In June 1926 the Rudolph Wurlitzer company shipped a pipe organ to the Alhambra in San Francisco. It was Wurlitzer’s opus 1364, a style “D,” 2 manuals, 6 ranks in a single chamber: an unusually small organ for a theatre of this size and quality. It was removed around 1960 and supposedly still exists in a private residence.
Wurlitzer records indicate a small organ, II/4, Style BX, their opus 1362 was shipped to the “Rothwell” Theatre in Willow Grove PA on June 12, 1926. That sounds suspiciously like the Grove being referred to by the company name: Rothwell. Or did the Rothwells open a 2nd theatre in Willow Grove? The organ apparently survives in a private residence in Glenside PA.
The Arcada’s pipe organ was built by Marr & Colton, originally 3 manuals and 10 ranks of pipes. Its original console supposedly adorned with flamingos. Early in the organ’s life it was rebuilt and expanded to 16 ranks by the Geneva organ company. The existing Art Deco style console dates from that time. Marr & Colton and Geneva were companies that specialized in building pipe organs for theatres but they are not remembered as being the top tier in that category (as for example, Wurlitzer, Kimball, Robert Morton). In short, a Marr & Colton was a lot cheaper than a Wurlitzer. It’s interesting that the owners of the Aracada, obviously building to high standards, choose an organ which was a definite nod to “economy.”
Advertisement in the Knoxville Journal Tribune July 17, 1914.
5¢ REX THEATRE 5¢ TODAY “Lucile Love, the Girl of Mystery” In 2 Parts —– Featuring Francis Ford and Grace Cunard.
Reliance —– 2 parts
“Blue Pete’s Escape”
A Forceful Drama with a Moral.
Keystone Comedy “Love and Salt Water” The Worlds Oldest living Things One of the Funniest Keystone Comedies Yet Produced.
THE NEW “PHOTOPLAYER”
Arthur H. Graves, Expert Demonstrator in Charge.
This most modern of musical instruments must be heard to be understood. It is not the mechanical music box you have heard at other places, but produces music thoroughly in harmony with the play at all times, sad, sentimental, tragic, patriotic or popular airs.
Really nicely produced 8 minute video about the organ, but with several good images of the auditorium’s interior. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbOEkXnNnB8
Notice on the photo above, the feature film is “Stool Pigeon.” According to imdb.com that feature was released October 25, 1928: we can assume this photo was taken sometime around shortly after that date. Stool Pigeon was a silent. Wonder what sort of accompaniment was provided. I have not found a record of an organ installed here.
According to the website http://barton.theatreorgans.com/ the Capitol opened with a 3 manual, 38 rank Hillgreen – Lane pipe organ. It seems very odd that a theatre of this quality should have had an organ from a distinctly second (if not third) tier organ builder. If the website is correct and the original cost was only $8000, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the chandeliers in the theatre didn’t cost more than the organ.
According to David Junchen’s book The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, an Illustrated History p. 675, Wurlitzer shipped their organ opus 1684 – 2 manuals 4 ranks – to the Parmele Theatre in Plattsmouth, Nebraska in July 1927. Junchen notes that the theatre subsequently was renamed the Cass Theatre. Wurlitzer removed the organ in 1932 and sold it to a hospital in Cincinnati Ohio. It is easy to imagine that the Parmele became the Cass at about that time.
The description of the organ in the header appears to be a compression of two different instruments.
When the Capitol opened, the organ was Kilgen opus 3037, a 4 manual, 31 rank organ which would indeed have been an unusually large theatre organ. Kilgen, better known as a church organ builder, did not have the cache or power of Wurlitzer’s instruments.
When Paramount took over the hall in 1926, they bought
a new Wurlitzer organ, opus 1404, a customized 3 manual, 16 ranks organ (possibly 15, there is an ambiguity in the data). As of 2013 the Wurlitzer survives in the Phipps Center for the Performing Arts, Hudson, Wisconsin, slightly altered. Fate of the Kilgen is unknown.
