Continuing the story on the organ – David Junchen “The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, An Illustrated History” also lists this theatre as getting a new Wurlitzer, opus 1316, a II/7 style E, in 1927. Wonder if opus 745 was repossessed or just sold when the Forest got a new, bigger instrument?
David Junchen’s “The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, An Illustrated History” lists the 1926 installation of a tiny (II/4) organ in the William Penn Theatre in Pittsburg, but with no address. Would that be this theatre? The facade looks more like a 1930’s design.
Hey guys, could you check your Film Daily yearbooks in the mid-1940’s up to the mid-1950s and see if you find a movie theatre at 1121 North Central? It’s about a block east of this one, on the same side of the road and it looks really suspiciously like a post-war, low-rent theatre, maybe 300 seats. It’s been empty for years. I’m not finding it in my limited materials here at home and a trip to the library would have to wait until after new years.
Wurlitzer installed their pipe organ opus 1302 here in 1926, a very modest Style E, 2 manuals 7 ranks in one chamber. The organ was later moved to the Crystal Palace in West Goshen CT.
Wurlitzer installed their organ opus 1301 here in 1926. A style 235 III/11 is a nice size organ for a 1700 seat theatre. The Sanford must have started out as a first rate operation.
The Liberty also had one of the early Wurlitzer organs – built in their first year of pipe organ production. It was a 3 manual, 20 rank instrument – including a 4 rank echo division. The organ was only the 42nd instrument Wurlitzer built (out of some 2200 total). The cost was a whopping $16,500.
I found a reference that the 1925 Wurlitzer organ (opus 1200, Style H sp) originally installed at the Majestic Theatre, Burlington VT was moved to the Flynn. The organ supposedly later moved to an unnamed convent in Burlington. Anyone else have details to add to this story?
From the Estey organ company I find record of them selling an organ to the Isis Theatre, Denver CO in 1910, 3 years before this building opened. Then the Wurlitzer records show THEY sold an organ to the Isis Theatre, Denver CO, in 1915, 2 years after this theatre opened. Certainly theatres upgraded their organs – and believe me, if you had a theatre with an Estey, you needed an upgrade. I can even understand maybe Estey using a contract date rather than an installation date, but 3 years is too long for that. Any suggestions? Was there a previous Isis Theatre?
The Wurlitzer records indicate a large instrument (opus 27 IV/22) was installed at the Pitt Theatre, Pittsburg PA in August 1913. The organ apparently not only had the usual left and right chambers, but also a stage division and a balcony division – seriously deluxe upgrades.
The Franklin Theatre had one of the earliest Wurlitzer organs, (opus 6). It was a small instrument only 4 ranks, but cost a whopping $4000. The organ was reportedly sold to a theatre in Cincinnati Ohio.
The Wurlitzer records show their organ opus 570 was installed in the Princess Theatre in Corning NY. Would that be this theatre? CT doesn’t list a Princess Theatre in Corning, and the State / Opera House is the right age.
Here’s a song tribute to Blossom Seeley, last headliner at the old Orpheum. The musician has included several images of the old Orpheum along with at least one of the new (existing) Orpheum, built on the same site. Good tune, very reminicent of Blossom Seeley’s own style, worth the 2 ½ minutes of your time. It’s called “Hot Blossom.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpgYei_I5Ko
Wurlitzer II/7 organ, opus 1651, style “E-X” was installed in the Princess in October 1927. The organ seems to have been removed in 1964 and moved to a Methodist church in Auburn Maine.
The theatre organ database indicates a 3-manual 35 rank Frazee organ (their opus 30) was installed at the Loew’s Orpheum in 1916. Its current location unknown.
Bryan, one correction to your excellent description at the top of this page: the 4 tall center columns and the frieze are Ionic, rather than Doric. The pilasters to each side are Renaissance Doric inspired. Not that this makes one whit of difference. Does this make me the architectural equivalent of one of the “grammer police?”
Vincent, thanks for the confirmation on the name Majestic. There is a photo of one of Memphis' Majestics (not the one still standing) in the book Nickelodeon Theatres and Their Music. Wonder if it was this one?
