CONNECT WITH THE SYMPHONY!

THE SON OF THE SHEIK (1926)* STARRING RUDOLF VALENTINO

A Fox Theater Film Series Screening
Saturday, February 16, 8pm

Russ Peck, Organ
Starring Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky

Ahmed, son of Sheik Ahmed Ben Hassan, falls in love with Yasmin (Vilma Banky), a dancing girl who fronts her father’s gang of mountebanks. Ahmed (the great Valentino, who else?) and Yasmin begin to meet secretly until one night her father and the gang capture and torture the Son of the Sheik!

PRE-CONCERT ACTIVITIES!

• Costumed atmosphere and ambience provided by Lady Mari's Costume Walkabout
• Belly Dancers from Zaria 

*San Diego Symphony does not appear.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, organist Russ Peck began piano studies in San Diego in 1965.  After studying for about seven years, he heard and fell in love with the sound of the popular Hammond organ. Mr. Peck also began percussion studies in 1972, banging snare drum in the junior high band. In 1974 Russ and three high school colleagues formed a band specializing in the popular music of the 20s through the 50s, appropriately calling themselves "The Young Oldtimers."  The Elks clubs, weddings and a host of other venues kept these kids in pocket money throughout their high school years.  College beckoned, and with it came the end of the "Oldtimers."

Attending Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, Mr. Peck studied classical pipe organ (under a scholarship) with Stanley R. Plummer and continued his percussion studies.  In the meantime, Russ encountered his first live theatre pipe organ (George Wright and Ray Bohr having sown the seeds on vinyl) at Organ Power Pizza. He immediately began renting practice time on their Wurlitzer at the exorbitant rate of $5 an hour!

Having found "his instrument," Russ joined the American Theatre Organ Society, San Diego Chapter in 1980 after earning his BA in Psychology at Whitman. Working with the Wurlitzer pipe organ in the California Theatre, Russ honed his craft, both at the console and in the pipe chambers, taking part in organ maintenance, presenting concerts and studying the art of silent film accompaniment with the late Boston area organist, Harry Jenkins.

Russ is firmly rooted in San Diego; His house is home to a 1927 Robert-Morton theatre pipe organ, a 1925 Unified Reproduco pipe organ, a Rodgers Trio Theatre Organ (with full midi capability), a 1942 Slingerland Rolling Bomber drum set, a piano, keyboards, several accordions, guitars, ukuleles and percussion instruments of all kinds.  Mr. Peck also helped install and maintain the 4/24 Wurlitzer in Trinity Presbyterian Church in Spring Valley. 

Russ Peck is principal percussionist and principal timpani with the Tifereth Israel Community Orchestra while doing "pickup" work with other musical organizations around town. Working by day as an audio and video engineer (recently with singer Patti Page), collecting and restoring old electronic equipment (especially Heathkit units), operating a ham radio station (KG6CLA) and numerous other pursuits keep Russ off the streets and out of (too much) trouble! Russ is called for quite a bit of substitute church organ work around town, both playing and servicing the instruments

Mr. Peck’s recent “Fox Theater Film Series” performances for the Symphony include The Phantom of the Opera, The General, Nosferatu, several Charlie Chaplin short films, Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last!, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and The Mark of Zorro.