There are no old theatres here in Western NC anymore. I did find out that the old Imperial theatre (demolished 1977) had a 2/8 Wickes organ (2 manuals, 8 ranks of pipes) that was removed just before the demolition. In all the years that I went to the Imperial, (Blazing Saddles was the last,) I never had any idea that there was an organ there. Previous renovations had hidden the elaborate plasterwork grilles behind ugly drapes, and a false stage level floor was built over the console/lift.

The Wickes is installed in a small church in Weaverville, NC. I have seen it there. It has been painted to match the church, and to cover all the gouges in the original finish. Some of the stop keys are marked "rain," "happiness," "sorrow," "love," etc. I have not had a chance to hear the organ in action, but hope to do so in the future. It was installed in the theatre in 1926.

There were others here that had organs, but they are gone DESTROYED when the buildings were demolished.

When I lived in Atlanta, the FOX was the place to go to see the summer movie series, and to hear the huge 4/42 Moller organ shake the walls. I cant begin to describe it!
 

The Maryland Theatre, Hagerstown, MD, gave its original Wurlitzer away in the 1950's, also to a church, when the theatre was a commercial first run movie house. It was without an organ for many years until several years ago when someone donated another Wurlitzer and retirees from the local Moller Organ plant restored it and installed it in the theatre.

The other performing arts center, the Weinberg Center for the Arts, formerly the Tivoli Theatre in Frederick, MD, had a Wurlitzer that remained in use until a flood in the 70's lifted the organ console up and left it lying on its side on the stage. The console was replaced with another one (I'm not sure where they got it) but the old one has been spruced up and is on display on the mezzanine level that overlooks the concession area. Fortunately the city has conquered the flood problem that used to plague downtown so the new(er) console should be safe.

I love the sound of a theatre organ. It's indescribable the emotion such an instrument can bring about if played by a master. I get goosebumps! I got my introduction to theatre organ at the beautiful Byrd Theatre in Richmond, VA. What a thrill!
 

We use it every Saturday evening before each show. It is very popular, and when those rare times happen that we don't have an organist, we hear about it.

It has been under ongoing restoration for years...there is always parts of it removed to be rebuilt. About 75% of it is playable at any given time. I can't wait until the day comes when it all works. There is nothing else quite like the sound of a theatre pipe organ to set the mood for the evening.
 

Once a year the Los Angeles Conservancy runs a program called "The Last Remaining Seats" in which they open and run (for one night only) a couple of the downtown movie palaces. Last June I was able to snag a seat to see the Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera" at the Orpheum accompanied by a pit orchestra and the theatre's Wurlitzer. That organ is the last working one in downtown LA. A great show to catch from the front of the balcony with 2200 fellow silent film/live music/movie palace fans!

 

Speaking of organs, this week brings the release of THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES, which opens with the good Doctor rising from the pit playing what I recall to be the WAR MARCH OF THE PRIESTS. A great opening for a great film. Too bad no stereo track on this one...it would be great fun.

I'm glad a number of great theatre organs still exist and are maintained, many by groups of volunteers. I hope the same fate is not met by film projectors.

Mark L.

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"As a moral to young men who come down to the city, don't go round breaking people's tambourines."
 

I have the first 2 volumes that are around 500 pages each, and are richly illustrated. I was impressed at how many different organ builders there were in the USA between 1900-1928.

The third volume is devoted entirely to WurliTzer, since they made far more organs that all the other manufacturers. Hopefully, I will find a copy of volume III soon.

It is interesting to see all the different organ console styles that have been tried over the years.

The books author states that of all of the units written up in the encyclopedia, his favorite builder was the Hinners Organ Company. I've seen a Hinners tracker church organ upclose and personal. The service man there told me that this organ was a dream to service. Incredibly well-designed, and executed. This Hinners is 70+ years old, and has never been rebuilt.

The Moller in the Atlanta Fox was rebuilt in 1963 under the leadership of Mr. Joe Patten, who I met in 1981 at a showing of Raiders Of The Lost Ark in 70mm!

Mr. Patten has done regular maintenance on the Moller since then.
I wish Mr. Patten a long and healthy life. He is the life-force behind the Fox Theatre, and the "Mighty Mo."
 

So, if you want a TO in a theater near you, get together a non-profit organization, approach the theater with a deal to install & maintain the organ (but keep ownership, in case new management gets strange). Or get one & install it in your home theater. Many people have residence organs that were asked to leave theaters. Many new installations have midi interface for playback, etc.

TO's can be high-involvement playtoys, but like just about anyhting else, if you do it right the first time things will bump along reliably for a long time. The things were grinding out accompaniment to movies day-in, day-out back in the day. Also, the larger a TO, the more complex, & the more complex, the more stuff to watch. And, after messing with a 10 hp or larger Spencer Orgoblo or non-Carlsted TO chests, Simplex & Century pedestals look like things you could juggle in your sleep.

There's a weird, high concentration of model railroad enthusiasts & various engineering types in organ crews & residence organ owners; it's doubtless all the fun Rube Goldberg stuff. Electropneumatic relays & pneumatic motors, everything on 12v dc! Snort, fun.

The ATOS is a neat organization; & they've got semi-annual meetings & conventions crawilng around installations in various cities - in theaters, homes, concert halls, conference facilities, etc.

You can find a list of ATOS chapters on the ATOS site at http://www.atos.org/chapters/chapters.htm

Call or e-mail, they'll probably be glad to have you visit next time they go listen to or fool with one of the organs.

The Garden State chapter is putting a Wonder Morton back in the Loew's New Jersey!
Woo Hoo! http://www.loewsjersey.org/ http://www.gstos.org/wonder.htm

Hey, you know you want a little 2 manual 4 rank Wicks in your home theater.

IF I installed a TO in my house, where would I go?

As for being low-rent now, I have a "Mighty Hammond" (Mighty Ham) spinet that I traded a VCR cleaning for...
It's great for supplying music when the exciter lamp dies...

I have found that most organ enthusiasts that I know are (sort-a) the geek types. I should know. I had thick glasses and sported a pocket protector, AND ran the projector in school!

**The previous remarks are not aimed at any one person that may be reading this. No two geeks look alike.

quote:

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IF I installed a TO in my house, where would I go?

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I have a friend attending some organ performance classes at a local university --
He owns a 2 manual, 4 rank Wicks inherited from a church, & he brought it with him to school.

The University has no organ, & they arrange the offsite use of organs at churches for student practice, recitals, etc.

So he brings this Wicks, & gets an agreement to set it up unenclosed in the organ prof's office. The chests & pipework are using space only about 3 feet deep along an approx 12' wide wall: he's got the 2 2-rank chests end to end, so if he wanted to save space in the other dimension he could have put one chest in front of the other for about an installation of approx 4' deep across 6' of wall. He's got another 2 rank chest he's about to stick on it anyway, with a clarinet & a vox.

So a Wicks 2 rank chest is only about 6' long, 2 1/2 feet wide! You've got room for a couple of those! Stick the console anywhere you like.