Better Pipe Organ Database

G.M. Buck Pipe Organs (1994)

Grand Rapids Public Museum: Meijer Theater
272 Pearl Street NW
Grand Rapids, MI

Images

2011-05-14 - Building Exterior (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Console (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Theater Interior, Stage, and Console (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Solo Pipework and Chamber (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Rear of Theater, Trompette en Chamade, and Solo Chamber (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Main Pipe Chamber (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

2011-05-14 - Main Chamber Pipework (Photograph by Chad Boorsma/Database Manager)

Consoles

Main

Organ type: Horseshoe
Console position: Movable Console
3 manuals
2 divisions
Stop layout Type: Stop Keys in Horseshoe Curves
Manual compass: 61 notes
Pedal compass: 32 notes
Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
Has crescendo
Combination action: Computerized/Digital
Has combination thumb pistons
Has combination toe pistons
Has coupler thumb pistons
Has coupler toe pistons
Has tutti thumb pistons
Has tutti toe pistons

Notes

2011-05-16 - The organ was originally built as a "three-manual special" for the Stanley Theater in Jersey City, New Jersey. After three decades, the organ and theater fell into disrepair, and the instrument was placed in storage. In the mid-1970's, it was purchased by the Roaring Twenties Pizza Parlor in Grand Rapids. The restaurant, which later became Good Time Charley's, was the organ's home from 1977-1991. Several local enthusiasts wanted the organ to stay in Grand Rapids, and an "Organ Transplant Committee" was formed to raise funds. At the same time, plans were being made for a new Grand Rapids Public Museum, and it was decided to install the organ in the 250-seat Meijer Theater. Over 500 donors and twenty installation volunteers contributed funds and time to save, restore, and install the Wurlitzer. -Database Manager

2011-05-16 - Improvement since the original installation include: (1) removal of the dark cloth covering the swell shades, (2) creation of openings above the chamber windows to allow more sound into the room, (3) removal of the dark grilles from the percussion chambers, (4) relocation of the marimba-harp, chimes, and xylophone to the rear wall of the theater, (5) reinstallation of the Pedal Diaphone pipes which had been separated from the organ in the past, and (6) restoration of the keyboards. -Database Manager

Stoplist

Stoplist taken from Grand Rapids AGO website Source: Source not recorded Date not recorded

Grand Rapids, Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS PUBLIC MUSEUM
MEIJER THEATER

Wurlitzer Organ Company     Opus 1836     30 ranks     1928/1994
____________________________________________________________________

MAIN CHAMBER:                    SOLO CHAMBER:
   8' Clarinet 61                   8' Vox Humana 61
   8' Quintadena 61                 8' Brass Saxophone 61
   8' Quintadena Celeste 61      16-8' Open Diapason 73 *
   8' Brass Trumpet 61           16-4' Solo String 85
16-4' Horn Diapason 85 +          8-4' Solo String Celeste 73
   4' Horn Diapason Celeste 61   16-2' Tibia Clausa 97
   8' Tibia Clausa 61               8' English Post Horn 61
16-8' Tuba Horn 73                  8' Krumet 61
16-8' Oboe Horn 73                8-2' Viol d'Orchestra 85
   8' Vox Humana 61               8-4' Viol Celeste 73
16-2' Concert Flute 97              8' Kinura 61
   8' Flute Celeste 61              8' Orchestral Oboe 61
 8-4' Salicional 73                 8' Tuba Mirabilis 61
 8-4' Voix Celeste 73               8' Pedal Tibia Clausa 32
 4-2' Lieblich Flute 73
                                 SOLO UNENCLOSED PERCUSSION:
MAIN UNENCLOSED PERCUSSION:            Glockenspiel
      Chrysoglott                      Xylophone
      Marimba                          Sleighbells
      Traps & Effects                  Cathedral Chimes
                                       Traps & Effects
UNENCLOSED ON REAR WALL:        
   8' Trompette en Chamade 61    ON STAGE:
                                       Grand Piano
   + 1-12 Metal Diaphone
   * 1-18 Wood Diaphone

[Received online from Chad Boorsma • May 16, 2011]

Related Pipe Organ Database Entries

#52038†* - The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. Opus 1836 (1928)