6008 W. Irving Park Rd Chicago
The building opened in 1927 with 7 stores, 14 apartments and a state of the art neighborhood movie house. The building continues today with its' original marquee and steam boiler and stands as a landmark to a bygone era. The movie house still operates 7 days a week as the largest single screen theatre in the City of Chicago with 1500 seats. It is an atmospheric house and the patrons can enjoy the show as the stars twinkle and the clouds roll. The theatre still can function as a performance house as all the stage panel dimmers and switches are fully functional providing the lighting changes that were possible in the older theatres. A powerful 4000 watt spotlight obtained from the Chicago Stadium
floods the organ and stage to enhance the performances.
The 3 manul 18 rank Barton organ was installed as a 3/17 at a cost of $25.000 in time for the theatres opening in 1927. The first staff organist was John Devine. Like most theatre pipe organs, the instrument fell silent after the talking pictures eliminated the need for live accompaniment of the films. Restoration began in 1966 when a group of organ enthusiasts brought the organ back to playing condition. CATOE members have kept this instrument alive and available for public performances through the years and the organ is still heard today. The first public show was presented on April 6, 1967 featuring a silent movie and sing-a-long with popular theatre organist Hal Pearl. The audience packed the theatre with standing room only remaining.
Much organ repair continued through the years by dedicated CATOE members. The organ speaks from two chambers. The organ is essentially intact with all the original components including pipework, relay and 10 HP blower. There have been some additions to the organ as indicated below:
2nd and 3rd xylophones in the main chamber
an additional string rank in the solo chamber
A second glockenspiel and orchestral bells in the solo chamber
Hammond electric piano -(exposed)
Decator electric vibra harp - in orchestra pit
Hammond RT3 electric pedal in main chamber
2 additional regulators and trems in main chamber
All traps are exposed plus the following additions:
Crash cymbal, sleigh bell, electronic brush and locomotive bell
TIBA CLAUSA 16' -2'
TRUMPET
OBOE HORN
SAXOPHONE
KINURA
SOLO VOX HUMANA 8' -4'
QUINTADENA
SOLO STRING 8'-4'
STRING
PERCUSSIONS
XYLOPHONES (3)
GLOCKENSPIELS (2)
CHRYSOGLOTT
ORCHESTRAL BELLS
PIANO
CATHEDRAL CHIMES
VIBRA-HARP
COUPLERS
GREAT 16'
GREAT 4'
SOLO 16'
SOLO 4'
ACCOMP 4'
GREAT TO PEDAL
ACCOMP TO PEDAL
TUBA 16' -4'
CLARINET
VOX HUMANA 8'-4'
TIBIA MINOR 8' -4'
DIAPASON 16'-4'
CONCERT FLUTE 8'-2'
VDO 8'-4'
VIOL CELESTE I
VIOL CELESTE II
TRAPS (EXPOSED)
TAMBOURINE'
CASTANETS
WOOD BLOCK
MARACUS
SNARE DRUM
BASS DRUM
KETTLE DRUM
TOM TOM
CYMBALS (2)
BRUSH CYMBAL
TRIANGLE
SLEIGH BELLS
BIRD WHISTLES (2)
STEAM BOAT WHISTLE
LOCOMOTIVE BELL
THUNDER
ORIGINAL COMBINATION ACTION
ORIGINAL RELAY
10HP BLOWER
Background courtesy Kurt Schlieter
