Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2007-11-10 - Identified through online information from James R. Stettner. -- The organ cost $16,000.00 and incorporated the 1919 Wurlitzer (Op. 241) from Salem's Oregon Theatre - which was returned to the Wurlitzer factory and rebuilt/enlarged for the Elsinore location. It was removed in 1962 by David Guthrie, and professionally installed in his West Hills home in Portland, OR. In 1969, it was sold to Kirk Whitcombe of Carnation, WA, where it existed for a time as a touring organ before being installed in the former Odd Fellows Hall in Carnation. It was ultimately sold to a private party in Portland and dispersed for parts. -Database Manager
2015-10-13 - Updated through online information from Eric Schmiedeberg. -- This instrument was highly unusual for a 13 rank Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra, containing a number of ranks and percussions not usually found on this size of Wurlitzer.<br><br>The organ was removed by Russell E. Morrell and his father J.C. Morrell. Russ was the House Organist and House Manager of the theatre for a number of years. He was also a close personal friend of mine and my family, so I am quite familiar with this organ through many conversations had (and notes taken) concerning this instrument.<br><br>The integration of components from Wurlitzer Opus 241 did not involve that instrument in its entirety and was done rather badly by Wurlitzer according to Russ. According to Morrell, part of Opus 241 from the Oregon Theatre accross the street from the Elsinore remained in service there from 1925 to c.1929 when it finally closed for good.<br><br>George Guthrie, who built and opened the Elsinore, owned the Oregon as well. He and his son David were also friends of Russ Morrell. Wurlitzer and ex-Hope-Jones Organ Co. factory technician Manley Cockcroft did the installation with helpers according to newspaper reports.<br><br>The organ was debuted by Australian organist Percy Burraston on May 28, 1926. -Database Manager
2015-10-13 - Updated through online information from Eric Schmiedeberg. -- Added console stop count. -Database Manager
2015-10-26 - Updated through online information from Eric Schmiedeberg. -- This organ was an over-the-proscenium installation. A Wurlitzer Upright Piano playable from the console sat to the right of the console in the orchestra pit. -Database Manager
2015-11-01 - Updated through online information from Eric Schmiedeberg. -- It should be noted that there were at least seven Wurlitzers bearing the design ideas of Portland-area theatre organist Glenn Shelley installed in the the theatres of Oregon and Southwest Washington. The Elsinore Wurlitzer specification features the trademark Krumet rank that he favored so much as well as a number of other highly unusual features. Shelley favored swapping out Kinuras for Krumets and Orchestral Oboes for English Post Horns on 10" wind on instruments of 10 ranks or more. This makes these "Shelley Specials" very distinctive in tone and peculiar to the Oregon region. The Elsinore Wurlitzer may also have had some design ideas manifested in it from collaboration with opening night organist Percy Burraston of Australia. The Elsinore and Portland Oriental organ were sisters somewhat, but also somewhat dissimilar. Something more than Shelley's input seemed to be at work here. -Database Manager
2018-07-10 - Information from <i>The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History</i> by David L. Junchen (comp. & ed. Jeff Weiler). The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.<br> Wurlitzer Style 235 Sp - incorporated some parts from Opus 241; with Post Horn, Voix Celeste, and Krumet instead of Kinura<br> Factory date: January 29, 1926<br> -Database Manager
