Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
2024-05-09 - The Wurlitzer Organ built in 1926 for the Paramount Theatre was considered to be the company's masterpiece. Installed in shallow chambers and speaking through virtually unobstructed grilles, the organ was tonally finished by Dan Papp under the direction of Jesse Crawford, noted theatre organist who had been lured from Chicago to be chief organist at the Paramount, a position he held from 1926-1933. Although many enthusiasts referred to the Paramount organ as the "Crawford Special," due to the organist's close association with the instrument, Mr. Crawford insisted that he did not design the organ but "specified only that the organ was to include certain ranks: the three Tibia Clausa, certain of the string and diapason ranks and the four Vox Humana... Someone at the Wurlitzer factory made up the specifications." The Paramount organ was the first by Wurlitzer to include 2-2/3' and 2' Tibia pitches. In 1929, a slave console was added and installed on the other side of the orchestra pit, allowing Helen Crawford to perform in duo with her husband. Two skeleton consoles for use on the stage were added in 1931, making it the only Wurlitzer organ that could be played simultaneously by four organists at four different consoles. Prior to the demolition of the Paramount Theatre, the organ was acquired by Richard Simonton of Los Angeles. In the 1970s, the organ was moved to the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas, where it is extant today. -Paul R. Marchesano
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