The beautiful Rialto Square Theatre opened in 1926 as a vaudville movie palace. After the end of vaudville it continued to operate as a movie house until the early eighties when it received an extensive restoration before reopening as a performing arts center in 1981. The theatre retains its original Grande BARTON theatre pipe organ.

When installed in the theatre in 1926 the organ was a 4/21 and duplicate of organs installed in the Hollywood Theatre in Detroit and the Highland Theatre in Chicago.

The organ was used regularly into the '40s and heard regularly on local radio station WJOL. It fell silent until local organist Kay McAbee and a group of enthusiasts brought it back to life in the '50s during the re-awakening of interest in theatre pipe organ. The future of the organ looked dismal when a leaky roof severely water damaged the chambers. The organ plays today through the on going efforts of the Joliet Chapter of the ATOS, JATOE, who took responsibility for restoration of the organ. When the theatre became a performing arts center, the future of the organ was assured, and the theatre and JATOE have worked together to continue the restoration and maintenance of the instrument. The organ is heard regularly and has been featured at an annual organ-fest which has been successful in raising money for future restoration. The organ has been expanded beyond the original 21 ranks and damaged pipework has been replaced.

The Original 21 ranks consisted of the following:

Diaphonic Diapason Concert Flute Tibia Clausa Solo Tibia Oboe Horn Saxophone Vox Humana Solo Vox Clarinet Trumpet Tuba Horn

Tuba Mirabilis Orchestral Oboe Kinura English Post Horn Solo String I Solo String II Viole d'Orchestra Viole Celeste I Viole Celeste II Quintadena

Current Chamber Analysis LEFT RIGHT BRASS (stage left upper) FOUNDATION (Stage right upper) Tuba Mirabilis Post Horn French Trumpet Diaphonic Diapason Oboe Horn Concert Flute SOLO (stage left lower) MAIN (stage right lower Trumpet Tibia Clausa (WurliTzer 15") Horn Diapason Orchestral Oboe Kinura Saxophone Cor Anglais Solo Strings II Gambas II Vox Humana Tuba Horn Tibia Clausa (Barton 15") Clarinet Violins III Quintadena Vox Humana Lobby Organ Tibia

For any possible program information check out the Current Theatre Organ Installation Database and type in:"IL" in state block and "Joliet" in the city block and click on Search Icon.

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