Meet the Music Man of Disney's El Capitan Theatre | Disney Files On Demand

[@TimGildersleeve]

It's incredible to see a film at the El Cap. Rob's performance is an integral part of that experience.

[@WeLoveAttractions]

I got chance to sit at the organ under the stage at the El Capitan a few years ago during a private tour. It was an excellent experience, it's very cramped under the stage. I also got chance to hear a few ghost stories about the theater, but I'll save that for another time. It reminded me a lot of visiting Blackpool Tower during my childhood and watching the Wurlitzer Organist play. Fun fact, of nearly ten thousand theater organs built by about three dozen companies between 1910 and 1940, only a few hundred still exist today (including many collections of salvaged parts); a recent survey concluded that only 38 theatre organs remain in their original venues in any semblance of original condition.

[@leeannekochka2166]

This is wonderful! My parents are big theatre organ fans and used to take us to the local Pizza Joynte in Hayward, California, which had a Wurlitzer. Unfortunately the place had a fire several years ago and it never reopened, the console having been destroyed. However, my mom went on a date in San Francisco at the Fox theater when it was still there. Maybe around 1960. She said it was the most amazing place, and she got lost looking for the ladies room! I would love to see the El Capitan sometime.

[@jeffharbin5767]

The Lucas Theatre in Savannah, GA will soon have its original Wurlitzer pipe organ back after many decades in Atlanta. I understand that it is being enlarged to 18 ranks of pipes and will sound better than ever. This will be the eighth public venue in Georgia that will currently have a working theatre organ! Five are pipe organs and three are Allen digitals. The Atlanta ATOS chapter is also working to return another Mighty Wurlitzer to its original home in Augusta. Also, the Wurlitzer just over the GA state line at the Tivoli in Chattanooga is about to undergo a two year restoration along with the theatre itself. I would say that the future of theatre organ music is looking very optimistic!

[@michaelbilgen2976]

I've been going to El Capitan since I was a baby. Growing up and listening to Rob play was an amazing experience every time.

[@karencarroll7329]

Bravo Rob!!! 👏👏👏👏 The beautiful music 🎶 you create when playing that legendary 🎹 organ is of highest star status!!! 🌟 🌟🌟🌟🌟

[@imaginationstationyt6948]

A fantastic tale, Simply a splendid way to make something old, New again. Brillant! :D

[@averyeml]

It’s such a small part of this video but if you’re ever in Arizona you really ought to check out that pizza place! It’s such a unique experience.

[@KeepingtheMagicAlive]

This absolutely made my day! I always get to the El Capitan early so I don't miss a second of Rob's playing. Some of his arrangements literally give me goosebumps. It's really one of the most amazing experiences, and I can't think of a better person to be sitting at that keyboard. Not only does he have the talent, but his passion in playing is completely noticeable. What a treat to get such an in-depth tour in this video. Thank you for posting this.

[@philliplee980]

I love Disney I grew up with it and watched the old school cartoons/movies of Disney and never gets old

[@Taydar]

What a interesting job. Thank you Don for highlighting it.

[@justinlavoie7362]

Awesome Rob! Thank you for being such a fantastic ambassador for the theatre organ art form.

[@lukegreen5341]

Don Hahn Is Best Known As The Producer Behind Disney's Who Framed Roger Rabbit In 1988 And Disney's Beauty And The Beast In 1991 And Disney's Atlantis The Lost Empire In 2001 And Disney's The Hunchback Of Notre Dame In 1996 And Of Course Disney's The Lion King In 1994. Thanks Mate. X

[@bobgargiulo802]

This is Great!!! Bach gave me chills!! 😁😁

[@stepheneggert7388]

Ty for the tour..great to hear these wonderful sounds ..of this theatre organ..magical...

[@charleslayton9463]

This organ in this theater is a small (well, okay, rather huge) bright spot in the otherwise horrendous and sad story of the SF Fox demolition. There is a heart-rending contemporaneous video of the last sounds from the organ at the Fox, and the demolition. Thank you to those who saved this great instrument. On a technical note, since the El Capitan is so much smaller than the Fox, I would guess that the organ had to be "reined in" quite a lot to sonically fit the new room. I'm guessing both closing off the pipe feet and lowering the wind pressures. Sounds wonderful in this video! Thanks!

[@bobdobb9017]

My dad drove me an hour to see the movie “Henry VIII” at a tiny throwback theatre in Ann Arbor Michigan where a guy played an organ to the movie. It was sometime in the early 80s and I had no idea people actually played organs to movies ever.

[@Smarty1171]

I don’t know about now but back in the day. All the big NHL houses had an organ. Great stuff

[@MatthewZmusician209]

Love the organ

[@pilotusa]

Wonderful presentation. Thank you.

[@sidilicious11]

Wow that Bach piece was perfect to hear on Halloween day, today!🎃👻

[@willsims5477]

I’m a musical geek and would have been sitting outside listening. I would’ve asked him to teach me how to play it:)

[@ryanquesenberry44]

Just an FYI if you're really interested in playing one of these and live in the greater L.A. area The Old Town Music Hall usually has an open console day once or twice a year where you can give their wurlitzer a spin.

[@TweedlDum9]

Slow down the speaking and editing pace with poor Don Hahn! It turns his excitement into rapid-fire chaos.

[@bobdobb9017]

I thought The El Capitan was just a simple movie theatre! As a tourist, I only drove by it.

[@danielspencer1923]

Awesome!

[@christian_job]

Magic!

[@joedibert645]

Thanks for sharing.

[@33alltheway14]

That’s awesome he knew by 14

[@tiatl10]

Lovely

[@DrumaholicsAnonymous]

I’m not sure he’s the only full time working theater organists, there’s one guy at the fox theater in Atlanta, that slaps on the organ

[@monkey_sox5432]

He definitely isn't the only one. I know of at least 4 full-time theatre organists in the UK alone! America doesn't equal the World....

[@MattGerhard]

The organist at the Fox doesn’t play there as a full time job. Rob might be the only theater organist employed full time at a theatre.

[@DrumaholicsAnonymous]

My bad, I thought Ken Double played full time, but yeah it looks like he swaps out with Rick McGee

[@cindybetten7573]

Well before Rob Richards became legendary probably his greatest influence…… maybe the greatest showman on the most incredible pipe organs that existed at the time, was a true legend named Virgil Fox. Does this name ring a bell with anyone? And one of his most impressive students named Ted Alan Worth? If anyone out there remembers these great performance artists please send me a comment. Thank you, Dwight Betten I’m the youngest brother of Ted’s business partner Reid Betten.

[@greencello599]

You should invite Richard Elliott, one of the organ players of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square in Salt Lake City, to do a special performance on this organ. He is one of the best organ players on the planet.

[@Parker6432]

Shame it wasn't tuned before the video :(

[@nathansdisneyparkschannelb8021]

I know the video is not about this but Journey into imagination with figment needs a update

[@danielspencer1923]

😆

[@Arturohoulgate]

🥀

[@Unpug]

Oooo

[@chromxrobinandcorrinxcamil9031]

Noice.

[@alejandrosanchez6683]

It would be great to see a video by disney giving their explanation of why they continue doing cultural appropriation. It’s sickening to see how they take advantage of stories and other peoples customs or stories and make money out of that, no moral value on that.

[@javierbenitez596]

Prude d j only

[@brianellinger6622]

Well yes but not on that level the man stole my identity in 2005 and just kept stealing