Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

The theatre organ is a uniquely American musical invention, necessitated as a means to provide sound accompaniment in the silent era of motion pictures, from 1910's and well into the 1930's. The theatre organ was the heart and soul of motion picture palaces and movie houses. Nearly 7,000 theatre organs were performing each day when the motion picture screen finally learned to speak in 1927. Soon after, theatre organs were abandoned, discarded, thrown away, given to churches and/or languished for years dormant in their theaters. Today there are approximately 125 theatre organs in public venues nationally. The majority of these are owned or operated by the American Theatre Organ Society's local Chapters, which are Section 501(c)(3) organizations. Wurlitzer, the worlds largest and most prestigious manufacturer of theatre organs, accounts for nearly half of these remaining magnificent instruments.

The Kentucky Theater's Wurlitzer organ is a significant instrument. Originally a 2/8, Opus 562, Style "F"(Wurlitzer's first model of this type) was shipped from the factory on July 29, 1922 and installed by the grand opening of the palatial Kentucky Theatre on October 4, 1922. A second Vox Humana was added by the Wurlitzer Company on December 13, 1923 at the request of Haden Read, Kentucky Theatre organist. In 1926, the Wurlitzer Company enlarged the organ again with five (5) additional ranks and a new three-manual "paneled" console (Job #703). This organ became the "largest theatre organ in the South" according to a Lexington Herald newspaper article (February 7, 1926).

This project will return an original historic theatre organ back to its rightful theater venue. Little remains of the once glorious "Golden Age of the Movie Palace" and, unfortunately, no theatre organs remain in any theatres in the state of Kentucky! This theatre organ project is a special community initiative and an unique preservation project in our state and will be a significant attraction for new visitors to the Kentucky Theater and downtown Lexington.

A significant amount of rebuilding, reconstruction, console refinishing, pipe chest releathering, new control equipment (MIDI Sequencer computer) will be done and installed in this theatre organ before it will be reinstalled into the theater. Restoration work will be done under the Guidelines and Recommendations of American Theater Organ Society. All rank and percussion additions to the theater organ will be original Wurlitzer components and equipment.

Since the late 1950's significant interest has grown, across this country and around the world, in these theatre organ instruments through concerts and silent film festivals. This revival of a "lost" art of film accompaniment and public concert performances provides an additional avenue of musical training and performances for organists and organ students. Music students will now have an opportunity in Lexington to be exposed to and have an opportunity to perform on this restored theatre organ.

Return to KMW-TOP Home Page