A Silent Film Masterpiece: King of Kings with the Mighty Carmex Organ

​A Film Classic Meets Musical Artistry

On a spring-like Palm Sunday afternoon, more than 200 people gathered at the Carma Labs Warehouse in Franklin, Wisconsin, for an event that combined cinema, concert, and community celebration. The occasion was a screening of Cecil B. DeMille's King of Kings — and thanks to the exceptional talents of organist Mike Jacklin, it was everything a silent film event should be.

Mike Jacklin, DTOS Secretary and a talented musician with decades of experience in church and theatre organ music, sat at the console of the stunning 4/90 Symphonic Theatre Organ for the entire afternoon. True to his reputation, he bookended the event with top-tier musical selections. He started with Arthur Sullivan's beloved The Lost Chord, a piece whose longing, reflective quality set a perfect tone for the afternoon, and finished with the thunderous Toccata from Widor's 5th Organ Symphony — a triumphant and fitting ending that left the audience energized.

At the heart of the program was the 1928 version of DeMille's 1927 classic, King of Kings. Inspired by the film's original 1928 soundtrack, Mike blended his own original compositions with a selection of beloved hymns to create a smooth and emotionally stirring accompaniment. One of the highlights was how he integrated the Palm Sunday hymn All Glory Laud and Honor as the film depicted Jesus entering Jerusalem.

​Throughout the film, Mike displayed the full expressive range of the Carma Labs organ. In quieter, tender moments, he used delicate, hushed stops so subtle that they required careful listening to fully appreciate. As the story built toward the Crucifixion, he unleashed the organ's full power — with rumbling 32' pedal stops and commanding reeds filling the warehouse with a sound that audiences didn't just hear but also felt. It served as a visceral reminder of why the theatre organ was designed to accompany silent films.

The afternoon highlighted what DTOS excels at: uniting music, history, and community in a way that is both approachable and profoundly memorable. For many attendees, it might have been their first encounter with a silent film accompanied by live organ music — and if so, what an outstanding introduction.

We are grateful to Paul Woelbing, one of the co-owners of Carmex, for providing this instrument and space for us.

Want More Afternoons Like This One

Events like this rely on the dedicated members of the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society. DTOS welcomes everyone who loves the theatre pipe organ—whether you're a player, enjoy restoration work, or simply love listening. For just $35 a year (or $65 for a family membership), you get our monthly newsletter The Bartola, invitations to chapter socials and events, and the opportunity to participate in projects like the ongoing Wurlitzer Opus 1224 Style H restoration. It's a fantastic community, and there's a place for you in it. Join DTOS today at dtoswi.org/membership.html