The Oriental Theatre had a one of a kind, special Oriental designed 3 manual, 14 rank(Balaban 2)Wurlitzer pipe organ. It was removed from the theatre by Arthur Goggin but, never installed it. He then sold it to Stanky/Hochmuth where it was rebuilt and installed in their home in the Joliet, Il. area. Eventually, it was purchased by well known organist Ron Rhode and re-installed in his home in the Phoenix area where it still resides. Arthur Goggin told me that the Oriental theatre building had been gutted and turned into a warehouse?? Does anyone know this for fact?? TK…
Hi: ERD had asked in Aug. if Loew’s Oriental ever had a pipe organ?? YES, it did!! It was a 3 manual 13 rank Robert Morton. I was at the Oriental in the late 80’s to remove the organ’s 15hp blower from the sub basement. The Oriental’s blower is now playing the recently installed organ in the Heights Theatre in Columbia Heights, MN. There wasn’t much left in the organ chambers but, the swell shades, marimba harp and some regulators. The theatre was still very much open and alive but, not well enough to survive. It’s a real shame that someone hasn’t bought and restored this wonderful theatre!! Cheers: TK…
Does anyone have a picture that shows the Wurlitzer organ console in the Strand?? I have the original organ minus the console and would like to know what style it was and it looked like. Any help would be most appreciated. TK…
Hi: For whatever it’s worth, The St George Theatre Wurlitzer organ console is now in a private home in Arlington Minnesota. It would be really nice to see it eventually returned to the theatre. It’s been around the country. First it was reinstalled in a pizza restaurant in Texas, then to a private home in Ontario, CA. then to Century Pipe Organs in Minneaplis and finally sold to Lawrence Crawford of Arlington MN. Best wishes: Terry Kleven…
The Oriental Theatre had a one of a kind, special Oriental designed 3 manual, 14 rank(Balaban 2)Wurlitzer pipe organ. It was removed from the theatre by Arthur Goggin but, never installed it. He then sold it to Stanky/Hochmuth where it was rebuilt and installed in their home in the Joliet, Il. area. Eventually, it was purchased by well known organist Ron Rhode and re-installed in his home in the Phoenix area where it still resides. Arthur Goggin told me that the Oriental theatre building had been gutted and turned into a warehouse?? Does anyone know this for fact?? TK…
Hi All: I believe that the Optic Theatre is pictured in the opening scenes of the “Rockford Files” TV series?? Does anyone know this for certain?? TK…
Hi: ERD had asked in Aug. if Loew’s Oriental ever had a pipe organ?? YES, it did!! It was a 3 manual 13 rank Robert Morton. I was at the Oriental in the late 80’s to remove the organ’s 15hp blower from the sub basement. The Oriental’s blower is now playing the recently installed organ in the Heights Theatre in Columbia Heights, MN. There wasn’t much left in the organ chambers but, the swell shades, marimba harp and some regulators. The theatre was still very much open and alive but, not well enough to survive. It’s a real shame that someone hasn’t bought and restored this wonderful theatre!! Cheers: TK…
Does anyone have a picture that shows the Wurlitzer organ console in the Strand?? I have the original organ minus the console and would like to know what style it was and it looked like. Any help would be most appreciated. TK…
Hi: For whatever it’s worth, The St George Theatre Wurlitzer organ console is now in a private home in Arlington Minnesota. It would be really nice to see it eventually returned to the theatre. It’s been around the country. First it was reinstalled in a pizza restaurant in Texas, then to a private home in Ontario, CA. then to Century Pipe Organs in Minneaplis and finally sold to Lawrence Crawford of Arlington MN. Best wishes: Terry Kleven…