Paramount replaces longtime silent-film organist

Moviegoers attending the Paramount Theatre's popular Silent Movie Mondays series were startled last week: Dennis James, the organist for the series since its inception in 1998, was not in his usual seat at the Mighty Wurlitzer.

Instead, he was outside the theater. "I showed up," he said, "and indeed they had hired another organist to perform."

On June 19, Seattle Theatre Group (or STG, which operates the Paramount) issued a news release saying that Oakland-based organist Jim Riggs would accompany the then-remaining two films in the series. No explanation was given for the change. STG also canceled a fundraising concert planned for June 28, to benefit the ongoing restoration of the Paramount organ, at which James had been scheduled to perform.

Josh LaBelle, executive director of STG, declined to comment on the decision to replace James for the remainder of the series. "As a matter of policy, our organization does not publicly discuss artist contracts and negotiations," he said. He added that the Paramount "has nothing but extraordinary respect for Dennis, for his work as an artist."

Meanwhile, James points to an e-mail he says he received from a Paramount staffer on June 19 that advises him that he is "persona non grata" at the theater. Asked specifically about the phrase, LaBelle reiterated that he was unable to comment.

James described the situation as "just a mystery." He said that STG, via e-mail, bought out his contract for the summer series earlier this month.

His relationship with the theater hit turbulence early this year, he said, during talks for the 2009-10 season. He said that in February, he received an e-mail informing him that the Paramount was placing him "on hiatus."

"No explanation ... they [just] thanked me for 11 years of service," James said. He mentioned "various situational difficulties, connected with having amateurs do the professional work" to maintain and restore the theater organ, but said he had discussed these with management and was thanked for bringing the matters to their attention.

"We've worked these things through," he said.

Tom Blackwell, crew chief for the volunteer Puget Sound Theater Organ Society crew that takes care of the instrument, said, "He's very demanding, there's no doubt about that.

"[But] he's really great at what he does. We try to jump on everything that he needs to be able to put on the best possible performance."

One of the country's leading practitioners of silent-movie accompaniment, James maintains a busy schedule at theaters nationwide, including an engagement this spring at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

For patrons of Silent Movie Mondays, the news of his departure came as a shock. Patrick Alexander, of Bellevue, who with his wife, Lori, has been attending Silent Movie Mondays for "about four years," said he'd heard rumors flying after the second performance in the series June 12 about James being released from his position. After that show, he talked to James, who said that he had not been contracted for next season.

Distressed, Alexander organized a protest for the June 19 performance, carrying a sign and passing out fliers urging the Paramount to retain James.

Alexander, himself a musician, described James' performances over the years as "phenomenal. As an organist, he's just amazing. Watching him play, that's half of the enjoyment of the film."

Lisa Glomb, of Seattle, a frequent Silent Movie Mondays attendee for the past three years, echoed those thoughts. Riggs, she said, was "very good, but he just did not have the panache and brio that Dennis James brings to it. He [James] just lives and breathes that Wurlitzer."

Silent Movie Mondays, now in its 12th season, has featured dozens of films, ranging from well-known works to rarities such as this month's "The Godless Girl." James has been the featured organist every season.

Paramount public-relations manager Amanda Bedell said the attendance is consistently around 300 patrons per performance, though the popular Charlie Chaplin or Douglas Fairbanks offerings can attract more than three times that number.

"The silent films are one of the few places that you see people who are 82 bringing their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and everybody has a great time," Glomb said. "They're extremely well attended, and it's a really wonderful community experience."

James said that he hopes for an outcome that would be "the continuance of our series as it's been going on for 11 years, and to which everyone has agreed."

LaBelle, though he did not comment on the future of the theater's relationship with James, said that "of course" it had not ruled out the possibility of seeing James at the organ again. "I just personally think he's one of the greatest organists I've ever heard," he said.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com