2018-07-10 - Information from <i>The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History</i> by David L. Junchen (comp. & ed. Jeff Weiler). The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.<br> Wurlitzer Style 235 Sp - incorporated some parts from Opus 241; with Post Horn, Voix Celeste, and Krumet instead of Kinura<br> Factory date: January 29, 1926<br> -Database Manager
Source: Stoplist taken from console photo and personal notes Date not recorded
Salem, Oregon
Elsinore Theatre--1926-1962
Rudolph Wurlitzer Company--Style 235 Special--Opus 1257--1926--Verbatim from console
PEDAL GREAT
16' Tuba Profunda 16' Tuba Profunda
16' Diaphone 16' Diaphonic Diapason
16' Tibia Clausa 16' Tibia Clausa
16' Bourdon 16' Clarinet TC
8' Harmonic Tuba 16' Contra Viol TC
8' Diaphonic Diapason 16' Bourdon
8' Tibia Clausa 8' English Horn
8' Clarinet 8' Harmonic Tuba
8' Cello (Violin and Violin Celeste) 8' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Gamba 8' Tibia Clausa
8' Flute 8' Clarinet
______________________________ 8' Krumet
4' Octave (Diapason) 8' Orchestral Oboe
Blank Stopkey 8' Solo String
16' Piano 8' Gamba
Bass Drum 8' Viol d' Orchestre
Kettle Drum (from Bass Drum) 8' Viol Celeste
Crash Cymbal 8' Concert Flute
Cymbal 8' Vox Humana
Triangle Blank Stopkey
4' Harmonic Tuba
4' Octave
4' Tibia Clausa
4' Solo String
4' Gambette
ACCOMPANIMENT 4' Viol
4' Octave Celeste
16' Clarinet TC 4' Flute
16' Contra Viol TC 4' Vox Humana
16' Vox Humana TC Blank Stopkey
8' English Horn 2-2/3' Twelfth (Flute)
8' Harmonic Tuba 2' Fifteenth (Violin)
8' Diaphonic Diapason 2' Piccolo (Flute)
8' Tibia Clausa 1-3/5' Tierce (Flute)
8' Clarinet Marimba
8' Krumet Harp
8' Orchestral Oboe Cathedral Chimes
8' Solo String Sleigh Bells
8' Gamba Xylophone
8' Viol d' Orchestre (actually Violin) Glockenspiel
8' Viol Celeste (actually Violin Celeste) Bells (reit Glock)
8' Concert Flute Chrysoglott
8' Vox Humana Sub Octave
Blank Stopkey Octave
__________________________ Solo to Great
4' Solo String
4' Tibia Clausa (out of order, but correct)
4' Gambette SOLO
4' Viol (Violin)
4' Octave Celeste 16' English Horn TC
4' Flute 16' Bourdon
4' Vox Humana 16' Vox Humana TC
Blank Stopkey 8' English Horn
2-2/3' Twelfth (Flute) 8' Harmonic Tuba
2' Piccolo (Flute) 8' Diaphonic Diap
16' Piano 8' Tibia Clausa
8' Piano 8' Clarinet
4' Piano 8' Krumet
Mandolin (metal-tipped tags on Piano strings--n's 25-88) 8' Orchestral Oboe
Marimba 8' Solo String
Harp 8' Gamba
Chrysoglott 8' Viol dOrchestre
Snare Drum 8' Viol Celeste
Tambourine 8' Concert Flute
Castanets 8' Vox Humana
Chinese Block Blank Stopkey
Tom Tom (Full-sized 20's drum kit type) __________________________________
4' Tibia Clausa
4' Solo String
BACK RAIL 4' Vox Humana
Blank Stopkey
ACCOMPANIMENT SECOND TOUCHES Marimba
Chrysoglott
8' English Horn Xylophone
8' Harmonic Tuba Glockenspiel
8' Diaphonic Diapason Bells
8' Tibia Clausa CathedralChimes
8' Clarinet
Marimba
Triangle
EXPRESSION PEDALS
Main
GREAT SECOND TOUCHES Solo
Percussion
16' Tuba Profunda General
8' English Horn Crescendo
4' Piccolo
TREMULANTS
Main (2)--Orch. Oboe, Violin, Flute---Violin Celeste, Gamba, Diapason, Clarinet
Solo--English Post Horn, Krumet, Solo String
Vox Humana
Tibia
Tuba
SWELL COUPLERS TOE STUDS SWING-OUT DRAWER--Under keybed--Left side
Main 3--Pedal Combinations 1-3 Chinese Gong--Definite--Rare
Solo Cow Bell--Definite--Very rare
Percussion Horse Hooves
Fire Gong (reiterating)
Steamboat Whistle
Bird
--Maybe more?--
KEY CHEEK BUTTONS
Accomp.--Left side--Auto Horn PIANO PEDALS--To left of expression pedals
Right side--Door Bell __ __ Diaphone Thunder* Tuba Thunder
__ __ Snare Roll-1st Touch/Cymbal Tap--2nd Touch
Sforzando--All ranks--1st/Add Tuned Perc's--2nd
COMBINATION ACTION
CHAMBER INDICATORS
PEDAL--3 (Toe Studs) Main--Plain white disc
ACCOMPANIMENT--10--PP/P/MF/F/FF--1-5 Solo--White disc w/ black dot
GREAT--10--P/MF/F/FF/FFF--1-5 Percussion--White disc w/ small circle in middle
SOLO--1-5 No indicator=Unenclosed stop
* "Thunder" on a Wurlitzer is usually derived from wiring a switch of some kind to play the bottom six notes of a given 16' octave simultaneously.
