Thank you for the link to the auction,David. I won one item, and was amazed at the collection. I spoke to John when I picked up my item and he said it did not go as well as he had hoped. He is still hoping to sell the theatre to someone who will care for it as he has for the past 33 years. I will try to post photos from the balcony and backstage, which most have not seen views from.
This article has a picture and short story about the demolition: https://www.news-gazette.com/business/economy/former-bank-theater-building-in-west-champaign-coming-down/article_72d19ed0-5eab-51fa-b6e6-06cc0083bcb7.html
In 2012, Buzard Pipe Organ builders completed renovations and rebuilding of the 1921/1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ, one of a precious few instruments still found in its original home.
Full details can be found at:
https://buzardorgans.com/1921-1924-wurlitzer-theater-organ/
There are occasionally silent movies shown with accompaniment by Jay Warren who plays his own VTPO. The next one as of this writing is the 1924 silent “Peter Pan”. More information is at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/silent-film-sundays-peter-pan-1924-tickets-474175330177?
This “Jewel of Joliet” has one of the best original Barton Theatre Pipe Organs in the world.The Joliet Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts maintain it in excellent condition.You can read more about it here:http://www.jatoe.org/organ.htm
Update/correction on the organ:The pipe organ is inoperable. An electronic organ has been installed since Oct.2017. It is used for silent films;the most up to date information about which may be found on their facebook page.
I wonder what happened to the vertical marquee.
Thank you for the link to the auction,David. I won one item, and was amazed at the collection. I spoke to John when I picked up my item and he said it did not go as well as he had hoped. He is still hoping to sell the theatre to someone who will care for it as he has for the past 33 years. I will try to post photos from the balcony and backstage, which most have not seen views from.
This article has a picture and short story about the demolition: https://www.news-gazette.com/business/economy/former-bank-theater-building-in-west-champaign-coming-down/article_72d19ed0-5eab-51fa-b6e6-06cc0083bcb7.html
In 2012, Buzard Pipe Organ builders completed renovations and rebuilding of the 1921/1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ, one of a precious few instruments still found in its original home. Full details can be found at: https://buzardorgans.com/1921-1924-wurlitzer-theater-organ/
There are occasionally silent movies shown with accompaniment by Jay Warren who plays his own VTPO. The next one as of this writing is the 1924 silent “Peter Pan”. More information is at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/silent-film-sundays-peter-pan-1924-tickets-474175330177?
This “Jewel of Joliet” has one of the best original Barton Theatre Pipe Organs in the world.The Joliet Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts maintain it in excellent condition.You can read more about it here:http://www.jatoe.org/organ.htm
Update/correction on the organ:The pipe organ is inoperable. An electronic organ has been installed since Oct.2017. It is used for silent films;the most up to date information about which may be found on their facebook page.
A wonderful tour of a very nice Robert Morton Theater Organ at the Warnor Theater http://ow.ly/odldh