This theatre, located in Crystal Falls, MI is now named Crystal Theatre and is a live performing facility. Originally built in 1927, it was built to replace the opera house, name Gem Theatre, that was down the street. Gem theatre burned several years earlier. It was built as a live performing center with movie capabilities. It housed 1 screen, a decent sized stage, an orchestra pit, two Simplex E-7 movie projectors (which are still located in the projection booth) and a Wurlitzer 2/7 organ. With the demand of movies rising, the theatre was converted into a full time movie house in the late 1920’s. With the invention of movies with sound, the Wurlitzer organ was sold by the city. The theatre continued to show movies until about the 1980’s. The theatre changed names several times, first it was the Ejay Theatre, (the original seats in the belcony still say EJ on the sides of them), then the Delft theatre, then the Aldo theatre, which closed its doors in the 1980’s. In 1992, a group of dedicated volunteers came in and renovated/restored the theatre into a live performing facitily seating about 600 people. Crystal Theatre is a 401 C non profit organization which is goverened by an 8 memeber board of directors serving this community and surrounding communities. The theatre has hosted a variety of events, including The National Shakespear Company, the Michigan Chamber Brass, and also is the home to the Forest Park High School Drama Club. Today, since the original Wurlitzer organ was sold, a Moeller 3/21 theatre pipe organ was bought and restored and is the focal point of the theatre. This theatre features a wide varitey of theatre organists including Dave Wickerham. This theatre still keeps its original integrety with art deco wall murals which are orignal to the theatre.
Is this theatre pipe organ still available to date?(September 17, 2006)
This theatre, located in Crystal Falls, MI is now named Crystal Theatre and is a live performing facility. Originally built in 1927, it was built to replace the opera house, name Gem Theatre, that was down the street. Gem theatre burned several years earlier. It was built as a live performing center with movie capabilities. It housed 1 screen, a decent sized stage, an orchestra pit, two Simplex E-7 movie projectors (which are still located in the projection booth) and a Wurlitzer 2/7 organ. With the demand of movies rising, the theatre was converted into a full time movie house in the late 1920’s. With the invention of movies with sound, the Wurlitzer organ was sold by the city. The theatre continued to show movies until about the 1980’s. The theatre changed names several times, first it was the Ejay Theatre, (the original seats in the belcony still say EJ on the sides of them), then the Delft theatre, then the Aldo theatre, which closed its doors in the 1980’s. In 1992, a group of dedicated volunteers came in and renovated/restored the theatre into a live performing facitily seating about 600 people. Crystal Theatre is a 401 C non profit organization which is goverened by an 8 memeber board of directors serving this community and surrounding communities. The theatre has hosted a variety of events, including The National Shakespear Company, the Michigan Chamber Brass, and also is the home to the Forest Park High School Drama Club. Today, since the original Wurlitzer organ was sold, a Moeller 3/21 theatre pipe organ was bought and restored and is the focal point of the theatre. This theatre features a wide varitey of theatre organists including Dave Wickerham. This theatre still keeps its original integrety with art deco wall murals which are orignal to the theatre.