I’ve run across a reference that may not be accurate. It says that Wurlitzer organ opus 1117 (10 ranks) was moved to the Rivoli (Rutherford NJ) but there’s no date when that might have happened. Opus 1117 had originally been installed at the Regent in Kearny NJ in 1925. Seems odd that the Rivoli would sell opus 482 (9 ranks) and buy the used 1117 which was only 1 rank bigger. That’s a lot of money and hassle for 1 rank. Wonder if the Rivoli and the Regent were owned by the same company?
Lost Memory, I also find that a Wurlitzer theatre organ opus 600 style “D” was installed in the Regent Theatre, in November 1922. That organ was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Elizabeth NJ in July 1925. It appears that opus 1117 (10 ranks) was purchased as an upgrade since opus 600 only had 6 ranks (in one chamber).
According to IMDB.com King of the Khyber Rifles with Tyron Power and Terry Moore was a 20th Century Fox production which premiered in December 1953. It would have gotten to Memphis soon afterwards.
The Wurlitzer company records show a small pipe organ, opus 800, a stock, 5-rank residential model, was installed at the Savoy in May 1925, but moved to a Philadelphia residence just a month later. Maybe this was a demonstration for the theatre – in hopes that it would lead to a sale.(It didn’t.) One source says the organ was repossessed from the Savoy, but that seems unlikely in only a month’s time.
An odd distinction for this theatre: in 1925 this theatre purchased a Wurlitzer pipe organ, opus 1118, a style F-special, 3 manuals and 10 ranks. A customized organ, but nothing too usual.
The sad twist on this is that in 1943 this organ went back to the Wurlitzer factory in North Tonawanda NY where it was rebuilt for radio station WGR/WKBW Buffalo NY and in its rebuilt state, was the last pipe organ to leave Wurlitzer. Shortly afterwards all the remaining pipe organ stock, parts and tools were burned or melted down for scrap metal.
The Wurlitzer company, in a little over 22 years had turned out +/– 2,200 organs. Justly or not, Wurlitzer remains, in the mind of the general public, the most famous pipe organ builder.
The Clemmer Theatre had a III/28 Estey organ installed in 1912. Ten years later, when the hall became The Columbia Theatre, the Estey was removed and a II/9 style 210 Wurlitzer organ, opus 533, was installed.
Wurlitzer theatre organ opus 1815 replaced an earlier, smaller Wurlitzer, their opus 1139 which had been installed in the East Side on 08/19/1925. Wurlitzer took Opus 1139 in trade and later sold it to the Sylvia Theatre in Bellevue, Kentucky.
Another date discrepancy with the Theatre Organ Database which lists a II/4 Robert Morton pipe organ installed at Macon’s Ritz Theatre in 1927. Maybe the theatre changed hands in 1930? Maybe the database is just wrong?
The Theatre Organ Database says that Macon’s Rialto had a tiny Robert Morton pipe organ (II/3) installed in 1921. CT lists an opening date of 1925. Any supporting documents for either date?
The Robert Morton Organ Company records selling a 2 manual organ to the Grand Theatre in Macon Georgia in 1925. That is possibly this theatre. Is an organ still in this hall? Are there even empty chambers where an organ once stood?
In 1917 the Majestic got a Wurlitzer pipe organ, opus 119, Style 3 “Special” (meaning customized) 2 manuals, 7 ranks, in a free standing case which implies the organ was either installed on the stage or in an orchestra pit. It was moved to the Ideal Theatre in Burns Oregon in 1928.
Speculating: The Arcade’s address is on 7th Street. Wurlitzer built a small organ for the (or “a”) 7th Street Theatre in 1924, but the current 7th Street Theatre didn’t open until 1928/1929. Wonder if Wurlitzer built their organ for this hall in 1924? When the new 7th Street Theatre opened in 1928, this got converted to the “Arcade” and the organ got moved to the new hall. Later, this building got converted back into a theatre. Possible?
In June 1926 the Rudolph Wurlitzer company shipped a pipe organ to the Alhambra in San Francisco. It was Wurlitzer’s opus 1364, a style “D,” 2 manuals, 6 ranks in a single chamber: an unusually small organ for a theatre of this size and quality. It was removed around 1960 and supposedly still exists in a private residence.
