Lillian Truss

On Dec. 25, 1927, during a preview show at the Alabama Theatre, Lillian Truss became the first person to play the Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. Truss also performed on Dec. 26, 1927, opening night at the Alabama, but was not permitted to bring the organ to solo position. That privilege was reserved for the Alabama's inaugural house organist Joe Alexander. For as long as Alexander held that title, Truss could only bring the Wurlitzer to "picture level" — high enough for her to see the silent films she accompanied on-screen but low enough that neither she nor the console obstructed the view of patrons in the premium seats on the first three or four rows of the auditorium.

In family lore and among members of the Alabama chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), Truss is consistently referred to as the first organist of the Alabama Theatre and the second house organist. She held that title from January 8, 1928 to March 4, 1929, when she was succeeded by Lee Erwin.

Prior to December 1927, Truss was employed at the Ensley Theatre and was a featured organist at the Strand Theatre.

She returned to the Alabama in the 1970s and played an occasional Sunday morning concert hosted by ATOS.