Portland (Paramount) Theatre - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
1037 SW Broadway
Portland, OR
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
Images
March 1928 - Portland (Paramount) Theatre--Auditorium view from stage (Photograph by Rapp and Rapp--Architects--Chicago--1928 , submitted by Eric Schmiedeberg/Eric Schmiedeberg)
Unknown - Auditorium Proscenium w/ Console (Photograph by Rapp and Rapp Architects, Chicago, Illinois (1928)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Auditorium Interior (Photograph by Rapp and Rapp Architects, Chicago, Illinois (1928)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Auditorium Interior Left Wall w/ Console (Photograph by Rapp and Rapp Architects, Chicago, Illinois (1928)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Console (Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufacturing Company, courtesy of Eric Schmiedeberg (1928)/Database Manager)
Unknown - Console (Photograph by Brother Andrew Corsini (July 1966 ATOE National Convention), courtesy of Eric Schmiedeberg/Database Manager)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Horseshoe
- Console position: Console on Lift
- 4 manuals
- 3 divisions
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Stop Keys in Horseshoe Curves
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Details Unknown)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
- Has crescendo
- Combination action: Setterboard
- Has combination thumb pistons
Notes
2017-12-21 - Information from <i>Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. II</i> by David L. Junchen. (Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1989)<br>
Wurlitzer "Style Publix 1"<br>
Factory date: January 25, 1928<br>
Sold for $52,000 in 1977; went to Organ Grinder Pizza, Denver, Colorado (closed 1988) -Database Manager
2018-12-29 - Updated by Eric Schmiedeberg, listing conversations with this person as the source of the information: Dennis Hedberg--Curator, Glenn Shelley--Organist. <br> <br>I first became aware of this instrument through my father, who had begun to attend the theatres of Portland in 1940 as a teenage transplant from Nebraska. As it turned out, my mother would one day come to work for John Haviland who owned the Paramount, New Heathman and Park Haviland (the original Heathman) Hotels. I would frequently hop on the Tri-Met bus after school and ride to the New Heathman to meet my mother after she got off of work. So, I spent quite a bit of time knocking around with the stagehands at the Paramount and staff at the New Heathman. By this time the organ had already been sold at auction in October of \'75--according to the auction listing, but was still installed. My encounter with the console was in 1976. A stagehand showed it to me when he found out that I was a musicial student. Well, dad had said there was a pipe organ in the theatre, so....lead on! Behind a little spring-loaded door was a glorious 4-manual Wurlitzer console decorated like a birthday cake with all sorts of ornamentation on it. \"Hop on and check it out\", said the stagehand. Now, to a nine year old kid, this was akin to walking into the cockpit of a 747! This was my first hands-on encounter with a Wurlitzer theatre organ. That experience stayed in the back of my mind. <br><br><br>Eventually, I wrote Dennis Hedberg of the Organ Grinder Corporation to inquire about the organ and try to find out more about it. He was very kind in typing out a personal letter (on Organ Grinder Corporation letterhead no less!) in response and sending along a stoplist which included many (if not all) of the alterations he had made to it over the years while caring for the organ. \"If you disregard the notes I have made on the stoplist, you will have the specification of the instrument as it was built\". The console tag is dated December, 1927.\" The stoplist you will see is taken verbatim from this 1979 posting. As it turns out, the Paramount organ was a stock Publix #1-model Wurlitzer.<br><br>I discovered by listening to numerous recordings of this organ that it was installed in shallow chambers and was very THERE. No \"fainting violet\", this one! I also discovered, through listening to an Oregon Chapter ATOE tape featuring Mr. Carruthers, that he had done some tonal polishing on the organ after its installation. Harry and his father Joseph were the inventors of what would become known as the Wurlitzer electro-pneumatic windchest. This being at the behest of their boss, Robert Hope-Jones who was still running his own organ business in Elmira, NY. \"I have to have that attack!\" The \"Wurlitzer\" chest is indeed wickedly fast.<br><br>Carruthers stated that a number of Wurlitzers in Portland were tonally finished by him. For theatre organs, this is rare. Portland had the largest number of theatres per capita than any other city in the world during the Golden Age. There were lots of Wurlitzers in that mix. As a result, most all of the largest Wurlitzers in town were much more refined tonally than what one would normally encounter. All of the Big Names played them at one time or another. This combination of players and technical attention made for an above-average listening experience.<br><br>Carruthers quit Wurlitzer c.1912 and went to work for a few other firms before starting his own organ business in....Portland, Oregon.<br><br>Portland area organist Glenn Shelley (1901-1982) told me that the Paramount organ was rather \"snazzy\" compared to its bigger sister--the 1918-vintage 4/33 \"Show/Demonstrator\" Wurlitzer at the Liberty Theatre--up the street. The Oriental Theatre 3/13 Wurlitzer that he had a hand in designing with Wurlitzer was \"snazzier\" yet!<br><br>It is with great regret that I never heard the Paramount organ in a live setting. Just from the recordings I have, I know the sound must have been glorious! -Database Manager
2019-02-08 - Updated by Eric Schmiedeberg, who gave this as the source of the information: I am very familiar with the Publix #1 model and personally saw the console in the theatre. <br> <br> -Database Manager
Stoplist
Original document from Eric Schmiedeberg. Source: 1979 letter from Dennis Hedberg--Caretaker of the organ. 2019-01-08
Portland, OR
Portland (Paramount) Theatre - Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
Organ by The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.--As built
--NOTE: Stops denoted with (S) indicate voices speaking from the Solo (house-right) chamber.
