I too am always concerned about these two theatres, especially the DIMENSION-150 theatre with it’s GIANT CURVED SCREEN. I was in the general area last night and made a special trip over see if the building was still standing. I love to drive around to the back of the building to take a look at that giant curved wall that follows the curve of the D-150 SCREEN just on the other side of the wall. Last night I didn’t drive back to the back wall cause I saw a car drive in back and park, who knows what was going on? Anyway the building still stands as of 22 November 2014.
WOW! THE ORIGINAL ENGAGEMENTS, what a great and long list! That really took a lot of work, thank you, Michael Coate!
On the list, one small mistake “1965-01-12 Virginia Beach (Norfolk) VA Memrose (12)”. The now demolished Memrose Theater (which I attended many times) was in Norfolk and had nothing to do with Virginia Beach a completely different city miles and miles away from the Memrose.
Michael brought back lots of memories, I saw “Mary Poppins” back in 1964 at Radio City Music Hall.
You may want to change the address, it is off about 6 miles Southeast of the Drive-In location. A better address would be U.S. Highway 49 and Edwards Street. The location shows the foundation of the screen concession stand and the golf course.
The home built beneath the screen had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a sun porch.
I don’t think just showing ‘open’ theaters is a good idea. New folks just going to CT will see that, not know that they can navigate to the closed or demolished sites, think that’s not very interesting and leave the site and you lost them for good. Better to put it back like it was, so they have the FUN of seeing all the theaters in their town and you have them HOOKED. Have those other options for those of us who want to use them.
A Kimball Theater Pipe Organ Opus KPO 6944, 6945, 6946, 3/28, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes was installed in the Warner in 1931. It had thousands of pipes in three chambers, two on the left side and one on the right. The console was on the left in the orchestra pit and was on a worm screw lift that could rise to stage level by a push button. In 1973 when the theatre was twined the organ was to be removed. Paul Wesley gave one last concert. A LP recording was made “Midnight At The Center”. The organ was donated to the Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School for installation in the school’s auditorium, but it was decided that it would be impossible to fit such a large instrument into the available space. The Kimball Theatre Organ Society (KTOS) was formed in 1979 for the purpose of saving the organ from eventual sale. After many years of rebuilding and restoration and greatly enlarged, the Kimball again started playing again at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee in 1991.
W.W. KIMBALL COMPANY, THE WORLD’S LARGEST PIANO AND ORGAN MANUFACTURER AT CERTAIN TIMES IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES.
(1828-1904), Maine, William Wallace Kimball born.
1857, Chicago, W.W. Kimball Company was founded. Offices were at 239-253 Wabash Avenue Southwest corner of Jackson Boulevard, Chicago. The factory was at South Rockwell Street and 26th Street, Chicago.
1877, they began assembling Kimball Reed Organs.
1882, they were producing 15,000 organs a year, the world’s largest organ maker!
1900, had 1,500 employees.
1910’s, made 13,000 pianos a year.
1922, stopped making reed organs, they had produced 403,390 reed organs!
Late 1800’s to 1930’s, world’s largest piano manufacturer.
1942, pipe organ division closed down 7,326 pipe organs had been built, they had also made portable pipe organs.
World War II, William Wallace Kimball Jr. was in charge. They manufactured needed war items for Boeing Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed Aircraft.
1961, they started making the first electronic or rather electric organs.
1960’s & 1970’s, they made 100,000 pianos and organs annually.
1983, stopped making organs.
February 1996, the last Kimball grand piano was signed by every worker and company executive, and remains on display at Kimball’s showroom in Jasper, Indiana.
Now Kimball International and Kimball Electronics. Makes furniture and electronics gizmos.
A Hinners Pipe Organ, ?/5, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes was shipped 243 miles Northeast from Pekin, Illinois in 1909. This was a tracker organ which means that when the organist pressed the keys or pedals they were mechanically connected to the valves that allowed air to enter the organ pipes. Most organs have this done by electric action and electric valves so this is all connected by very fine electric wires .
Hinner’s Organ Company/Hinner’s & Albertsen Organ Company/Hinners & Fink Company/Perfection Organ Works, was at 125-131 Court Street, Pekin, Illinois, 41 miles West of Bloomington, Illinois. Hinners was founded in 1885 by John L. Hinners and Ubbo Albertson, later John’s son Arthur W. Hinners was the president. They built pianos, about 3,000 pipe organs, small parlor reed organs, huge church and at least 49 theatre pipe organs. Most production ceased in the late 1920’s. The last 10 years or so were spent just repairing instruments and replacing parts. The company stayed in business until about 1940.
Some records seem to show that a Barton Theater Pipe Organ might have been installed in the Princess?
Any info, comments or corrections on either ORGAN are always welcome!
ONE OF THE VERY FEW THEATER PIPE ORGANS STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL THEATER LOCATION!
