2009-02-09 - Identified through online information from Jeff Scofield. -- Built in 1938 as Englishman Reginald Foort's travelling organ. After 136 road trips around England, it was loaned to the BBC during WW II, then sold to them. In 1975, it was sold to a California pizza parlor. In 1980, it was sold to the Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, where Foort now lived. He died a few weeks after its first use. -Database Manager
2012-05-18 - Updated through online information from Stephen Hall. -- The Pasadena Civic Auditorium website has a list of technical specifications for performers that states there is a 28 rank, 5 manual theater organ and that the console is on a lift. It is listed with the two stage pianos so it is presumed to be usable. -Database Manager
2016-06-21 - Built in 1938 as touring organ for Reginald Foort of Great Britain. Organ was sold to the BBC, which acquired the former Jubilee Chapel (an unused Methodist church) in Hoxton (north London), for a new broadcasting studio; the organ remained there for almost 30 years. In 1963, the organ was sold to Dutch Radio Hilversum, largely at the behest of organist Cor Steyn, and installed in a church ("Tesselschadekerk") in Hilversum, The Netherlands. Cor Steyn died soon after the organ went on the air; due to a lack of suitable players, the organ remained silent for most of its time in Holland. In 1973, Peter Möller Daniels of M.P. Möller, inspected the organ for a prospective buyer, Preston M. (Sandy) Fleet, who wanted it for his Organ Power Pizza #2 restaurant in Pacific Beach, California. The organ was shipped to the Möller factory where it was refurbished. Several alterations were made: the Doppel Flute was replaced with a Brass Saxophone, while the original Saxophone was replaced by a French Horn; the Post Horn was extended down to 16' pitch, and the rebuilt console was refinished in white and gold. After installation in the restaurant, the organ was dedicated by Reginald Foort in November 1975. By 1979 the organ was for sale again. When the organ became available, Gordon Belt and J.B. Nethercutt purchased the organ and donated it to the city of Pasadena for installation in the Civic Auditorium. Dave Junchen and Steve Adams installed the organ over a period of nine months, spending much time re-regulating its pipes and tremulants toward a more theatre organ sound. Tom Hazelton played the dedication concert on April 23, 1980; Reginald Foort was in attendance, and was moved to tears. -Database Manager
Stoplist from Larry Chace Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded
Pasadena, California
Pasadena Civic Auditorium
M. P. Möller, Inc. Opus 6690 1938 / 1980 5 manuals, 179 registers, 26 stops, 28 ranks
Built in 1938 as 5/27 touring organ for Reginald Foort (England)
Installed in Pasadena Civic Auditorium by David Junchen - completed in 1980
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
MAIN CHAMBER (enclosed) SOLO CHAMBER (enclosed)
16' Diaphonic Diapason 85 pipes 15 & 10" 16' English Post Horn 85 pipes 20"
16' Chorus Trumpet 85 pipes 15 & 10" 16' Bombarde/Tuba Mirabilis 85 pipes 15"
16' Cello 97 pipes 15 & 10" 8' Tibia Clausa I 85 pipes 18"
4' Cello Celeste 61 pipes 10" 8' Tibia Clausa III 85 pipes 11"
16' Tibia Clausa II 97 pipes 15 & 10" 8' Brass Saxophone 61 pipes 15"
4' Vox Humana II 61 pipes 10" 8' Vox Humana I 73 pipes 10"
8' Open Diapason 85 pipes 10" 8' Solo Trumpet 73 pipes 15"
8' Concert Flute 85 pipes 10" 8' Tuba Horn 73 pipes 15"
8' Viol d'Orchestre 85 pipes 10" 8' French Horn 73 pipes 10"
8' Viol Celeste 73 pipes 10" 8' Orchestral Oboe 73 pipes 10"
4' Orchestral Strings 2 rks 122 pipes 10" 8' Clarinet 73 pipes 10"
4' Spitz Violes 2 rks 122 pipes 10" 4' Krumet 61 pipes 10"
4' Musette 61 pipes 10"
MAIN CHAMBER (unenclosed) Marimba 49 notes 28"
16' Pedal Tibia 32 pipes 10"
Xylophone 49 notes 20" SOLO CHAMBER (unenclosed)
Vibraphone 49 notes 12" 32' Bombarde (ext.) 12 pipes 28"
Toy Counter Glockenspiel 37 notes 28"
Chimes 18 notes 28"
[Received from Steven E. Lawson 2016-06-21]
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.