I own what remains of the Kimball Unit Orchestra (theatre pipe organ) of 2 manuals and 9 ranks installed in this theatre. It was removed in 1959 by well known organist of the day Kay McAbee. Most of the pipes and console ended up in Jack Gustafson’s hybrid Kimball/Wurlitzer organ, which grew over the years as it moved from Oak Park to San Jose, landing in Palm Springs. By that time it had grown to 3 manuals and 14 ranks with parts collected from other organs in Illinois. I am now restoring it to install in Seattle. From the spotty information on the original organ during its time at the Lamar it seems the organ caught fire near the end of its life and half of it was damaged beyond repair (which was the condition in which it was removed).
I own what remains of the Kimball Unit Orchestra (theatre pipe organ) of 2 manuals and 9 ranks installed in this theatre. It was removed in 1959 by well known organist of the day Kay McAbee. Most of the pipes and console ended up in Jack Gustafson’s hybrid Kimball/Wurlitzer organ, which grew over the years as it moved from Oak Park to San Jose, landing in Palm Springs. By that time it had grown to 3 manuals and 14 ranks with parts collected from other organs in Illinois. I am now restoring it to install in Seattle. From the spotty information on the original organ during its time at the Lamar it seems the organ caught fire near the end of its life and half of it was damaged beyond repair (which was the condition in which it was removed).