The Palace Theatre did indeed have a Pipe Organ, and as posted, it was a Wurlitzer Style H Special. A Style H meant that it contained 10 ranks of Pipes. However, the Palace had 11 ranks, thus the “special” designation. The 11th rank was an additional Vox Humana set of pipes that were installed next to the projection booth in its own chamber. When the organ was removed in 1964, I don’t believe that this 1 rank Echo Division was removed.
The organ was scattered across the country. I spent nearly 10 years re-assembling it with either the original components or identical from other Wurlitzer organs.
The organ is installed at C&C Ribbon Company, 8204 South Avenue in Boardman. It is installed and plays daily, either by hand or via a MIDI computer system. For the past 5 years, C&C has an annual Christmas Open House Thanksgiving weekend, usually with a silent movie on Saturday night and 5 mini concerts on Sunday, running from 12-5. Artists have included many national and international performers as well as local organists.
Of course,in the theatre, the instrument was installed on either side of the prosidium arch in 2 chambers with grillwork across the front. In the store, the organ is installed in a single chamber. The facade on the organ is a solid mahogany case featuring a hand carved floral motif and dummy facade pipes. It was carved by 3 French Canadians (their signitures are inside the case). This case was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair for the Los Angeles Art Organ Company. It was intended for a self-playing residence instrument whose sale never materialized. At the fair, the facade was sold to the Wirsching Organ Company of Alliance, Ohio. Wirsching used the facade for a new instrument they built for the original Grace Lutheran Church, whose original building still stands (2014) on West Rayen Avenue. I purchased the Wirsching instrument, mainly for the facade for use on the Wurlitzer.
If you get a chance, stop in at C&C and hear the organ. It will take you back in time. If you have any additional questions, about this or any other Youngstown Pipe Organ, feel free to email me!
The original Lincoln-Dixie Kimball 2/7 Theatre pipe organ still survives today, with great thanks to Gary Rickert! He saved the organ and installed it in his home. Over the years, he preserved and enlarged it, all in the Kimball style, to 3 manuals / 15 ranks. Last year, he donated it to Lakeside High School in Ashtabla, Ohio and it was moved, rebuilt and re-installed by me, Vic Marsilio of Victor Organ, LLC. The instrument is alive and well in its new home.
The Moller Pipe Organ is still exists and is being restored. It also has a Artiste Roll Player Unit and the Cathedral owns all the original rolls. In recent years, organ concerts and silent movies with live artist have occured with great success. Profits from these events are going into the organ preservation/restoration fund. You can go to the Cathedral web site for concert/movie schedules. I know there are plans for “Phantom of the Opera” (Lon Chaney)to be shown on Halloween evening, 10-31-14 with live organ accompaniment.
The organ console is located in the orchestra pit and has its own elevator. There are 5 chambers located on each side of the prosidium arch (Left: Choir, String & Solo; Right: Swell & Great (which houses the enclosed and unenclosed great divisions and pedal). The Organ contains only 3 percussions: a Deagan Harp, Deagan Chimes and a piano playable from the console.
The Strand Theatre contained a 2 manual / 12 Rank Moller Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 2171, installed in 1916, at a cost of $3500.00. It was enlarged in 1919 to a 3 manual console with and additional 3 ranks of pipes added in 1919 (opus 2621)for an additional cost of $3450.00
The State Theatre held a 3 Manual 12 Rank Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ, installed in 1928. It was removed, rebuilt, enlarged and re-installed in a Kingston, Ontario church.
The Palace Theatre did indeed have a Pipe Organ, and as posted, it was a Wurlitzer Style H Special. A Style H meant that it contained 10 ranks of Pipes. However, the Palace had 11 ranks, thus the “special” designation. The 11th rank was an additional Vox Humana set of pipes that were installed next to the projection booth in its own chamber. When the organ was removed in 1964, I don’t believe that this 1 rank Echo Division was removed.
The organ was scattered across the country. I spent nearly 10 years re-assembling it with either the original components or identical from other Wurlitzer organs.
The organ is installed at C&C Ribbon Company, 8204 South Avenue in Boardman. It is installed and plays daily, either by hand or via a MIDI computer system. For the past 5 years, C&C has an annual Christmas Open House Thanksgiving weekend, usually with a silent movie on Saturday night and 5 mini concerts on Sunday, running from 12-5. Artists have included many national and international performers as well as local organists.
Of course,in the theatre, the instrument was installed on either side of the prosidium arch in 2 chambers with grillwork across the front. In the store, the organ is installed in a single chamber. The facade on the organ is a solid mahogany case featuring a hand carved floral motif and dummy facade pipes. It was carved by 3 French Canadians (their signitures are inside the case). This case was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair for the Los Angeles Art Organ Company. It was intended for a self-playing residence instrument whose sale never materialized. At the fair, the facade was sold to the Wirsching Organ Company of Alliance, Ohio. Wirsching used the facade for a new instrument they built for the original Grace Lutheran Church, whose original building still stands (2014) on West Rayen Avenue. I purchased the Wirsching instrument, mainly for the facade for use on the Wurlitzer.
If you get a chance, stop in at C&C and hear the organ. It will take you back in time. If you have any additional questions, about this or any other Youngstown Pipe Organ, feel free to email me!
Vic
The original Lincoln-Dixie Kimball 2/7 Theatre pipe organ still survives today, with great thanks to Gary Rickert! He saved the organ and installed it in his home. Over the years, he preserved and enlarged it, all in the Kimball style, to 3 manuals / 15 ranks. Last year, he donated it to Lakeside High School in Ashtabla, Ohio and it was moved, rebuilt and re-installed by me, Vic Marsilio of Victor Organ, LLC. The instrument is alive and well in its new home.
The Moller Pipe Organ is still exists and is being restored. It also has a Artiste Roll Player Unit and the Cathedral owns all the original rolls. In recent years, organ concerts and silent movies with live artist have occured with great success. Profits from these events are going into the organ preservation/restoration fund. You can go to the Cathedral web site for concert/movie schedules. I know there are plans for “Phantom of the Opera” (Lon Chaney)to be shown on Halloween evening, 10-31-14 with live organ accompaniment.
The organ console is located in the orchestra pit and has its own elevator. There are 5 chambers located on each side of the prosidium arch (Left: Choir, String & Solo; Right: Swell & Great (which houses the enclosed and unenclosed great divisions and pedal). The Organ contains only 3 percussions: a Deagan Harp, Deagan Chimes and a piano playable from the console.
The Strand Theatre contained a 2 manual / 12 Rank Moller Theatre Pipe Organ, Opus 2171, installed in 1916, at a cost of $3500.00. It was enlarged in 1919 to a 3 manual console with and additional 3 ranks of pipes added in 1919 (opus 2621)for an additional cost of $3450.00
The State Theatre held a 3 Manual 12 Rank Kimball Theatre Pipe Organ, installed in 1928. It was removed, rebuilt, enlarged and re-installed in a Kingston, Ontario church.