A Mighty WuliTizer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 1865, 3/13, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, was shipped from WurliTizer in North Tonawanda, New York, to the Riverside on March 24, 1928. 2 more ranks have been added which would now make it a 3/15. It has a curved console, over 1000 pipes, 49 note marimba, 25 note cathedral chime, 37 note xylophone, 37 note glockenspiel, 25 note sleigh bells, 49 note chrysoglott, bass drum, kettle drum, crash cymbal, cymbal, harp, snare drum, tambourine, castanets, Chinese block, tom tom, sand block, triangle, surf, auto horn, and door bell.
This Mighty WurliTizer was first played when the Riverside opened by “Winkel” the Whiteman, and was regularly used into the 1950’s. The theatre donated the organ to the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society and they began a restoration of the organ in 1980, repairing much water damage from a leaky roof, and ordinary wear and tear. Much to everyones chagrin the organ is rarely played!
More info, comments, corrections, and photos of the ORGAN are always welcome!
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ 2/, manual/, keyboards/, was shipped by the Barton Organ Company of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. How many /ranks, /sets of pipes, what year was it shipped to the Climax, and what happened to the organ?
A Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/5, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes. was shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the Liberty. What happened to the organ?
What happened to the Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/3, manual/rank, keyboards/set of pipes, shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the Mirth in 1922?
Anyone know what happened to that Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/7, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, that was shipped from the Barton factory, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to the Regent in 1922?
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/5, manual/ranks, keyboards/sets of pipes, that cost $10,000, was shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1924, and replaced a player piano. Years later its space was used for air conditioner ducts, what happened to the organ?
A Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 3/10, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, was shipped from the Barton organ factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1924. In the 1950’s the organ was removed and the pipe organ chambers were used to install the air conditioning units. Know what happened to the organ?
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 3/17, manual/ranks, keyboards/set of pipes, it had TWO CONSOLES, was shipped from the Barton organ factory in 1924. It seems the organ was removed around 1963? What happened to the organ?
102 years old today!
luffup, thanks for the info, you should be proud!
I too am always concerned about these two theatres, especially the DIMENSION-150 theatre with it’s GIANT CURVED SCREEN. I was in the general area last night and made a special trip over see if the building was still standing. I love to drive around to the back of the building to take a look at that giant curved wall that follows the curve of the D-150 SCREEN just on the other side of the wall. Last night I didn’t drive back to the back wall cause I saw a car drive in back and park, who knows what was going on? Anyway the building still stands as of 22 November 2014.
WOW! THE ORIGINAL ENGAGEMENTS, what a great and long list! That really took a lot of work, thank you, Michael Coate!
On the list, one small mistake “1965-01-12 Virginia Beach (Norfolk) VA Memrose (12)”. The now demolished Memrose Theater (which I attended many times) was in Norfolk and had nothing to do with Virginia Beach a completely different city miles and miles away from the Memrose.
Michael brought back lots of memories, I saw “Mary Poppins” back in 1964 at Radio City Music Hall.
From the theater website I would guess the theater is closed? When did it close and when will it open?
Thanks Chris, for correcting the address.
PLEASE CHANGE ADDRESS TO:
729 WATTS AVENUE
Pascagoula MS 39567
Thanks
WHAT’S WITH THIS SILLYNESS OF ALWAYS HAVING TO GO THROUGH THESE EXTRA STEPS TO “ALL THEATERS” ALL THE TIME?
Opened in 2005 Malco lists the phone number as 662.236.4962. Was know as Studio 8??
You may want to change the address, it is off about 6 miles Southeast of the Drive-In location. A better address would be U.S. Highway 49 and Edwards Street. The location shows the foundation of the screen concession stand and the golf course.
The home built beneath the screen had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths and a sun porch.
Patrick,
I don’t think just showing ‘open’ theaters is a good idea. New folks just going to CT will see that, not know that they can navigate to the closed or demolished sites, think that’s not very interesting and leave the site and you lost them for good. Better to put it back like it was, so they have the FUN of seeing all the theaters in their town and you have them HOOKED. Have those other options for those of us who want to use them.
V.R.
Chief Bob Jensen
That’s strange, I read it without any problem!
PLEASE CHANGE THE ADDRESS TO:
540 MILWAUKEE.
Just Milwaukee Avenue is about 2 miles too far South on the map.
It will still not map exactly correct, you will not see the building. You need to change the address to 586 to see the theater building?
That study is full of beans! I sit in the spot that gives me the best view of the screen!
PLEASE ADD:
PREVIOUS NAMES: SHAW THEATRE
Thanks
PLEASE ADD:
PREVIOUS NAMES, TRINZ ELECTRIC THEARE, STAR THEATRE
SEATS, 300
ARCHITECT, NICHOLAS DORNBACH
Thanks
A Kimball Theater Pipe Organ Opus KPO 6944, 6945, 6946, 3/28, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes was installed in the Warner in 1931. It had thousands of pipes in three chambers, two on the left side and one on the right. The console was on the left in the orchestra pit and was on a worm screw lift that could rise to stage level by a push button. In 1973 when the theatre was twined the organ was to be removed. Paul Wesley gave one last concert. A LP recording was made “Midnight At The Center”. The organ was donated to the Milwaukee Trade and Technical High School for installation in the school’s auditorium, but it was decided that it would be impossible to fit such a large instrument into the available space. The Kimball Theatre Organ Society (KTOS) was formed in 1979 for the purpose of saving the organ from eventual sale. After many years of rebuilding and restoration and greatly enlarged, the Kimball again started playing again at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee in 1991.