CHAMBER ANALYSIS
Given personal accounts, newspaper and physical evidence, it is reasonable to surmise that only the contents of the Echo and Solo chambers of Wurlitzer Opus 241 from the Oregon Theatre in Salem went back to Wurlitzer to be combined with other components to create Opus 1257. The Oregon would continue to operate for another three years after the Elsinore opened and probably continued with the remainder of 241 as a business necessity. The Oregon had relied on its organs exclusively for music from c. 1916 on.
The Solo and Echo chestwork were clearly recycled into 1257, as shown in photos.
Oregon and Elsinore owner George Guthrie funded the building of the Elsinore from his own funds and defrayed the costs of a new instrument for that theatre by recycling parts from his Oregon instrument.
ALL CAPS indicates parts from Opus 241. Some of this information and what is to follow is a result of extensive detective work and the personal conversations I have had with personal and family friend Russ Morrell who played and serviced this instrument from c.1946 to c. 1969. All of this is an attempt to record a history of this organ and also Opus 241, which is also detailed in the OHS Database. This information has been known in part by a few, but I have managed to recount and uncover more for posterity.
--Organ arranged left-to-right over proscenium--Relays--Main--Solo--Percussion
MAIN CHAMBER--All manual chest pipework on 10" wind, unless noted
3-RANK CHEST FROM OREGON ECHO
8' Orchestral Oboe--61 pipes
8' Violin--85 pipes
16' FLUTE--97 pipes--8' CC AND UP--FROM OREGON ECHO
_______________________________________________
8' Violin Celeste--73 pipes
8' GAMBA--62 Scale--73 pipes--FROM OREGON ECHO**
16' Diaphonic Diapason--85 pipes--Low 12 notes--metal
8' Clarinet--61 pipes
16' Tibia octave, plus four pipes--remainder in Solo Chamber
Chrysoglott--12" wind
SOLO CHAMBER--All manual chest pipework on 10", unless noted
8' VOX HUMANA--61 pipes--6" wind
8' English Post Horn--61 pipes
8' Krumet--61 pipes
__________________________________________________
3-RANK SOLO MANUAL CHEST FROM OREGON--ORIGINALLY 8' KINURA/8' TIBIA (49 notes)/8' TUBA (59 notes)
8' Solo String--73 pipes--10" wind--61 on manual chest--Wurlitzer standard-width string chest top boards fit in standard small reed chests with no re-drilling required for screws. An elegant substitution here.
8' Tibia Clausa--85 pipes--15" wind--59 on manual chest originally holding 49 notes--Extra holes drilled for extra 10 notes. Added notes made for crowded spacing toward lower pitches. This caused the lower four pipes on this chest to have their foot holes drilled at their corners. These pipes hung over the edge of their rack board as a result.
16' Harmonic Tuba--85 pipes--15" wind
PERCUSSION CHAMBER--Standard pressure is 12" on Wurlitzers--OREGON ECHO AND SOLO COMPONENTS
MARIMBA/HARP--49 notes--FROM ECHO--Re-iterate contacts added by Wurlitzer
XYLOPHONE--37 notes--FROM SOLO
GLOCKENSPIEL/BELLS--30 notes--FROM SOLO--Given these are from a 185, this is probably 30 notes
SLEIGH BELLS (Tuned)--25 notes--FROM SOLO
CATHEDRAL CHIMES--25 notes--Likely from less-used set--ECHO
SOUND EFFECTS--SOLO
TRAPS--SOLO
IN PIT
Upright Piano--85 notes
Tremulants and regulators from the Oregon were also probably recycled into 1257.
Probably traded back to Wurlitzer to defray costs:Cathedral Chimes from Oregon Solo
8' Tibia Clausa--10" wind--61 pipes
8' Kinura--61 pipes
Solo swell shutters and actions
--More?--
**This is speculative, but its presence in 1257 is not. Gambas are very unusual on Wurlitzers in the US. They are only found on the largest of their theatre instruments, generally speaking. It is quite plausible that this rank "came along for the ride" to the Elsinore with its fellow Oregon expatriates. This would have been the Oregon Echo string rank to go along with the Echo Flute and Vox at the Oregon; and later at the Elsinore.
[Received from Eric Schmiedeberg 2015-11-17.]Regrettably, it is not possible to display the information about the sponsor of this pipeorgandatabase entry or if there is a sponsor. Please see About Sponsors on Pipe Organ Database.