History Of Opus 206
This Wurlitzer, Opus 206, started its life essentially as a style 160 'special' on February 21, 1919 in the Piccadilly Theatre in Rochester, NY. Shortly after its installation, a request from the owner was made to make a couple of changes to the instrument. In August 1919, Wurlitzer swapped the Trumpet rank out for an 8' Clarinet rank (61 notes) and a 16' Tuba rank was added (73 notes). The total cost was $800.00. In 1928 a larger instrument, a Wurlitzer model 240 'special', was installed in the Piccadilly and the original instrument was taken back by Wurlitzer. The new organ was a 3 manual 13 rank instrument with a piano making it a special.
In 1932 Wurlitzer made one final addition to Opus 206 before its installation into the Northeast Temple Masonic Lodge in Buffalo, NY. The addition of the 8' Tibia rank (73 notes) was a much needed one. Also, the bottom 12 notes of the 16' Tuba were removed. On January 9, 1933 it was installed into the lodge. The organ was used extensively at the lodge until 1960. Time and use took its toll and the instrument was in desperate need of rebuilding. However, the cost of rebuilding proved to be too costly and the decision made by the lodge was to scrap the Wurlitzer. The organ sat unused for about nine years until a retired theatre organ hobbyist by the name of Harold Hontz heard that the organ was available from the Temple.
Harold made a monetary offer and purchased the instrument in 1969. With the help of fellow hobbyists, he had the organ moved, set up, and playing in his home in a matter of just ten days. At some point the original Wurlitzer clarinet was removed and Harold replaced it with a Marr & Colton clarinet rank revoiced by him to sound like a cross between a clarinet and krumet rank. It lives on today as the "honzel horn" named after Harold Hontz. The instrument remained here for the next ten years before it was once again put up for sale.
The then recently formed Lockport Theatre Organ Society was in search of an instrument for the Palace Theatre in Lockport, NY at that time. Having heard of this instrument being up for sale, the membership of the Society secured a "Demand Note" from a local bank and purchased the organ.
On Easter Sunday weekend in 1979, Pat Licata, Greg Gurtner, Greg Nellist and a few other early members began to disassemble and move the instrument from its home in Williamsville, NY to its new home at the Palace. After many trips with a pick up truck, all the parts were finally on the Palace Theatre's stage.
Installation began almost immediately. One of the pipe chambers were already repaired, painted and floors refinished. The blower was set in place and the wind line was run. The main chamber (left side) occupied an enormous air handler and evaporator during the installation of air conditioning in the theatre years earlier. It was decided to leave that chamber empty until arrangements could be made to remove the A/C equipment. Unfortunately once the installation was well under way, negotiations for owner of the instrument fell through and the search for a new home was in need. The bank that loaned the money for the project was demanding their money and being the dedicated members they were, several LTOS members dug deep into their pockets to pay off the loan to keep the project going.
Club member Harold LeValley, who was also an active participant in activities at the Lockport Senior Citizens Center, suggested looking into a large room there as a possible home for the instrument. After viewing the room and reviewing the acoustic conditions, it was decided to install the organ there. Installation began in January 1981. 15,000 man hours were spent rebuilding, releathering and installing the organ by volunteers.
On Wednesday, October 26, 1983, 500 patrons gathered for the formal dedication concert with Rex Koury at the console and Mr. Harold LeValley serving as Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Otto Struckman gave the Invocation and Bette Dale delivered the Dedication Liturgy.
It should be noted that the agreement to install the instrument here wouldn't have been possible if it had not been for Bette Dale, Harold LeValley and the members of the Board of Directors of the Lockport Senior Center. They were happy to see this instrument installed there.
In 1932 Wurlitzer made one final addition to Opus 206 before its installation into the Northeast Temple Masonic Lodge in Buffalo, NY. The addition of the 8' Tibia rank (73 notes) was a much needed one. Also, the bottom 12 notes of the 16' Tuba were removed. On January 9, 1933 it was installed into the lodge. The organ was used extensively at the lodge until 1960. Time and use took its toll and the instrument was in desperate need of rebuilding. However, the cost of rebuilding proved to be too costly and the decision made by the lodge was to scrap the Wurlitzer. The organ sat unused for about nine years until a retired theatre organ hobbyist by the name of Harold Hontz heard that the organ was available from the Temple.
Harold made a monetary offer and purchased the instrument in 1969. With the help of fellow hobbyists, he had the organ moved, set up, and playing in his home in a matter of just ten days. At some point the original Wurlitzer clarinet was removed and Harold replaced it with a Marr & Colton clarinet rank revoiced by him to sound like a cross between a clarinet and krumet rank. It lives on today as the "honzel horn" named after Harold Hontz. The instrument remained here for the next ten years before it was once again put up for sale.
The then recently formed Lockport Theatre Organ Society was in search of an instrument for the Palace Theatre in Lockport, NY at that time. Having heard of this instrument being up for sale, the membership of the Society secured a "Demand Note" from a local bank and purchased the organ.
On Easter Sunday weekend in 1979, Pat Licata, Greg Gurtner, Greg Nellist and a few other early members began to disassemble and move the instrument from its home in Williamsville, NY to its new home at the Palace. After many trips with a pick up truck, all the parts were finally on the Palace Theatre's stage.
