The Spokane First Nazarene Theater Organ Society

[KB7DQH]

A link to their website...

http://www.sfntos.org/

and some stuff about the history of this instrument...

   

Our historic theatre pipe organ, originally from Seattle's Liberty Theatre, is Wurlitzer Opus 42 from 1914, the 42nd organ made by the factory. It is currently a 3/25, although it will most likely be a 3/30 or 3/31.

Originally a 3/16 Special installed in four chambers above the proscenium, on October 25, 1915 a four-rank Echo division was added in the central dome. This division was mounted on a windchest similar to that used in classical organs, very unique for a theatre pipe organ. It consisted of Trumpet, String II, Vox Humana, Octave Coupler and Tremulant.

Declared by Farny Wurlitzer, president of the company, to be the instrument that put Wurlitzer on the map as a major theatre organ builder, Opus 42 became famous as a West Coast demonstration installation for prospective buyers.

The theatre, a 2,100-seat modern movie palace—rather than a converted vaudeville or stage theatre—was so popular that crowds lined up for three blocks. Located at First and Pike in downtown Seattle, it enjoyed easy access to trolley lines.

Famous organists at the Liberty included Henry Murtagh, the first organist, who was trained at the exclusive Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra School in New York; Oliver Wallace, who composed the scores for Dumbo, Cinderella and other Disney classics.

The organ was used regularly until 1929, when talkies came in. It was maintained until 1935 by Richard Simonton and Gordon Blanchard. Simonton went on to form the American Theatre Organ Enthusiasts, precursor to the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS).



In 1955, the building was slated to be demolished, so Dr. R. Byard Fritts, professor of organ at Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), bought the organ and—with the help of several students—removed it and installed it in the PLU Gymnasium, where it was used for basketball games, religious convocations and other events. The 32' Diaphones, pipes that speak an octave lower than a piano, had to be used sparingly, as their earthshaking tones would startle people who thought an earthquake was occurring.

Once, when Organ Professor David Dahl showed the organ to Rudolph von Beckerath, a German classical organ builder, a basketball shot out of the low C Diaphone pipe after a few seconds of no sound. Having never heard a Diaphone before, von Beckerath asked, "Does it do this every time?"

The organ remained at Pacific Lutheran University until 1973, when Spokane First Church of the Nazarene was looking for a suitable pipe organ for its new building, then under construction. PLU wanted to part with the organ in favor of a classical instrument more suited to teaching and literature, so they sold it to the church for $5,000.

From the PSTOS website...

In 1914, at First & Pike in Seattle, across from the Public Market, the brand new Liberty Theatre was under construction. Until now, movies were shown in remodeled vaudeville theatres. The Liberty was unique at the time, designed strictly as a movie house. It had no stage or orchestra pit to accomodate vaudeville acts. The plans called for a pipe organ to accompany the films. But what pipe organ?

   
For several years, Wurlitzer had been making a variety of musical instruments to accompany silent movies. But they were inadequate for the rapidly improving moving pictures. There was an acute need for an instrument capable of adding real excitement to the movie. Wurlitzer and Hope-Jones were frantically pushing forward to beat the competition with just the right design, but by 1914, they had not yet installed a truly successful theatre pipe organ.
Desperately needing a contract with a theatre in which to install a "showcase instrument", they eagerly welcomed an inquiry from Liberty Theatre owners, J. Von Herberg and C.S. Jensen. These Seattle entrepreneurs had learned of Wurlitzer's design developments and Hope-Jones convinced them the Wurlitzer was right for the Liberty.    

A contract was signed for a Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra, the official name of their new theatre pipe organ, and the instrument was manufactured, shipped, and ready for use when the Seattle Liberty Theatre opened in October, 1914. It was Wurlitzer's opus #41. The cost was $27,000.



The new Wurlitzer incorporated numerous Robert Hope-Jones innovations, and provided sounds never heard before in a Northwest theatre. From light ethereal strings to thunderous, stage-shaking full organ ensembles, it was all there to put a foundation under the flickering black and white images being shown on the screen. And unlike classical organs, it had tremulants, providing a vibrato effect to the music, a great enhancement to the many romantic movie scenes.

   On October 14, 1914, the Seattle Times reported, "Direct from the Vitagraph Theatre in New York City, Henry Bernard Murtagh arrived in Seattle today and will immediately take charge of the mammoth Wurlitzer pipe organ now being installed in the Liberty Theatre.

"Mr. Murtagh is a graduate of the Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra School of New York, enrollment in which is limited to six members only."

"He is especially qualified to operate an instrument of this character on account of an unlimited experience in orchestral work, which began at the age of 13." In commenting on the new Liberty, Mr. Murtagh said, "I am very enthusiastic about the Unit Orchestra recently shipped from the factory.

Its position in the theatre is not only unique, but it will probably produce results superior to those in the Vitagraph Theatre in New York or the famous Pitt Theatre in Pittsburgh. Patrons of photoplays little realize the wonderful possibilities of this extraordinary instrument, which is capable of producing a perfect imitation of every known instrument as well as the human voice, the exhaust from a locomotive or automobile, and various other sounds and noises."

