Lanterman’s musical legacy to be celebrated at La Cañada Congregational Church

History may remember Frank Lanterman as an influential California assemblyman who sponsored several important pieces of legislation in his 28-year career, but one upcoming local event offers a more personal look at Lanterman, the man and the musician.

Before entering state politics in 1950, Lanterman was a theater organist and music enthusiast who developed a vast collection of sheet music chronicling American hits from the first half of the 20th century. During the 1920s, he was principal organist at La Cañada Congregational Church, which his family founded in 1897.

On Nov. 8, Lanterman’s musical legacy will be celebrated as Lanterman House and La Cañada Congregational Church present “Pages from the American Songbook,” a concert based entirely on works taken from Lanterman’s personal sheet music collection and played on the Estey organ he donated to the church in 1925.

The event will feature church principal organist Joseph Klice, soloist Mariana Ramirez, historical narratives and a sing-along with selected works from Lanterman’s collection of sheet music, donated to La Cañada’s Lanterman House Museum.

“(Frank Lanterman) spent some time in the 1930s trying to be a concert organist, and that never really took off for him, but we have this wonderful sheet music collection from that time in his life,” said museum Executive Director Melissa Patton. “This is really to celebrate that aspect of his life and that we have this awesome collection.”

The concert is one of several celebrations planned for 2015 to mark Lanterman House’s centennial year and to provide a closer look at the lives of La Cañada Flintridge’s founding family, according to Patton.

To prepare the line-up, Klice spent hours at the museum sifting through some 7,200 pieces of sheet music in the collection. The works he ultimately selected represent musical high notes of a pre-war era in which large-scale silent movie houses featuring live organ music predominated.

“It gives a little insight into the Lantermans and their musical side,” Klice said of the selections, which include “Happy Days are Here Again,” “Cheek to Cheek” and “Heart and Soul.” “It’s also a wonderful commentary on society at the time.”

A projector screen at the front of the church will recreate the spirit of an old movie house while helping participants follow the lyrics as they sing along, said the organist, who will play the donated instrument twice refurbished in 1974 and 1987.

Patton encouraged people of all ages to attend, to either take a walk down memory lane or get a feel for a bygone era.

“We’re trying to make it as much fun as possible and, at the same time, celebrate this lovely organ the church has and the wonderful sheet music collection we have,” she said.

“Pages from the American Songbook” takes place on Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. at La Cañada Congregational Church, 1200 Foothill Blvd. Tickets for the event cost $10, with proceeds raised benefiting the Lanterman Music Fund and the church’s organ and piano restoration fund. For more information, visit lantermanfoundation.org or call (818) 790-1421 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m.

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Sara Cardine, sara.cardine@latimes.com

Twitter: @SaraCardine