Playing the WurliTzer

This list is not complete and some dates are missing; however, it recognizes many of those who helped bring the joy of roller skating to patrons of the skating rink during the period 1905 through 1984.

1922 - 1928	Chuck Hawley (first organist) was carrying a beat-up brief case on his first visit to The Oaks. . . . He rode the trolley to audition. Upon his arrival, Edward Bollinger told him the organ had just been installed and the glue holding the pipes was not dry. . . . Mr. Bollinger asked him to come back the next day. . . . Chuck expressed coming back would be a financial burden. Mr. Bollinger agreed to allow the audition with condition Mr. Hawley be careful. . . . Chuck Hawley was hired.
1928	Dick Bauman - was still playing in 1938
1928 - 1939	Buck Nye
1932	Helen Heppner - was still playing in 1934
1939	Lucille Houston
1939	Len Hoyt - played Oaks and Robert's Kelso, WA rink
1939	Pete Kraushaar
1939	Lane Lewis
1940 (12 days) 1941 - 1946 1950 - 1960	Buss McClelland
1948	Pete Kraushaur - played the 10/22/1948 re-opening , , , after flood damage was repaired Don Simmons Len Hoyt - also played WurliTzer at Rollerdome in NE Portland
1952; 1953	Len Hoyt
1952 - 1953	Joyce Cash
1955	Gale Enger
1955	Jerry Gilmore
1955	Brian Ingoldsby
1956	Glenn Shelley - played the 4 manual 33 rank WurliTzer opus 164 (installed in Liberty Theater for opening on June 9, 1918) several years during the mid-twenties and was seated at the console the last night the house was open in 1959. In addition, he played the WurliTzer 235 Special of 3 manuals and 13 ranks opus 1710 the first few years at the Oriental Theatre after its December 31, 1927 opening.* per the 1966 American Association of Organ Enthusiasts Convention program.
1957	Lorretta Muralt - played relief at Oaks 11/02/57 - 12/27/57; , , , 2nd organist at Imperial Roller Rink for 5 1/2 years starting 05/20/1958
1960 ; 1998 - 1999	Dean Lemire - auditioned to play second to Don Simmons. Don called one evening to tell Dean his vaction started in the morning. Dean met Don that evening and proceeded to play. It was a lovely evening, the windows in the rink were open. About 2 am members of the Oregon Yacht Club woke Walker LeRoy complaining about the organ.
1964	Jean Bonne
1952 ; 1969 - 1985	Don Simmons - musician / repair person , , , learned from Buss McClelland , , , was the most popular with skaters & public , , , last of organists who talked with skaters while playing , , , well liked by fellow musicians displayed by the following 2 examples; , , , , 1) Dean Lamire and Steve Bray taped a "pin-up" picture on the console side of the pull down shade; Don did a double take then sat down to "enjoy" the "scenery"; , , , , 2) they taped all the stops down (in the "play" position) after Don powered the instrument down to take a break. , , , , When Don powered it back up, he thought the organ was going to blow up. , , , , The culprits were spotted in the far corner of the rink.
1970 - ??	Steve Bray (Tune & Repair) - was not old enough to run the rides so learned to tune the organ. . . . His grandfather was a night watchman when The Oaks opened in 1905.
1981 - 1984	Jack Coxon - like to rock the bench while playing
Pre-1985	Lucille Lyons
Pre-1985	Bob Mendenhall
Pre-1985	Jonas Nordwall - Member of the Musician's Hall of Fame
Pre-1985	Gladys Perky
Pre-1985	Cecil Teague - played the Majestic Theater