You can see quite a bit of video of her on YouTube. The Keaton PLAYHOUSE clips are a treasure with live audience. Nos. 1, 2, & 3 will give you the whole film. The quote that women organists were rare is untrue. Chicago alone had about 50 women theater organists in the mid ‘20s. Rosa simply out did them and out lasted them. Here age may be questionable. She did tell me she was 106 last year. And a census record I have puts her birth year as 1903, confirming that. But she may have embellished it, to make it more impressive. With her amazing career, she certainly did not need to do that! I spent a week with her a year ago, capturing hours on video. She was truly a remarkable person, no matter her years.
Rosa’s passing ends an era. It’s daunting to think that an era that ended in 1929 was still kept alive in 2010 by someone who lived it. In the past 9 months we lost possibly the last 3 original accompanists to silent films. We will no longer have personal recollections from these artists; the creative players who gave silents life. That is something to mourn.
You can see quite a bit of video of her on YouTube. The Keaton PLAYHOUSE clips are a treasure with live audience. Nos. 1, 2, & 3 will give you the whole film. The quote that women organists were rare is untrue. Chicago alone had about 50 women theater organists in the mid ‘20s. Rosa simply out did them and out lasted them. Here age may be questionable. She did tell me she was 106 last year. And a census record I have puts her birth year as 1903, confirming that. But she may have embellished it, to make it more impressive. With her amazing career, she certainly did not need to do that! I spent a week with her a year ago, capturing hours on video. She was truly a remarkable person, no matter her years.
Man now thats a story.
Man, she didn’t look 107 years old.
Nick, did you see her play? I bet Charlie knew her quite well. I was glad i took the TAMPA tour and heard that wonderful organ.
Rosa’s passing ends an era. It’s daunting to think that an era that ended in 1929 was still kept alive in 2010 by someone who lived it. In the past 9 months we lost possibly the last 3 original accompanists to silent films. We will no longer have personal recollections from these artists; the creative players who gave silents life. That is something to mourn.
I first heard this on CBS News Sunday morning. She was around when Lena Horne was popular. Both are real Hollywood icons.