennessee-Southwest Virginia Chapter The American Guild of Organists

PRESENTS

`An Evening At The Pipes"

House Organist Rex Ward Paramount Center for the Performing Arts Bristol, Tennessee April 8, 2008

The Mighty Wurlitzer Rises

 That's Entertainment, Another Openin'Another Show, When You Wish Upon, A Star There's No Business Like Show Business

Grandeur and Grimace

Grand movie palaces in their day and this day. Can you say, "An acre of seats in a palace of splendor"?

The "M. W."-Up Front & Close

What's that and why? A console tour via program view.

Sing Out-30's Style! Slide -A-Long Presents You? in a full house "Anything you can do I can do better" rendition .... and "rendering" of oldies ... and some goldies.

A Buster Keaton Original Silent Comedy

Twenty minutes of romp and revelry accompanied by the Mighty Wurlitzer as "God created it to originally do". (O) "One Week" was only one of Keaton's many comedy "shorts" that packed the movie houses in his day. It and "Neighbors" were the most requested of dozens of his films.

A Full House Finale!

The Best of Times Is Now (see back cover for lyrics)

The Mighty Wurlitzer Descends

The Best of Times

The best of times is now.

What's left of sum-mer but a fa-ded rose? The best of times is now.

As for to-mor-row, well, who knows? Who knows? Who knows?

Refrain

So hold this mo-ment-fast

And live and love as hard as you know how. And make this mo - ment last

Be-cause the best of times is now, is now, ------is now.

Now ------, Not some for-got-ten yes-ter-day. Now------,    To-mor-row is too far   a-way.

Repeat refrain

Holston Valley High graduate Rex Ward holds a B.A. from Temple U., Theology Masters from Ridgedale Theological Seminary, and Tn. Certification in Clinical Psychology. As member of the American Guild of Organists, the American Theater Organ Society, and our Chaplain. Ward's love for people and music includes ministry, counseling, chaplaincy, and music therapy for Lakeshore Mental Health.

The Paramount Center's organist for twelve years, he previously was Eastman Center organist for ten years for films, recognitions, presidential visits and has played at the Tennessee, Tivoli, Atlanta Fox, Tampa, and others yet highly favors the Paramount Center and the wonderfully special people of Bristol and Tri Cities.

"If you leave the show with a lighter soul, a sweet memory, and a song in your heart then my goal is reached. I so hope you will visit again. You are the purpose for playing--not me. What a treasure it is to see folks in these seats in this 40th year of playing for them around this region! May God's blessings keep a melody in your heart always. Rejoice!"

The "Tunes @ Noon"  program was another great success for Rex Ward and the Mighty Wurlitzer OP2170. Rex reports that there were well over three hundred for the program with a mix of people from the middle school, Jr. High, from the YMCA day camp, the Virginia High School Class of 1958 and the local Senior High Rise Apartments. Also represented were the American Guild of Organist and the area Piano Teachers Association.

Our thanks to the staff of the Paramount and to Rex & Lucy for keeping the theatre organ alive in the Tri-Cities.