Luna Theatre

The 1918 opening of the Luna was actually a re-opening, following extensive remodeling. A 2017 article in the Lafayette Journal & Courier indicates that the house had originally opened by 1915. The May 25, 1918 Moving Picture World published this extensive article about the project:

“LAFAYETTE, IND.—The opening of the new Luna theater, Thursday, April 25, marked an epoch in the history of the motion picture business in the city of Lafayette. Long before the doors of the pretty remodeled playhouse were thrown open an immense crowd had assembled in an effort to obtain advantageous positions before the ticket window. It was estimated that approximately 2,500 persons attended the affair.

“H. H. Johnson, manager of the Luna, and his corps of assistants were unusually busy in handling the throng, and did so without a hitch.

“The lobby of the new playhouse was a veritable bower of gorgeous flowers that had been sent by friends of the management. Mr. Johnson in turn distributed carnations to the women patrons.

“The beauty and comfort of the new theater was a matter of universal comment. The seating arrangements proved ideal under the test of service. The lighting arrangements are ideal, and the magnificent organ can be heard to splendid advantage.

“After being closed since November 1, the Luna has been transformed into one of the prettiest and most up-to-date motion picture theaters in the country. The cost of this transformation represents an expenditure of approximately $50,000.

“Mr. Johnson will have associated with him in the operation of the Luna as assistant manager, Chester Raub, who has served in that capacity for the last three years; Mrs. James L. Johnson, cashier; Carl W. Rumsey, operator for the past five years, will still be in charge of the operating room: Edward Kern, Walter Wolover, Milton Lorenz, and Donald McClurg as ushers, and Edward H. Bailey in charge of the sanitary department.”

Still In Operation Since 1956.

According to “The Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ” by Mr. David Junchen, pg. 629, a Seeburg-Smith theatre pipe organ was installed in the “Luna Th.” in Lafayette, Indiana, in 1918. This organ had Kinetic blower serial #F462, which was a 2 horsepower blower. No further details on the organ, such as size (# of manuals / # of ranks), or the static wind pressure of the blower, are given in the book (not known at the time of publication).

It is known that Wurlitzer installed a style “E Special” (special/customized version of the style E, which was a two-manual, seven-rank theatre pipe organ) in this theatre in 1925, presumably replacing the earlier Seeburg-Smith instrument. User gorhamzoro was directly involved with the removal of the remains of this Wurlitzer organ and would/will know more about it.

However, it is not known (at least to me) what actually became of the Seeburg-Smith organ. Was it sold to another theatre, to a church, to a lodge hall, to a private home, or to a mortuary? All of these are possibilities.

The other possibility is that it was simply junked at the time, but this doesn’t seem as likely to me as having happened in 1925, since organs were still viable in theatres and used at that time, and thus had value.

Does anybody know where this organ, or its parts, is today? Thanks!

I purchased and removed the Wurlitzer from the Luna Theater many, many years ago. It was mostly destroyed by vandals by the time I got there.