2023-03-20 - From the *Miami Herald*, September 6, 1914: A magnificent pipe organ, purchased by Kloeber and Thomas for the Hippodrome Theater, will be installed in that popular picture show in the near future. The parts of the organ have been shipped and its arrival is daily expected. Complete, this handsome instrument will cost $5,300. It being [*sic*] electrically operated. The organ was built by the House of Barckoff, [*sic*] one of the largest builders of pipe organs in the country, and also one of the oldest in the business, its plant at Basic City, Va., having been established in 1819. [*sic*] This concern was recommended to Mr. Thomas by Kimball Co., and when Carl Barckoff was installing an instrument in one of the churches in Orlando, he came down to Miami and the deal was closed for the organ to be put in the Hippodrome. At the request of Mr. Thomas an organist has been chosen by Mr. Barckoff and his arrival at an early date is expected. From the same newspaper, October 3, 1914: Installation of the new $5,300 pipe organ in the Hippodrome theater was completed yesterday. W. T. Walter and Mr. Wetzel, who were sent down by the "House of Barckhoff" to put up the instrument, finished their work yesterday and turned the organ over to its owners. It has 561 pipes and 22 stops, and is a magnificent example of the organ builder's art. J. Bradford Campbell, a well known organist and composer, of Hagerstown, Md., and especially recommended by Carl Barckhoff, the builder of the organ, will preside at the instrument tonight when it will be heard for the first time. A special program has been arranged. The *Miami Daily Metropolitan *of October 6, 1914, reported: The pipe organ recently installed [at the Hippodrome] seems to be gaining in popularity daily, since practically everyone loves good music. Tonight there will be an organ recital with an exceptionally good program. In addition there will be seven big reels, with the ever popular Lynch trio in one of the big Broadway hits. This organ is not listed in ihe "Barckhoff Organ Company" section in David Junchen's *Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ*, volume 1. Sources: "Big Organ Is Now Installed," *Miami Herald*, Saturday, October 3, 1914, 9, Newspapers.com, accessed March 19, 2023, https://www.newspapers.com/image/616135801. "Crowds at Hippodrome Make Management Wish Larger House," *Miami Daily Metropolis*, Tuesday, October 6, 1914, 10, Newspapers.com, accessed March 20, 2023, https://www.newspapers.com/image/298575973. "Pipe Organ for the Hippodrome," *Miami Herald*, Sunday, September 6, 1914, 6, Newspapers.com, accessed March 19, 2023, https://www.newspapers.com/image/616180825. -Charles Eberline
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