| Recently John Peters and Bob Boin made a visual inspection of the Oriental Theatre Organ Chambers..below is a report of that visit (photos by Bob Boin)
Report: To the CATOE Board of Directors
On: Chamber Conditions of the Oriental Theater-
Ford Center
Re: Re-installation of the CATOE owned Oriental
Theater WurliTzer Pipe Organ
On Saturday, March 17, 2001, John Peters and myself inspected the conditions of the chamber space at the Oriental Theater in downtown Chicago. CATOE is the current owner of this WurliTzer Theater pipe organ and removed said organ when the theater was scheduled for demolition. Rental of the former theater space ultimately fell through before demolition but after removal of the instrument. The theater was refurbished and re-opened in 1999. The current ownership has expressed interest in having the organ returned to its original home.
Summary: The Chamber space at the Oriental Theater - Ford Center for the performing Arts is, for the most part, in the same condition as when the Wurlitzer Organ was removed. The original wind lines to each chamber are still intact, as are the conduits for cable runs. Some additional theater conduits have been added along the back walls and chilled water lines have been installed, passing thru the chamber in a corner. The only major change has been the elimination of access from the stage area. The steel chamber doors have been removed and the opening filled with cement block. Original mounting strips for the swell shades remain in each organ screen opening. These openings are currently covered with a heavy, non- acoustically transparent drape.
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