Steven Ball Oral History Interview

Interviewee

Steven Ball

Files

Interviewer

Andy Huse, Jill Witecki, and Joey Hager

Publication Date

Spring 3-14-2024

Date

2023-11-22

Abstract

Dr. Steven Ball is the artist-in-residence at the Tampa Theatre. He has a deep passion for the Wurlitzer organ and its history in film. In this oral history, Dr. Ball describes the history and engineering of the organ and provides insight into the instrumentation styles of different organ playing. Dr. Steven Ball tells us a little about his history and interests in this instrument and describes one of his muses, the late and esteemed Rosa Rio, who was a mentor and friend. Dr. Ball has seen many changes in film sound design but believes the Wurlitzer organ remains essential to the movie-going experience at the Tampa Theatre.

Keywords

Tampa Theatre, Historic building, historic building preservation, Organ music, Musical instruments, film, Organist, Performing Arts, Orchestra, Sound art, Wurlitzer organ, Wurlitzer (Rudolph) Company, Organ Pipes, Musicians, Silent films--Musical accompaniment, Cue sheets (Music), Organ Scores, Rosa Rio (1902-2010)

Extent

00:47:20; 15-page transcript

Subject: geographic

Florida; Tampa, (Fla)

Language

English

Digital Date

2024

Media Type

Oral history

Format

Digital only

Identifier

tampa-theatre-ohp-ball-steven

Recommended Citation

Ball, Steven, "Steven Ball Oral History Interview" (2024). Tampa Theatre Oral History Collection. 3.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tampa_theatre_ohp/3