Be An Organ Donor! This website Donor Form provides a variety of donation opportunities for all corporate, business and individual budgets and income levels. Please consider making a donation to assist the fundraising efforts of this very special theatre organ project, which will Bring the Music Back to Main Street.

CONSOLE

The Wurlitzer Company, North Tonawanda, NY, manufactured the Kentucky Theatre’s 3-Manual Wurlitzer console in 1925. The console is of the standard Wurlitzer “paneled style” and was shipped from the factory in the factory-standard mahogany finish. The console was refinished soon after delivery to the theatre with a textured-gold paint applied to the exterior shell. The console was originally installed on a Barton organ screw-lift to the left side of the orchestra pit.

The restoration and rebuilding of the Wurlitzer console will comply with the Restoration Guidelines of the American Theatre Organ Society. KMW-TOP, Inc has budgeted approximately $36,000 to be expended on repair, rebuilding, restoration, internal and external replacement components, new theatrical ornamentation and finish to the existing console shell. When completed and delivered to Lexington, the Wurlitzer’s 3-manual console will be suitably dressed for its rededication in the historic Kentucky Theatre.

This Major Donor opportunity provides a special level of donor recognition with an individual Console plaque, which will be installed in the Kentucky Theatre auditorium that will recognize this community benefactor, corporation or business. A replication of this plaque is pictured adjacent to this donor opportunity. Additionally, this donor will also be listed on the Project Dedication Plaque to be installed in the Kentucky Theatre lobby.

SOLO CHAMBER

The Solo Chamber will contain 9-Ranks of historic Wurlitzer pipework, with 623 individual pipes within the chamber itself. Elaborate wood grille work, which will be replicated from the existing plaster grille work in the Kentucky Theatre’s interior, covers the tone openings of the Solo Chamber. This Major Donor opportunity provides a special level of donor recognition with an individual Solo Chamber plaque, which will be installed in the Kentucky Theatre auditorium that will recognize this community benefactor, corporation or business. A replication of this plaque is pictured adjacent to this donor opportunity. Additionally, this donor will also be listed on the Project Dedication Plaque to be installed in the Kentucky Theatre lobby.


MAIN CHAMBER

The Main Chamber will contain 9-Ranks of historic Wurlitzer pipework, with 645 individual pipes within the chamber itself. Elaborate wood grille work, which will be replicated from the existing ceiling plaster grille work in the Kentucky Theatre’s interior, will cover the tone openings of the Main Chamber. This Major Donor opportunity provides a special level of donor recognition with an individual Main Chamber plaque, which will be installed in the Kentucky Theatre auditorium that will recognize this community benefactor, corporation or business. A replication of this plaque is pictured adjacent to this donor opportunity. Additionally, this donor will also be listed on the Project Dedication Plaque to be installed in the Kentucky Theatre lobby.


PERCUSSION CHAMBER

The Percussion Chamber contains 14 musical percussion instruments and the Toy Counter with its traps and effects for silent film accompaniment. This Major Donor opportunity provides a special level of donor recognition with an individual Percussion Chamber plaque, which will be installed in the Kentucky Theatre auditorium that will recognize this community benefactor, corporation or business. A replication of this plaque is pictured adjacent to this donor opportunity. Additionally, this donor will also be listed on the Project Dedication Plaque to be installed in the Kentucky Theatre lobby.


MAKE A DONATION

To make a donation, proceed to our Donor Form...

BUY A STOP

Many donors have requested a donation opportunity that would include memorabilia from the actual Kentucky Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer theatre organ. In response to this request, donors may purchase an authentic piece of the Kentucky Theater’s Wurlitzer pipe organ. During the console renovation, pneumatic stop tablets along with associated pneumatic actions will be removed and replaced with electric action units. Unfortunately, there are a limited number of stop tablets available for this offer. Each original Wurlitzer Stop tab is $500.00 and is depicted in the adjacent photograph, which shows the polished brass dedication plaque.


BUY A RANK OR PERCUSSION

The Wurlitzer pipe organ contains eighteen (18) ranks (sets similar sounding pipes) with a variety of orchestral voices. Each rank purchased will provide funds to restore the many pneumatic valves and actions required to allow the pipes to speak. A plaque will be attached to each rank wind chest with the donors name (or designated name) for each rank purchased.

The Toy Counter and Percussions of the Wurlitzer pipe organ recreates a variety of special effects needed for accompaniment of silent films. Percussion instruments listed with this organ offer a variety of actual instruments for the organist’s musical needs. Each special sound effect, or Trap, and Percussion item purchased will provide funds to restore the many pneumatic valves and actions required to allow the item or percussion to act. A plaque will be attached to each trap wind chest or percussion component with the donors name (or designated name) for each item purchased.



BUY A PIPE

Buy A Pipe is a special fundraising opportunity, which provides an affordable way to honor or celebrate a special person. There are 1206 pipes available to prospective donors at $100.00 per pipe. A Certificate of Recognition will be issued to the donor, or the donor’s designated name; and the name will be listed Project’s Commemorative Dedication Book. This offer continues until all 1206-pipes have been sold.