From the Archives – Program Notes on the Wurlitzer
This coming September 1, 2008, the Paramount Theatre was to have, and we hope still will, celebrate it’s 80th Birthday. From the CRATOS archives comes our concert program history of the organ and theatre, and the text of the original announcement as posted in The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette and Republican:
Opening on Saturday, September 1st, 1928, the Capitol Theatre was part of the Publix/Balaban & Katz chain of theatres. The Capitol opened with great fluorish, heralded by fireworks and airplanes which dropped prizes in the vicinity of the theatre.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda, New York, was the quintessential and by far the largest manufacturer of theatre pipe organs. “Wurlitzer” became both a household word and a generic term for theatre organs.
The Capitol’s Wurlitzer was shipped from the facrory on July 16, 1928. It was the first in a series of “special” Wurlitzers designed specifically for the Balaban & Katz theatre chain. It is listed as style “Balaban 1A”.
After a few years, Paramount bought out the Balaban & Katz chain, and the theatre became the Paramount.
The console is the most visible part of the organ. The 3/12 (three keyboard, twelve rank) organ houses over 900 pipes in two chambers, the “Main” on the left, and the “Solo” on the right, that produce a wonderous sound.
It’s ready for you– This Palace of Splendor with its acre of seats. The rare paintings are hung, the sculptures are in place, the deep carpet is waiting for the tread of thousands who will come to marvel at the countless wonders!…The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette and Republican, 1928.