Those with an (X) indicate voices speaking simultaneously from the Main and Solo.
PEDAL GREAT
16' Tuba Profunda 16' Tuba Profunda
16' Diaphone 16' Diaphone
16' Tibia Clausa (S) 16' Tibia Clausa TC
16' Bourdon 16' Tibia Clausa (S)
8' Tuba Mirabilis 16' Clarinet TC
8' Tuba Horn 16' Saxophone TC
8' Octave (Diapason) 16' Solo String TC (X)
8' Tibia Clausa (S) 16' Vox Humana TC
8' Clarinet 16' Vox Humana TC (S)
8' Saxophone 8' Tuba Mirabilis
8' Bass Solo String (X) 8' Trumpet
8' Cello (Viol d' Orchestre and Viol Celeste) 8' Tuba Horn
8' Flute 8' Diaphonic Diapason
4' Flute 8' Tibia Clausa
16' Piano 8' Tibia Clausa (S)
Bass Drum 8' Orchestral Oboe
Kettle Drum (Bass Drum roll) 8' Kinura
Snare Drum 8' Clarinet
Crash Cymbal 8' Saxophone
Cymbal 8' Solo String
Accompaniment to Pedal 8' Solo String (S)
Great to Pedal 8' Viol d' Orchestre
Solo to Pedal 8' Viol Celeste
8' Concert Flute
8' Vox Humana
ACCOMPANIMENT 8' Vox Humana (S)
4' Piccolo
16' Solo String (X) 4' Piccolo (S)
8' Tuba Horn 4' Viol
8' Diaphonic Diapason 4' Octave Celeste
8' Tibia Clausa 4' Flute
8' Tibia Clausa (S) 4' Vox Humana
8' Clarinet 4' Vox Humana (S)
8' Saxophone 2-2/3' Twelfth (Flute)
8' Solo String 2' Fifteenth (Viol d' Orchestre)
8' Solo String (S) 2' Piccolo (Flute)
8' Viol d' Orchestre 1-3/5' Tierce (Flute)
8' Viol Celeste 16' Piano
8' Oboe Horn 8' Piano
8' Quintadena 4' Piano
8' Concert Flute Marimba
8' Dulciana Harp
8' Vox Humana Bells (reiterating Glockenspiel)
8' Vox Humana (S) Sleigh Bells
4' Piccolo Master Xylophone
4' Piccolo (S) Xylophone
4' Viol Glockenspiel
4' Octave Celeste Chrysoglott
4' Flute Cathedral Chimes
4' Vox Humana Sub Octave
4' Vox Humana (S) Octave
2-2/3'Twelfth (Flute) Solo to Great
2' Piccolo (Flute)
8' Piano
Mandolin (metal-tipped strips laid over the Piano strings--n's 25-88)
Marimba
Harp
Chrysoglott (a.k.a. Celesta)
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Castanets
Chinese Block
Tom Tom (single-stroke Snare w/ snare muted)
Sand Block (on/off high pressure air exhaust blown over the edge of a metal plate)
Octave
Solo to Accompaniment
BOMBARDE SOLO
16' Tuba Mirabilis TC 8' Tuba Morabilis
16' Tuba Profunda 8' Trumpet
16' Diaphone 8' Tuba Horn
16' Tibia Clausa TC 8' Diaphonic Diapason
16' Tibia Clausa (S) 8' Tibia Clausa
8' Tuba Mirabilis 8' Tibia Clausa (S)
8' Trumpet 8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Tuba Horn 8' Kinura
8' Diaphonic Diapason 8' Clarinet
8' Tibia Clausa 8' Saxophone
8' Tibia Clausa 8' Solo String
8' Solo String 8' Solo String (S)
8' Solo String (S) 8' Oboe Horn
8' Viol d' Orchestre 8' Quintadena
8' Viol Celeste 8' Vox Humana
8' Concert Flute 8' Vox Humana (S)
4' Clarion Mirabilis 8' Dulciana
4' Clarion (Tuba Horn) 4' Piccolo
4' Piccolo 4' Piccolo (S)
4' Piccolo (S) 8' Piano
Xylophone Marimba
Glockenspiel Master Xylophone
Snare Drum Glockenspiel
Great to Bombarde Sub Octave Bells (reit. Glock.)
