Last Monday, kicking off the Ohio leg of our Midwest Tour, we interviewed Shawn Kenney at his home. In addition to his duties directing a museum in Columbus, and his position as Vice Chair of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), Shawn, with the help of many friends, has managed to put together an amazing home pipe organ installation.
Home pipe organs are an important part of the Organ Grinder story. When movie palaces and cinemas were on the decline and often discarding their pipe organs as they reconfigured their buildings for other uses, hobbyists, collectors, and preservationists rescued these instruments, often setting them up in their homes – whether that be in a basement, a garage, an attic, or a purpose-built addition.
Shawn’s instrument speaks from chambers in the basement up through tone chutes into the main floor living room and music room. The space is active enough that the sound is quite pleasing, and not overbearing (although it can get quite loud!) It has a number of “traps” – sound effects and percussions – including a real church tower bell!
And of special interest to the documentary project, Shawn is currently the keeper of a binder full of photographs, menus, and memorabilia from pizza & pipe organ restaurants across North America. While on-site, we were able to scan dozens of them for future use in the film.
Thanks to Shawn for opening his home to us – and providing a place to stay as well!
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