Photo courtesy of CAPA
Clark Wilson
When organist Clark Wilson plays on the Ohio Theatre’s “Mighty Morton” organ during the 1921 silent film The Kid July 16 and 17, he will play on the same instrument that he first saw played live when he was about 11 years old.
Wilson, in his 24th season as resident organist at the Ohio Theatre, thinks of how he has come full circle each time he sits down to a show. He remembers how impressed he was as a kid, when he first saw the organ.
“The sound of the theater organ was just really something. It was such a dynamic sound,” he says.
About 90 percent of the live music Wilson plays is for silent films. To prepare, he views the film several times, paying close attention to musical cues. Each character has a musical theme, and plot situations also have themes. There can be anywhere from 25-45 themes throughout a picture, he says.
Wilson generally plays throughout the whole film. Silence is used sparingly, for dramatic situations such as the death of a character.
When Wilson prepares for each film, he works from a cue sheet that includes suggested music. Even if he doesn’t use the recommended music, he tries to select something similar, while representing a film’s national background and time period.
Silent films are enjoying a resurgence after many years, Wilson says. Churches, concert halls, and theatres around the nation are showing them.
“Anything that’s old enough is new again,” he says.
Wilson especially enjoys playing for comedic silent films and watching the audience’s reactions to hijinks.
“Funny is funny. If it’s 85 years old or 5 years old, it’s funny,” he says.
If you go
Silent film The Kid will be shown at 7:30 p.m. July 16 and 17 at the Ohio Theatre. Visit www.capa.com for more information. The film stars Charlie Chaplin – who also produced, wrote and directed the production – Edna Purviance and Jackie Coogan.
