The Roseland State did not have a WurliTzer Theatre Pipe organ, but instead a M.P. Moller organ of 3 manuals and 12 ranks. Moller primarily built organs for churches but did build theatre instruments which were awesome in their own right. The nearby Parkway Theatre did have a smaller Wurlitzer of 2 manuals and six ranks which is still in existance in a private residence. The Moller organ still in the theatre and playable in the 1950s and sounded great in that theatre. It did not survive as a complete instrument and was broken up for parts when removed in the 60s
The Highland had a 4m 21r Barton Theatre organ, identical to the one installed in the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. From what I’ve heard the theatre manager let his kids romp through the organ chambers and they took a fiendish delight in squashing the soft metal pipes. The console remained in plain view in the auditorium and when I saw it was uncovered and very dirty. The organ was removed by a organ hobbiest and was restored,
The Capitol was the regular theatre visted by my folks. Once in awhile they would take me along. The Capitol was an atmospheric theatre and vastly different from the very plain 30s Beverly which was the movie house I normally went to. I was fascinated by the decor and twinkling stars in the ceiling. The Capitol had a 3m 17r Wurlitzer theatre organ. After the talkies made their appearance the main cable was axed and the organ console stored back stage. It was removed in the 60s and is currently installed in a suburban Chicago home. The water tank on the roof of the auditorium had a structure with lights around it which made to resemble the Capitol dome.
The Jeffery Theatre had a 2m 6r Barton Theatre organ. It was badly water damaged. I was working for a local pipe organ service company at the time and a friend and I tried to restore the organ to playing condition. It was so far gone that it would have taken considerable money to repair, money which I didn’t have at the time. Coston Enterprises decided to donate the organ to a local church which only wanted the unit flute. My employer removed the organ, installed the flute at the church and sold off the rest of the parts. I still have the traps. The console was purchased by Jimmie Keating, at teacher at Lane Tech HS, who beautifully restored the console and used it to play his home pipe organ.
The Roseland State did not have a WurliTzer Theatre Pipe organ, but instead a M.P. Moller organ of 3 manuals and 12 ranks. Moller primarily built organs for churches but did build theatre instruments which were awesome in their own right. The nearby Parkway Theatre did have a smaller Wurlitzer of 2 manuals and six ranks which is still in existance in a private residence. The Moller organ still in the theatre and playable in the 1950s and sounded great in that theatre. It did not survive as a complete instrument and was broken up for parts when removed in the 60s
The Highland had a 4m 21r Barton Theatre organ, identical to the one installed in the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet. From what I’ve heard the theatre manager let his kids romp through the organ chambers and they took a fiendish delight in squashing the soft metal pipes. The console remained in plain view in the auditorium and when I saw it was uncovered and very dirty. The organ was removed by a organ hobbiest and was restored,
The Capitol was the regular theatre visted by my folks. Once in awhile they would take me along. The Capitol was an atmospheric theatre and vastly different from the very plain 30s Beverly which was the movie house I normally went to. I was fascinated by the decor and twinkling stars in the ceiling. The Capitol had a 3m 17r Wurlitzer theatre organ. After the talkies made their appearance the main cable was axed and the organ console stored back stage. It was removed in the 60s and is currently installed in a suburban Chicago home. The water tank on the roof of the auditorium had a structure with lights around it which made to resemble the Capitol dome.
The Jeffery Theatre had a 2m 6r Barton Theatre organ. It was badly water damaged. I was working for a local pipe organ service company at the time and a friend and I tried to restore the organ to playing condition. It was so far gone that it would have taken considerable money to repair, money which I didn’t have at the time. Coston Enterprises decided to donate the organ to a local church which only wanted the unit flute. My employer removed the organ, installed the flute at the church and sold off the rest of the parts. I still have the traps. The console was purchased by Jimmie Keating, at teacher at Lane Tech HS, who beautifully restored the console and used it to play his home pipe organ.