"The Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra, when properly operated, simply carries the listener away with its remarkable reproductions. It is particularly adaptable to photoplay work on account of its being subject to the will and under the absolute direction of one sole operator."    

For several years, it was to the Liberty Theatre in Seattle that Wurlitzer brought potential clients. It was this instrument that gave Wurlitzer its dominant lead in the theatre pipe organ industry. Farny Wurlitzer, years later stated, "The first outstanding organ we built was the one we sold to the Liberty Theatre in Seattle. We shipped it in mid-1914. It was a tremendous success from the time of its grand opening in October of that year."

"The theatre was built especially as a motion picture theatre with no provision for an orchestra. They depended entirely on our organ for music, and the theatre was quite original. Up to that time, nearly all movie houses were remodeled theatres. It was such a tremendous success that for three weeks the Seattle police had to take care of the crowds that stood for three blocks waiting for their turn to get into the Liberty. And the organ deserved most of the credit . . ."

The Liberty Theatre Wurlitzer was unique in an interesting way. The large quantity of air necessary to supply all the pipes came from a 20 horsepower blower (see photo below).    Click for a larger version of this image (50K)
Liberty interior, c.1955

It was run by a 550 volt D.C. motor which in turn received its power from the Seattle street-car lines. Power was available except during the late night and early morning hours when the street-car current was shut down. Late-night movies took careful clock-watching-if they were still running when the street-cars shut down, the organ blower shut down as well, and that ended the music until the next day.

;) :D ;D :)

FWIW the "motto" of the American Theater Organ Society 2010 convention held in Seattle, was
"where it all began"...

After reading the above I now understand (a year later) "why"...


Eric
KB7DQH

[twanguitar]

Eric's post is very interesting in that it documents some events in the early history of the Wurlitzer company subsequent to their decision to move into the then relatively new theatre organ field.  Of particular interest are the references to Robert Hope-Jones, without whose technical foundation the whole thing could never have taken off.  I was aware that Hope-Jones had set up a school to educate students in the art of playing his new Unit Orchestra, but was not aware it was only limited to six students at a time.

There is a poignancy about all this though, because it was in September of that year, 1914, when Robert took his life.  Just as things were really getting underway, he decided to leave.

TG

PS Not relevant to the above, but I too seem to be attracting negative karma!  Is there a negative karma freak on the forum?  (Oh dear, that comment might make it worse!).

[diapason]

Slightly on a tangent:  I've just heard rumour that Pilton Parish Church in Barnstaple, Devon is being closed.  The organ was originally by Hope-Jones but has been alterered several times.  I played it very briefly many years, and seem to remember that it was in poor condition, but playable. Does anyone know the fate of the organ? (I'll keep my ears open as some family members still live in the town).

Nigel

[twanguitar]

What an amazing coincidence!! ....   Having just mentioned Hope-Jones myself in the message above I did a quick Google to try and find out more about his "Theatre Organ School" (for want of a better name) and came across an article about the Pilton organ here:

http://www.pykett.org.uk/the_hope-jones_organ_at_pilton.htm

There is a footnote somewhere else on this website (can't find it as of this moment) saying that the structure of the church has been giving problems for some years and it was getting unsafe.  Apparently the author of this article has also simulated the Pilton organ digitally.

TG

[KB7DQH]

Awhile back I bookmarked http://www.atos.org/news and figured I'd have a quick look around, and saw the "local chapters" link, thought the name of the local group intriguing and had a look in and, here we are...

Eric
KB7DQH

[KB7DQH]

Once, when Organ Professor David Dahl showed the organ to Rudolph von Beckerath, a German classical organ builder, a basketball shot out of the low C Diaphone pipe after a few seconds of no sound. Having never heard a Diaphone before, von Beckerath asked, "Does it do this every time?"

You can't tell me THAT didn't put a  ;D on your face ???

Eric
KB7DQH

[diapason]

Thanks to Twanguitar for the heads up about Pilton.  I remember the church well from my childhood - my late uncle rang there all his life and his house was almost in the shadow of the tower.  I was last in the church about 20 years ago.  I have asked family in the area to find out what's happening to the church and the organ.  I would hope that it can be rescued if the building is unsafe.  As an aside, Shapland & Petter who built the case are still trading, but as part of a new company.   My cousin worked for them for some years as a French polisher. At that time, Shapland's were specialising in shop and bar fitting as well as very high class joinery.

Nigel

[twanguitar]

We might need to shift "pilton" to another topic/thread.  It might be an "endangered organ", and deserves its proper place on the forum.  Also it should not be allowed to interfere with this excellent topic which Eric started.  Thanks Eric, and apologies for contributing to this deviation.

Over to "forumadmin" perhaps?

TG

[Barrie Davis]

I agree it should be moved and will see what can be done.

Barrie