W.W. KIMBALL COMPANY, THE WORLD’S LARGEST PIANO AND ORGAN MANUFACTURER AT CERTAIN TIMES IN THE 19TH AND 20TH CENTURIES.
(1828-1904), Maine, William Wallace Kimball born. 1857, Chicago, W.W. Kimball Company was founded. Offices were at 239-253 Wabash Avenue Southwest corner of Jackson Boulevard, Chicago. The factory was at South Rockwell Street and 26th Street, Chicago. 1877, they began assembling Kimball Reed Organs. 1882, they were producing 15,000 organs a year, the world’s largest organ maker! 1900, had 1,500 employees. 1910’s, made 13,000 pianos a year. 1922, stopped making reed organs, they had produced 403,390 reed organs! Late 1800’s to 1930’s, world’s largest piano manufacturer. 1942, pipe organ division closed down 7,326 pipe organs had been built, they had also made portable pipe organs. World War II, William Wallace Kimball Jr. was in charge. They manufactured needed war items for Boeing Aircraft, Douglas Aircraft and Lockheed Aircraft. 1961, they started making the first electronic or rather electric organs. 1960’s & 1970’s, they made 100,000 pianos and organs annually. 1983, stopped making organs. February 1996, the last Kimball grand piano was signed by every worker and company executive, and remains on display at Kimball’s showroom in Jasper, Indiana. Now Kimball International and Kimball Electronics. Makes furniture and electronics gizmos.
A Hinners Pipe Organ, ?/5, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes was shipped 243 miles Northeast from Pekin, Illinois in 1909. This was a tracker organ which means that when the organist pressed the keys or pedals they were mechanically connected to the valves that allowed air to enter the organ pipes. Most organs have this done by electric action and electric valves so this is all connected by very fine electric wires .
Hinner’s Organ Company/Hinner’s & Albertsen Organ Company/Hinners & Fink Company/Perfection Organ Works, was at 125-131 Court Street, Pekin, Illinois, 41 miles West of Bloomington, Illinois. Hinners was founded in 1885 by John L. Hinners and Ubbo Albertson, later John’s son Arthur W. Hinners was the president. They built pianos, about 3,000 pipe organs, small parlor reed organs, huge church and at least 49 theatre pipe organs. Most production ceased in the late 1920’s. The last 10 years or so were spent just repairing instruments and replacing parts. The company stayed in business until about 1940.
Some records seem to show that a Barton Theater Pipe Organ might have been installed in the Princess?
Any info, comments or corrections on either ORGAN are always welcome!
ONE OF THE VERY FEW THEATER PIPE ORGANS STILL IN ITS ORIGINAL THEATER LOCATION!
A Mighty WuliTizer Theater Pipe Organ, Opus 1865, 3/13, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, was shipped from WurliTizer in North Tonawanda, New York, to the Riverside on March 24, 1928. 2 more ranks have been added which would now make it a 3/15. It has a curved console, over 1000 pipes, 49 note marimba, 25 note cathedral chime, 37 note xylophone, 37 note glockenspiel, 25 note sleigh bells, 49 note chrysoglott, bass drum, kettle drum, crash cymbal, cymbal, harp, snare drum, tambourine, castanets, Chinese block, tom tom, sand block, triangle, surf, auto horn, and door bell.
This Mighty WurliTizer was first played when the Riverside opened by “Winkel” the Whiteman, and was regularly used into the 1950’s. The theatre donated the organ to the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society and they began a restoration of the organ in 1980, repairing much water damage from a leaky roof, and ordinary wear and tear. Much to everyones chagrin the organ is rarely played!
More info, comments, corrections, and photos of the ORGAN are always welcome!
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ 2/, manual/, keyboards/, was shipped by the Barton Organ Company of Oshkosh, Wisconsin. How many /ranks, /sets of pipes, what year was it shipped to the Climax, and what happened to the organ?
A Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/5, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes. was shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the Liberty. What happened to the organ?
What happened to the Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/3, manual/rank, keyboards/set of pipes, shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to the Mirth in 1922?
Anyone know what happened to that Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/7, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, that was shipped from the Barton factory, in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to the Regent in 1922?
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 2/5, manual/ranks, keyboards/sets of pipes, that cost $10,000, was shipped from the Barton factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1924, and replaced a player piano. Years later its space was used for air conditioner ducts, what happened to the organ?
A Golden Voiced Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 3/10, manual/rank, keyboards/sets of pipes, was shipped from the Barton organ factory in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1924. In the 1950’s the organ was removed and the pipe organ chambers were used to install the air conditioning units. Know what happened to the organ?
A Golden Toned Barton Theater Pipe Organ, 3/17, manual/ranks, keyboards/set of pipes, it had TWO CONSOLES, was shipped from the Barton organ factory in 1924. It seems the organ was removed around 1963? What happened to the organ?