Wurlitzer records indicate a small organ, II/4, Style BX, their opus 1362 was shipped to the “Rothwell” Theatre in Willow Grove PA on June 12, 1926. That sounds suspiciously like the Grove being referred to by the company name: Rothwell. Or did the Rothwells open a 2nd theatre in Willow Grove? The organ apparently survives in a private residence in Glenside PA.
The Arcada’s pipe organ was built by Marr & Colton, originally 3 manuals and 10 ranks of pipes. Its original console supposedly adorned with flamingos. Early in the organ’s life it was rebuilt and expanded to 16 ranks by the Geneva organ company. The existing Art Deco style console dates from that time. Marr & Colton and Geneva were companies that specialized in building pipe organs for theatres but they are not remembered as being the top tier in that category (as for example, Wurlitzer, Kimball, Robert Morton). In short, a Marr & Colton was a lot cheaper than a Wurlitzer. It’s interesting that the owners of the Aracada, obviously building to high standards, choose an organ which was a definite nod to “economy.”
Advertisement in the Knoxville Journal Tribune July 17, 1914.
5¢ REX THEATRE 5¢
TODAY
“Lucile Love, the Girl of Mystery”
In 2 Parts —– Featuring Francis Ford and Grace Cunard.
Reliance —– 2 parts
“Blue Pete’s Escape” A Forceful Drama with a Moral.
Keystone Comedy
“Love and Salt Water”
The Worlds Oldest living Things
One of the Funniest Keystone Comedies Yet Produced.
THE NEW “PHOTOPLAYER” Arthur H. Graves, Expert Demonstrator in Charge. This most modern of musical instruments must be heard to be understood. It is not the mechanical music box you have heard at other places, but produces music thoroughly in harmony with the play at all times, sad, sentimental, tragic, patriotic or popular airs.
Really nicely produced 8 minute video about the organ, but with several good images of the auditorium’s interior. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbOEkXnNnB8
Notice on the photo above, the feature film is “Stool Pigeon.” According to imdb.com that feature was released October 25, 1928: we can assume this photo was taken sometime around shortly after that date. Stool Pigeon was a silent. Wonder what sort of accompaniment was provided. I have not found a record of an organ installed here.
According to the website http://barton.theatreorgans.com/ the Capitol opened with a 3 manual, 38 rank Hillgreen – Lane pipe organ. It seems very odd that a theatre of this quality should have had an organ from a distinctly second (if not third) tier organ builder. If the website is correct and the original cost was only $8000, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of the chandeliers in the theatre didn’t cost more than the organ.
According to David Junchen’s book The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, an Illustrated History p. 675, Wurlitzer shipped their organ opus 1684 – 2 manuals 4 ranks – to the Parmele Theatre in Plattsmouth, Nebraska in July 1927. Junchen notes that the theatre subsequently was renamed the Cass Theatre. Wurlitzer removed the organ in 1932 and sold it to a hospital in Cincinnati Ohio. It is easy to imagine that the Parmele became the Cass at about that time.
The description of the organ in the header appears to be a compression of two different instruments.
When the Capitol opened, the organ was Kilgen opus 3037, a 4 manual, 31 rank organ which would indeed have been an unusually large theatre organ. Kilgen, better known as a church organ builder, did not have the cache or power of Wurlitzer’s instruments.
When Paramount took over the hall in 1926, they bought a new Wurlitzer organ, opus 1404, a customized 3 manual, 16 ranks organ (possibly 15, there is an ambiguity in the data). As of 2013 the Wurlitzer survives in the Phipps Center for the Performing Arts, Hudson, Wisconsin, slightly altered. Fate of the Kilgen is unknown.
I’ve run across a reference that may not be accurate. It says that Wurlitzer organ opus 1117 (10 ranks) was moved to the Rivoli (Rutherford NJ) but there’s no date when that might have happened. Opus 1117 had originally been installed at the Regent in Kearny NJ in 1925. Seems odd that the Rivoli would sell opus 482 (9 ranks) and buy the used 1117 which was only 1 rank bigger. That’s a lot of money and hassle for 1 rank. Wonder if the Rivoli and the Regent were owned by the same company?
