Just an update on this theatre’s Wurlitzer Opus 1616 shipped from the Wurlitzer factory in April 1927. This instrument passed to at least 2 other owners before being purchased in 2013 and shipped to FL for installation in a private residence. All original pipework has been retained. The unique console (with typewriter keys for the sound effects) was long gone before the organ was purchased by the new owners. I was told that the blower was started for the first this Sunday March 2nd and that the instrument will be playing before too long.
Here are two videos of the State-Lake Wurlitzer Opus 1773 in its new home in SW Florida. These were recorded in January 2011. The first link is a recording of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and the second video is a quick informal chamber tour for those people that care what’s behind the organ grille. Enjoy!
Commenting on earlier posts regarding the Wurlitzer pipe organ, the original organ in this theatre was a W. W. Kimball instrument. It was replaced by Wurlitzer Opus 1773 shipped from the Wurlitzer factory on October 28, 1927. It was a Style 240 of 13 ranks and 3 manauls. It was removed in June 1962 and sent to California where it remained at the Avenue Theatre where some additional ranks of pipes were added. When the Avenue Theatre closed this organ made a brief stop at the Towne Theatre in San Jose.
In 2005 I purchased this instrument and it is now the focal part of my FL home. It has been enlarged to 25 ranks.
Thought this might be interesting to some of the Avenue Theatre Silent and Townne Theatre Film Fans – I now own the Wurlitzer Opus 1773 that was installed in this theatre in the 1960’s. After the Avenue Theatre’s owner died the arrangement with the organ’s owners and the theatre’s new owners deteriorated and the organ was moved to the Towne Theatre in San Jose for a period. After its time there the instrument was removed and stored.
In 2005 the organ was packed and trucked to FL where it is being professionally installed in my studio after restoration takes place. This 3 year process is about over and I’m expecting a truck on Oct 27 to arrive here and installation to begin.
I’m proud to be the new curator of this piece of history.
Thought this might be interesting to some of the Avenue Theatre Silent Film Fans – I now own the Wurlitzer Opus 1773 that was installed in this theatre in the 1960’s. After the Avenue Theatre’s owner died the arrangement with the organ’s owners and the theatre’s new owners deteriorated and the organ was moved to the Towne Theatre in San Jose for a period. After its time there the instrument was removed and stored.
In 2005 the organ was packed and trucked to FL where it is being professionally installed in my studio after restoration takes place. This 3 year process is about over and I’m expecting a truck on Oct 27 to arrive here and installation to begin.
I’m proud to be the new curator of this piece of history that is nearly 81 years old.
Just an update on this theatre’s Wurlitzer Opus 1616 shipped from the Wurlitzer factory in April 1927. This instrument passed to at least 2 other owners before being purchased in 2013 and shipped to FL for installation in a private residence. All original pipework has been retained. The unique console (with typewriter keys for the sound effects) was long gone before the organ was purchased by the new owners. I was told that the blower was started for the first this Sunday March 2nd and that the instrument will be playing before too long.
Here are two videos of the State-Lake Wurlitzer Opus 1773 in its new home in SW Florida. These were recorded in January 2011. The first link is a recording of “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and the second video is a quick informal chamber tour for those people that care what’s behind the organ grille. Enjoy!
Matchmaker, Matchmaker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=necErx3vcn0
Chamber Tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie6rdJeV-9U
Commenting on earlier posts regarding the Wurlitzer pipe organ, the original organ in this theatre was a W. W. Kimball instrument. It was replaced by Wurlitzer Opus 1773 shipped from the Wurlitzer factory on October 28, 1927. It was a Style 240 of 13 ranks and 3 manauls. It was removed in June 1962 and sent to California where it remained at the Avenue Theatre where some additional ranks of pipes were added. When the Avenue Theatre closed this organ made a brief stop at the Towne Theatre in San Jose.
In 2005 I purchased this instrument and it is now the focal part of my FL home. It has been enlarged to 25 ranks.
Thought this might be interesting to some of the Avenue Theatre Silent and Townne Theatre Film Fans – I now own the Wurlitzer Opus 1773 that was installed in this theatre in the 1960’s. After the Avenue Theatre’s owner died the arrangement with the organ’s owners and the theatre’s new owners deteriorated and the organ was moved to the Towne Theatre in San Jose for a period. After its time there the instrument was removed and stored.
In 2005 the organ was packed and trucked to FL where it is being professionally installed in my studio after restoration takes place. This 3 year process is about over and I’m expecting a truck on Oct 27 to arrive here and installation to begin.
I’m proud to be the new curator of this piece of history.
The Wurlitzer theatre organ was lovely moved to the City Auditorium (Just down the street) where it is used often and with much success.
Thought this might be interesting to some of the Avenue Theatre Silent Film Fans – I now own the Wurlitzer Opus 1773 that was installed in this theatre in the 1960’s. After the Avenue Theatre’s owner died the arrangement with the organ’s owners and the theatre’s new owners deteriorated and the organ was moved to the Towne Theatre in San Jose for a period. After its time there the instrument was removed and stored.
In 2005 the organ was packed and trucked to FL where it is being professionally installed in my studio after restoration takes place. This 3 year process is about over and I’m expecting a truck on Oct 27 to arrive here and installation to begin.
I’m proud to be the new curator of this piece of history that is nearly 81 years old.
This building has been converted to law offices back in the 1980’s