George Wright Organ Concert Orpheum Theatre SF CA

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Uploaded on: August 15, 2026

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After they took down the giant curved ‘Cinerama’ screen at the Orpheum Theatre they had a few live organ concerts. KPEN FM sponsored them and they did broadcast many of the concerts in stereo live sound. They were the first multiplex FM stereo radio station in the SF Bay Area. The KPEN FM studios were located almost across the street from the Orpheum Cinerama Theatre. KPEN FM also put on some sold out organ concerts at the long gone huge Fox Theatre just up the street. ‘James Gabbert’ the owner of KPEN FM was a great showman and was host for many years of his dance party show on Ch 20 KOFY TV. I know ‘James’ and we all miss him from his dance party show days. ‘George Wright’ told me he hated the sound of the ‘Orpheum’ pipe organ. They had a 4 manual 22 rank Robert Morton pipe organ. George was a ‘Wurlitzer’ type of guy. ‘Korla Pandit’ also did a few shows on the ‘Morton’ console at the Orpheum. I have a few of those rare stereo records. Now the organ plus the ‘Cinerama’ curved screen are gone but at least the ‘Orpheum Theatre’ is still open showing way to expensive Broadway touring shows. I have some rare photos from my movie theatre collection that I will be posting soon here at CT of the 1 year anniversary party of ‘This Is Cinerama’ held at the ‘Cinerama Orpheum’ in SF. The outside marquee as well as the press party held inside the Orpheum lobby January 13 1955. Watch for them soon. I was so young then and I did not get a invite. I did go for the organs shows in the late 1960’s early 1970’s