Lost Memory, I also find that a Wurlitzer theatre organ opus 600 style “D” was installed in the Regent Theatre, in November 1922. That organ was moved to the Capitol Theatre in Elizabeth NJ in July 1925. It appears that opus 1117 (10 ranks) was purchased as an upgrade since opus 600 only had 6 ranks (in one chamber).
According to IMDB.com King of the Khyber Rifles with Tyron Power and Terry Moore was a 20th Century Fox production which premiered in December 1953. It would have gotten to Memphis soon afterwards.
The Princess Theatre got a tiny Wurlitzer pipe organ, opus 900, 2 manuals, 4 ranks, in 1924. The organ was moved to a church in 1931.
The Wurlitzer company records show a small pipe organ, opus 800, a stock, 5-rank residential model, was installed at the Savoy in May 1925, but moved to a Philadelphia residence just a month later. Maybe this was a demonstration for the theatre – in hopes that it would lead to a sale.(It didn’t.) One source says the organ was repossessed from the Savoy, but that seems unlikely in only a month’s time.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company installed a tiny pipe organ, style 108 (3 ranks) opus 700 in the Orient Theatre, in September 1923.
An odd distinction for this theatre: in 1925 this theatre purchased a Wurlitzer pipe organ, opus 1118, a style F-special, 3 manuals and 10 ranks. A customized organ, but nothing too usual.
The sad twist on this is that in 1943 this organ went back to the Wurlitzer factory in North Tonawanda NY where it was rebuilt for radio station WGR/WKBW Buffalo NY and in its rebuilt state, was the last pipe organ to leave Wurlitzer. Shortly afterwards all the remaining pipe organ stock, parts and tools were burned or melted down for scrap metal.
The Wurlitzer company, in a little over 22 years had turned out +/– 2,200 organs. Justly or not, Wurlitzer remains, in the mind of the general public, the most famous pipe organ builder.
The Sea Wolf, starring Hobart Bosworth, premiered in December 1913. This photo must not be too much later than that date.
The Clemmer Theatre had a III/28 Estey organ installed in 1912. Ten years later, when the hall became The Columbia Theatre, the Estey was removed and a II/9 style 210 Wurlitzer organ, opus 533, was installed.
Wurlitzer theatre organ opus 1815 replaced an earlier, smaller Wurlitzer, their opus 1139 which had been installed in the East Side on 08/19/1925. Wurlitzer took Opus 1139 in trade and later sold it to the Sylvia Theatre in Bellevue, Kentucky.
Another date discrepancy with the Theatre Organ Database which lists a II/4 Robert Morton pipe organ installed at Macon’s Ritz Theatre in 1927. Maybe the theatre changed hands in 1930? Maybe the database is just wrong?
The Theatre Organ Database says that Macon’s Rialto had a tiny Robert Morton pipe organ (II/3) installed in 1921. CT lists an opening date of 1925. Any supporting documents for either date?
The Robert Morton Organ Company records selling a 2 manual organ to the Grand Theatre in Macon Georgia in 1925. That is possibly this theatre. Is an organ still in this hall? Are there even empty chambers where an organ once stood?
The Wurlitzer organ was moved here from the defunct Majestic Theatre in Boise Idaho.
In 1917 the Majestic got a Wurlitzer pipe organ, opus 119, Style 3 “Special” (meaning customized) 2 manuals, 7 ranks, in a free standing case which implies the organ was either installed on the stage or in an orchestra pit. It was moved to the Ideal Theatre in Burns Oregon in 1928.
Speculating: The Arcade’s address is on 7th Street. Wurlitzer built a small organ for the (or “a”) 7th Street Theatre in 1924, but the current 7th Street Theatre didn’t open until 1928/1929. Wonder if Wurlitzer built their organ for this hall in 1924? When the new 7th Street Theatre opened in 1928, this got converted to the “Arcade” and the organ got moved to the new hall. Later, this building got converted back into a theatre. Possible?