Metrolina Theatre Organ Society

Metrolina Theatre Organ Society Mission:

Encourage the preservation, restoration, and maintenance of the American Theatre Organ, to support and sponsor the performance of music on these instruments in the few theatres which still are so equipped, and to encourage the renovation and refurbishment of the remaining Movie Palaces through meetings, concerts, workshops, conventions, and educational opportunities for its members and the local community.

MTOS is affiliated with the American Theatre Organ Society, ATOS, which was organized in 1955 for preserving the traditions of the theatre organ and promoting the understanding of the instrument and its music. All members of MTOS  should also be members of ATOS, the national organization. There is an exciting national convention once a year and MTOS is always represented there!

MTOS is unique among chapters of ATOS in that we do not have access to a theatre organ. There were no theatre organs in the Charlotte area when we began in 1989. A group of us founded MTOS on the strength of our love for theatre organs. Of course, we had a dream of putting a theatre organ back in a venue in downtown Charlotte, but that was a very long way off. The closest theatre organ to us, about 90 miles distant, was the Robert Morton II/6 in Greensboro’s Carolina Theatre. It was playing in 1989, but through carelessness of a construction crew, it was damaged by rain, but was repaired and enlarged by the dedicated folks at Piedmont Theatre Organ SocietyThey have had organists such as Walt Strony, Dave Wickerham, and Jelani Eddington play there.

So what does an ATOS chapter do in a theatre organ wasteland? You’d be surprised!

• Members talk about what’s going on in the theatre organ scene all over the world.
• We represent theatre organs whenever possible to our local and state politicians to keep our agenda alive in government.
• We sponsor and promote silent films with live accompaniment.
• We helped with the drive to save the Carolina Theatre so that we could then install a theatre organ in it.
• Many of us travel to events sponsored by other chapters.
• Many of us travel to ATOS national and regional conventions. We usually bring more members to a national convention than do some chapters with their own organs.
• We get together for meetings and have open-console for our playing members.
• Some of us perform concerts on local church organs (electronic and pipe) and electronic theatre organs.

Here are some things you may find interesting:

• Did you know?
• View the MTOS Articles of Incorporation  or our Bylaws