Eric's Heroes: Century-old Wurlitzer organ brings Paramount's Silent Movie Mondays to life

It happens four times a year. A glorious time machine is taken out of storage and put on a lift.
Covered by canvas, powered by hydraulics, the lift raises it up until it is almost level with the main stage of the Paramount Theater.
Eric Johnson brings the story of a 100-year old Wurlitzer Publix 1 model organ and those who make sure it's played to perfection.
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[@stepheneggert9474]

We have one in our theater.. it's 100 yrs old..as well..well cared for ,by our organ club

[@reginabillotti]

Movie palaces with organs are awesome. Spent so much time at the Detroit-area Redford Theater when I was young. I wish my current city had one :(

[@timothytikker1147]

Historical note: actually, there were silent films that had music scores provided. And there were organists who assembled their own written scores from a patchwork of existing music, often transcribed from piano, symphonic and operatic repertory. So not all film accompaniment was improvised.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

Dorothy Sayers described it of "great gons of Wagner & Mendelssohn, held together with Schubert's 'Unfinished.'"

[@garysmith8455]

@@brucealanwilson4121 😆

[@Brap-pl2me]

I have a book which belonged to my great-grandmother called “Motion Picture Moods”. It is a compilation of sheet music from sundry and various sources. Each page has an index in the margin so you can find the next piece before you finish the one you’re playing. I’ve added a link below so you can see what I’m talking about.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

@@Brap-pl2me Is thqt book still under copyright?" If not, you might want to get it scanned & uploaded onto IMSLP.

[@Brap-pl2me]

@@brucealanwilson4121 The library of congress has a scan of it. I posted the link but it seems to have disappeared. Honestly, I don’t even know where my copy is.

[@wurlitzer895]

It seems a shame that such a splendid instrument is used just four times a year, Should be played daily!! Congratulations to the maintenance and tuning teams for keeping it is such splendid condition. The console looks immaculate and is a tribute to the love, patience and skill of all those tasked with its care and preservation, Peter A London, UK

[@angelsone-five7912]

Beautiful organ in every sense, should be heard more.

[@marylynnmazzocco5367]

4 times a year is not enough.

[@brucealanwilson4121]

My mother was an organist, and her first church job was in a Methodist Church whose organ was originally a theater organ a trustee salvaged from a theater that was demolished. She said there were lots of stops she would NEVER use in a service, but it was fun to try them when she practiced!

[@unclelouie3828]

Love this!!

[@prestomation]

Awesome to see this reporting to share this with more in the area. Would have been cool to see more of the behind the scenes. I didn't think _all_ of the pipes were on the one wall.

[@richardharrold9736]

I think it's split both sides of the proscenium.

[@EightPieceBox]

I dosh know the Paramount did this. Makes me miss Pizza & Pipes. You should do a story on what happened to those pipe organs.

[@paulolden4337]

So we'll written and delivered.

[@michaelberry6027]

I enjoy listening to the Wurlitzer in the Golden State Theatre on Alvarado St. in Monterey, CA. It’s always a great time.

[@robertneustadt5905]

Wonderfully told and shot story… very cool

[@PaulWesleyBowen]

I Like this Guy!

[@reginabillotti]

"good vibrations, excitations" lol

[@davidreifsnider4609]

😍😍😍😍😍👍👍👍

[@papagen00]

Address??

[@randolphfriend8260]

🥲 ❤️ 🎶🎶

[@terryrussell-dn2is]

a lost art !! ={