Joe: what a great article! And I stand corrected. The Jefferson Theatre, stood on Madison, not on Jefferson, a block away. It soon became known as the Lyric and later the Mazda. Thanks for the addition. Now if we can just find some more photos…
Vincent, it’s been too long since I did this research and can’t tell you a date anymore. Seems odd that there would be a Jefferson Theatre on Madison Ave when Jefferson Ave is just a block away. It is certainly possible, but you have to hope that the owners weren’t that blind to the possibility for confusion. Since you have access to the city directories maybe this will help: the storefront at the far left, the big sign is cut off but says “…aus and Co. Dyers” and the small sign up under the canopy says “..raus and Co. Cleaners.” The word “Dyers” appears again right next to the entrance. Could be Straus or Kraus.
Immediately to the left of the theatre’s lobby appears to be a barber shop. (What is it about theatres and barber shops?) For all the world I think the name is “Ed’s.”
Can’t make out what’s immediately to the right of the lobby, one word on the window might be “buffet.” Did they have buffet’s in 1910?
The building at far right looks like “Memphis Storage Company.” Can’t make out the first word well, but it’s “something Storage Company.”
What I wouldn’t give to be able to read the poster cases at the theatre entrance and the little A-frame sign on the sidewalk. (And did you notice the horse at the far right?)
Re the Germania Hall, I remember seeing that in a different context entirely. Correct me if I’m not wrong, but wasn’t that where Oscar Wilde spoke in 1882 (1883?). Probably a different venue from this entirely.
The address 275 South Main puts the Bijou on the same side of the street as the Orpheum at 195-197 South Main (west side of the street). The Loew’s State, the Strand and the Warner (nee Pantages) were on the east side of Main. The Orpheum’s vertical sign is visible in the street view here – if you look closely.
Doctor Phil: any photos? The Memphis Public Library would be really interested in anything you’d like to donate – old ledgers, photos, anything at all. Can you describe the interiors of any of those theatres? It’d be great to hear any details you can remember.
Thanks Roger. Good lead!
Continuing the story on the organ – David Junchen “The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, An Illustrated History” also lists this theatre as getting a new Wurlitzer, opus 1316, a II/7 style E, in 1927. Wonder if opus 745 was repossessed or just sold when the Forest got a new, bigger instrument?
David Junchen’s “The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ, An Illustrated History” lists the 1926 installation of a tiny (II/4) organ in the William Penn Theatre in Pittsburg, but with no address. Would that be this theatre? The facade looks more like a 1930’s design.
Hey guys, could you check your Film Daily yearbooks in the mid-1940’s up to the mid-1950s and see if you find a movie theatre at 1121 North Central? It’s about a block east of this one, on the same side of the road and it looks really suspiciously like a post-war, low-rent theatre, maybe 300 seats. It’s been empty for years. I’m not finding it in my limited materials here at home and a trip to the library would have to wait until after new years.
Wurlitzer installed their pipe organ opus 1302 here in 1926, a very modest Style E, 2 manuals 7 ranks in one chamber. The organ was later moved to the Crystal Palace in West Goshen CT.
Wurlitzer installed their organ opus 1301 here in 1926. A style 235 III/11 is a nice size organ for a 1700 seat theatre. The Sanford must have started out as a first rate operation.
The Liberty also had one of the early Wurlitzer organs – built in their first year of pipe organ production. It was a 3 manual, 20 rank instrument – including a 4 rank echo division. The organ was only the 42nd instrument Wurlitzer built (out of some 2200 total). The cost was a whopping $16,500.
I found a reference that the 1925 Wurlitzer organ (opus 1200, Style H sp) originally installed at the Majestic Theatre, Burlington VT was moved to the Flynn. The organ supposedly later moved to an unnamed convent in Burlington. Anyone else have details to add to this story?
From the Estey organ company I find record of them selling an organ to the Isis Theatre, Denver CO in 1910, 3 years before this building opened. Then the Wurlitzer records show THEY sold an organ to the Isis Theatre, Denver CO, in 1915, 2 years after this theatre opened. Certainly theatres upgraded their organs – and believe me, if you had a theatre with an Estey, you needed an upgrade. I can even understand maybe Estey using a contract date rather than an installation date, but 3 years is too long for that. Any suggestions? Was there a previous Isis Theatre?