Great to Bombarde Octave Chrysoglott
Solo to Bombarde Cathedral Chimes
BACK RAIL________________________________________________________________________
PEDAL--PIZZICATO TOUCH TREMULANTS
16' Tuba Profunda Main
Tibia Clausa
Vox Humana
ACCOMPANIMENT SECOND TOUCHES Diaphone/Tuba
Solo
8' Tuba Mirabilis Tibia Clausa (S)
8' Tuba Horn Vox Humana (S)
8' Diaphonic Diapason Tuba Mirabilis
8' Tibia Clausa
8' Tibia Clausa (S)
8' Saxophone Pedal Traps 1st Touch/Second Touch Switch Toggle Switch
8' Strings (X) --Located above Pedal Crash Cymbal & Cymbal tabs--
4' Piccolos (X)
Xylophone
Glockenspiel
Cathedral Chimes SWELL PEDALS--Left to right--
Triangle
Solo to Accompaniment Main
Solo to Accompaniment--Pizzicato Solo
General**
Crescendo (affects Pedal and Great)
GREAT SECOND TOUCHES
16' Tuba Profunda PIANO-STYLE PEDALS
8' Tibia Clausa --Located above right end of pedal board--
8' Tibia Clausa (S)
Solo to Great Diaphone Thunder
Solo to Great--Pizzicato Tuba Thunder
BOMBARDE SECOND TOUCHES SWING-OUT TRAY
--Located below left side of key shelf--
16' Tuba Profunda
8' Tuba Horn Horse's Hooves
8' Tibia Clausa Bird (Main)
Bird (Solo)
Surf (toggle switch)
Fire Gong (reiterating)
Steamboat Whistle
Auto Horn
SWELL INDICATORS ("bobber" type) SWELL COUPLERS (toggle switches)
--Located in middle of top stop rail-- --Located at center position over back rail--
Main Main
Solo Solo
General General
COMBINATION ACTION THUMB PISTONS
Pedal--1-10 --Far left Accompaniment manual key slip
Accompaniment--PP/P/MF/F/FF & 1-5
Great--PP/P/MF/F/FF & 1-5++
Bombarde--P/MF/F/FF/FFF & 1-5
Solo--P/MF/F/FF/FF
++Great pistons fitted with second touch contacts. 1st touch=Great Divisional
Second touch fires all divisionals of like piston position at once.
Example: Great piston #1 fires all #1 divisional pistons
**The General swell pedal is fitted with a metal stud that operates the Piano's sustain
mechanism when pressed.
Console Lights ON/OFF switch
CHAMBER ANALYSIS--This provided by Eric Schmiedeberg--
MAIN CHAMBER--All ranks on 10" wind unless noted otherwise--
16' Diaphonic Diapason--73 pipes--15" wind
16' Harmonic Tuba--85 pipes--15" wind
8' Tibia Clausa--73 pipes--15" wind
16' Flute--97 pipes
8' Solo String--61 pipes
8' Viol d' Orchestre--85 pipes
8' Viol Celeste--73 pipes
8' Clarinet--61 pipes
8' Dulciana--61 pipes
8' Vox Humana--61 pipes--6" wind
Chrysoglott--49 notes
SOLO CHAMBER--All ranks on 10" wind unless otherwise noted--
16' Tibia Clausa--85 pipes--15" wind
8' Tuba Mirabilis--73 pipes--15" wind
8' Trumpet (brass resonators)--61 pipes
8' Saxophone (brass resonators w/ treble flue pipes)--61 pipes
8' Oboe Horn--61 pipes
8' Orchestral Oboe--61 pipes
8' Kinura--61 pipes
8' Solo String--61 pipes
8' Quintadena--61 pipes
8' Vox Humana--61 pipes--6" wind
Marimba/Harp--49 notes
Xylophone--37 notes
Glockenspiel--37 notes
Sleigh Bells--25 notes
Cathedral Chimes--25 notes
All non-tonal percussions
Sound Effects
UNENCLOSED--In a room above Solo chamber--
Upright Piano--85 notes used
Master Xylophone--37 notes
BLOWER
10 horsepower Spencer Turbine Co. unit
--I am not certain, but being familiar with the Paramount, I would venture the relays
and switching arrays were located in the basement of the theatre under the stage.
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