Installation began almost immediately. One of the pipe chambers were already repaired, painted and floors refinished. The blower was set in place and the wind line was run. The main chamber (left side) occupied an enormous air handler and evaporator during the installation of air conditioning in the theatre years earlier. It was decided to leave that chamber empty until arrangements could be made to remove the A/C equipment. Unfortunately once the installation was well under way, negotiations for owner of the instrument fell through and the search for a new home was in need. The bank that loaned the money for the project was demanding their money and being the dedicated members they were, several LTOS members dug deep into their pockets to pay off the loan to keep the project going.
Club member Harold LeValley, who was also an active participant in activities at the Lockport Senior Citizens Center, suggested looking into a large room there as a possible home for the instrument. After viewing the room and reviewing the acoustic conditions, it was decided to install the organ there. Installation began in January 1981. 15,000 man hours were spent rebuilding, releathering and installing the organ by volunteers.
On Wednesday, October 26, 1983, 500 patrons gathered for the formal dedication concert with Rex Koury at the console and Mr. Harold LeValley serving as Master of Ceremonies. Rev. Otto Struckman gave the Invocation and Bette Dale delivered the Dedication Liturgy.
It should be noted that the agreement to install the instrument here wouldn't have been possible if it had not been for Bette Dale, Harold LeValley and the members of the Board of Directors of the Lockport Senior Center. They were happy to see this instrument installed there.
Original Organ Specification
Items in grey indicate very first stop layout
* indicates additions (Trumpet was replaced with a Clarinet and a Tuba was added in the summer of 1919 and Tibia was added in 1932)
* indicates additions (Trumpet was replaced with a Clarinet and a Tuba was added in the summer of 1919 and Tibia was added in 1932)
|
Pedal:
*16' Ophicleide 16' Bourdon 8' Open Diapason * 8' Tuba Horn * 8' Tibia * 8' Clarinet 8' Cello 8' Flute Cymbal Bass/Kettle Drum |
Great
(Accompaniment): 8' Trumpet (Future 8' Clarinet) * 8' Tuba Horn 8' Open Diapason 8' Salicional 8' Viol Celeste 8' Flute Blank tab (Future 8' Tibia) 8' Vox Humana Blank tab (Future 4' Tibia) 4' Salicet 4' Octave Celeste 4' Flute Blank tab ( Later used for Chrysoglott) Snare Drum Tambourine Castanets Chinese Block |
Swell (Solo):
*16' Ophicleide 16' Bourdon 8' Trumpet (Future 8' Clarinet) 8' Open Diapason 8' Salicional 8' Viol Celeste 8' Flute Blank tab (Future 8' Tibia) 8' Vox Humana Blank tab (Future 4' Tibia) 4' Salicet 4' Octave Celeste 4' Flute Cathedral Chimes Xylophone Glockenspiel General Tremulant Vox Humana Tremulant |
Chamber Analysis:
*16' Tuba (73 note addition by Wurlitzer in Aug. 1919) 16' Flute/Bourdon 8' Trumpet (later exchanged for 8' Clarinet Aug. 1919) 8' Open Diapason *8' Tibia (73 notes added in later 1932) 8' Salicional 8' Salicional Celeste 8' Vox Humana Chimes Glockenspiel Xylophone Snare Drum Tambourine Bass/Kettle Drum Cymbal Toy counter Tremulants: General Vox Humana *Tibia |
Current Specification
|
Pedal:
16' Bass 16' Bourdon 8' Tuba Horn 8' Open Diapason 8' Tibia Clausa 8' Flute 8' Cello 4' Octave Bass Drum Crash Cymbal Tap Cymbal |
Accompaniment:
16' Contra Viol (Tenor C) 8' Tuba Horn 8' Open Diapason 8' Tibia Clausa 8' "Hontzel Horn" (Clarinet - Marr&Colton) 8' Violin 8' Violin Celeste 8' Flute 8' Vox Humana 4' Octave 4' Piccolo 4' Viol 4' Octave Celeste 4' Flute 4' Vox Humana 2 2/3' Twelfth (Flute) 2' Piccolo (Flute) Chrysoglott Snare Drum Tambourine Castanets Chinese Block |
Solo:
16' Ophicleide (Tenor C) 16' Bass 16' Tibia Clausa (Tenor C) 16' Contra Viol (Tenor C) 16' Bourdon 16' Vox Humana (Tenor C) 8' Tuba Horn 8' Open Diapason 8' Tibia Clausa 8' "Hontzel Horn" (Clarinet - Marr&Colton) 8' Violin 8' Violin Celeste 8' Flute 8' Vox Humana 4' Octave 4' Piccolo 4' Viol 4' Octave Celeste 4' Flute 2 2/3' Twelfth (Tibia) 2 2/3' Twelfth (Flute) 2' Piccolo (Tibia) 2' Fifteenth 2' Piccolo (Flute) 1 3/5' Tierce (Tibia) Cathedral Chimes Xylophone Glockenspiel Chrysoglott |
Chamber Analysis:
16' Open Diapason 16' Flute/Bourdon 8' Tuba Horn 8' Tibia Clausa 8' Clarinet (Marr & Colton Co.) 8' Salicional 8' Salicional Celeste 8' Vox Humana Xylophone Glockenspiel Chrysoglott Chimes Toy Counter Crash Cymbal Tap Cymbal Bass/Kettle Drum Snare Drum Tremulants: Main Tibia Vox Humana |
