Organist

Contrary to current practice, silent movies were never intended to be seen in silence, says veteran theater organist Gaylord Carter. "There always was a piano, organ or pit band to express in musical terms what was going on on the screen," Carter, 80, said in a recent phone interview. "People's reactions to the (screen) images were tied together by the music, and the music added a dimension that is sorely missed when the films are shown without accompaniment."

Jennifer Puhl has found an appreciative audience for her synthesized electronic music in an unlikely setting--University United Methodist Church in Irvine. "I could feel my audience was listening and listening in a different way, wondering what was going to happen next," said Puhl, 44, who recently performed a concert on the three-keyboard organ in the church, which had been electronically modified for the occasion. The church was packed.

Baseball has been called America's pastime, been used as a description of Americana along with hot dogs and apple pie, and, even in these days of high prices, remains a sport that is still affordable for most families. Baseball is loading the kids into the station wagon and heading for the ballpark. It's going to the game with your father and hearing him tell how Stan Musial used to hit, or how Bobby Thomson hit that home run to win the 1951 pennant for the Giants.

The fate of baseball organists is best symbolized by which of these ballpark anthems: a) "Another One Bites the Dust" b) "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" c) "Hit the Road Jack" d) all of the above The answer is d. Earlier this year, the L.A. Angels of Anaheim became the latest team to sack its keyboard player in favor of prerecorded organ music and rock songs.

The Los Angeles Theater Organ Society will present Stan Kann in concert Saturday at 8 p.m. at the San Gabriel Auditorium, 320 S. Mission Drive. Information: (818) 792-7084.

Clifford Vaughan, 94, organist and composer who also scored for films and television. Vaughan was educated at the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music and played organ at the famous Broad and Arch Methodist Church there. He was musical director for dancers Ruth St. Denis and Ted Shawn in Los Angeles where he also played organ at Mt. Hollywood Congregational Church. Among his 200 compositions for organ were five symphonies, two of which were performed in public.

Mark Thallander, who lost his left arm in a car accident in August, will play the organ today at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena. The former assistant organist at the Crystal Cathedral and director of music at the Pasadena church will join organist Julian Revie at the end of a noon holiday program at 393 N. Lake Ave. in Pasadena. In August, Thallander was returning to a friend's house from a church service in Worcester, Mass., when, during a heavy rainstorm, he ran off the road.

Hammond B3 organist Larry Goldings has been praised for the way he blends the influences of his idols (Jimmy Smith and Larry Young, among others) with his own imaginative approach to the instrument, juxtaposing foot-tapping blues segments with ear-grabbing chordal dissonances. At Jazz Bakery this weekend, the 36-year-old virtuoso will perform with his longtime collaborators: guitarist Peter Bernstein and drummer Bill Stewart. * Jazz Bakery 3233 Helms Ave., Culver City 8 and 9:30 p.m.

Re "Bob Mitchell, 1912-2009: Organist was house musician for the Dodgers," Obituary, July 9 I heard Mitchell's lovely organ music in October on Broadway when he attended "Spooktacular," a special Halloween program featuring a stage show, scary films and live music. Between acts, Mitchell sat in the audience, and I sat directly behind him. Like an 18-year-old at his first recital, he played the organ with such energy and excitement. One of L.A.'s best is no longer with us. David Tulanian Los Angeles

Organist Frederick Swann will join the New West Symphony for two performances. Swann's career spans 60 years with Riverside Church in New York City, the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove and First Congregational Church of Los Angeles. This will be his first appearance with the New West Symphony and his only appearance with a Southern California orchestra in his farewell season. The concerts will begin at 8 p.m. Friday at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and at 8 p.m.