The Wurlitzer records indicate a large instrument (opus 27 IV/22) was installed at the Pitt Theatre, Pittsburg PA in August 1913. The organ apparently not only had the usual left and right chambers, but also a stage division and a balcony division – seriously deluxe upgrades.
The Franklin Theatre had one of the earliest Wurlitzer organs, (opus 6). It was a small instrument only 4 ranks, but cost a whopping $4000. The organ was reportedly sold to a theatre in Cincinnati Ohio.
The Wurlitzer records show their organ opus 570 was installed in the Princess Theatre in Corning NY. Would that be this theatre? CT doesn’t list a Princess Theatre in Corning, and the State / Opera House is the right age.
Ventilation openings? You mean “windows?”
Here’s a song tribute to Blossom Seeley, last headliner at the old Orpheum. The musician has included several images of the old Orpheum along with at least one of the new (existing) Orpheum, built on the same site. Good tune, very reminicent of Blossom Seeley’s own style, worth the 2 ½ minutes of your time. It’s called “Hot Blossom.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpgYei_I5Ko
A nod to V Astor for noting the image of the long forgotten Bijou Theatre visible in this photo.
vastor: the link to Memphis Tech High doesn’t seem to work. Can you check the address?
Wurlitzer II/7 organ, opus 1651, style “E-X” was installed in the Princess in October 1927. The organ seems to have been removed in 1964 and moved to a Methodist church in Auburn Maine.
The theatre organ database indicates a 3-manual 35 rank Frazee organ (their opus 30) was installed at the Loew’s Orpheum in 1916. Its current location unknown.
Bryan, one correction to your excellent description at the top of this page: the 4 tall center columns and the frieze are Ionic, rather than Doric. The pilasters to each side are Renaissance Doric inspired. Not that this makes one whit of difference. Does this make me the architectural equivalent of one of the “grammer police?”
Where else? Stan Hightower.
Vincent, thanks for the confirmation on the name Majestic. There is a photo of one of Memphis' Majestics (not the one still standing) in the book Nickelodeon Theatres and Their Music. Wonder if it was this one?
Joe: what a great article! And I stand corrected. The Jefferson Theatre, stood on Madison, not on Jefferson, a block away. It soon became known as the Lyric and later the Mazda. Thanks for the addition. Now if we can just find some more photos…
Vincent, it’s been too long since I did this research and can’t tell you a date anymore. Seems odd that there would be a Jefferson Theatre on Madison Ave when Jefferson Ave is just a block away. It is certainly possible, but you have to hope that the owners weren’t that blind to the possibility for confusion. Since you have access to the city directories maybe this will help: the storefront at the far left, the big sign is cut off but says “…aus and Co. Dyers” and the small sign up under the canopy says “..raus and Co. Cleaners.” The word “Dyers” appears again right next to the entrance. Could be Straus or Kraus.
Immediately to the left of the theatre’s lobby appears to be a barber shop. (What is it about theatres and barber shops?) For all the world I think the name is “Ed’s.”
Can’t make out what’s immediately to the right of the lobby, one word on the window might be “buffet.” Did they have buffet’s in 1910?
The building at far right looks like “Memphis Storage Company.” Can’t make out the first word well, but it’s “something Storage Company.”
What I wouldn’t give to be able to read the poster cases at the theatre entrance and the little A-frame sign on the sidewalk. (And did you notice the horse at the far right?)
Re the Germania Hall, I remember seeing that in a different context entirely. Correct me if I’m not wrong, but wasn’t that where Oscar Wilde spoke in 1882 (1883?). Probably a different venue from this entirely.
The address 275 South Main puts the Bijou on the same side of the street as the Orpheum at 195-197 South Main (west side of the street). The Loew’s State, the Strand and the Warner (nee Pantages) were on the east side of Main. The Orpheum’s vertical sign is visible in the street view here – if you look closely.
Doctor Phil: any photos? The Memphis Public Library would be really interested in anything you’d like to donate – old ledgers, photos, anything at all. Can you describe the interiors of any of those theatres? It’d be great to hear any details you can remember.