| The Kentucky Theatre (also known as the Lafayette Theatre) opened October 4, 1922 with H. Haden Read at the console of the $25,000 Wurlitzer Grand Symphony Organ. This organ, opus 562, was Wurlitzer’s first 2/8, Style “F” (Wurlitzer produced 92 instruments of this type), shipping date was July 29, 1922.
This theatre organ’s stirring music and special effects, under the masterful hands of Mr. Read, became the heart and soul of the Kentucky Theatre. Vera Eckert and William Hackney joined Haden Read, chief organist at the Kentucky Theatre, provided accompaniment to the photoplays presented on the big screen.
The Wurlitzer Company provided several additions to Opus 562. In December 1923, a new Vox Humana was installed in the main chamber. A significant expansion was completed by Wurlitzer in January 1926 with a new 3-manual paneled console; the original Violin and Violin Celeste were replaced with a Viol d’Orchestra, Viol Celeste; additional ranks added were a Brass Trumpet, Quintadena, Oboe Horn, Salicional and Kinura. With this enlargement, Wurlitzer Job Number 703, this instrument became a 3/14 Wurlitzer, Style 260 Special. Haden Read rededicated the organ with a concert program in February 1926. Assisting with the picture accompaniment at this time were Vera Eckert and William A. Hackney.
Devastating rains on June 29, 1928, left downtown Lexington flooded. The Kentucky Theatre and its Mighty Wurlitzer were inundated with water, resulting in damages that permanently silenced the theatre organ. The 1927 advent of “Vitaphone” with its mechanically linked-recorded sound for movies, installed in the Kentucky Theatre April 24, 1927, negated the need for restoration of the organ. Haden Read returned to Louisville to open the Loews-United Artists Theatre and its 3/13 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ on September 1, 1928.
After abandonment in the Kentucky Theatre for nearly fifty years, Roy Davis of McMinnville, TN purchased the theatre organ from the owners of the Kentucky Theatre in March 1977. The organ was removed on April 2, 1977 and was scheduled for delivery to a pizza parlor in the Chicago area. Oscar Wilson, who loved this instrument since first hearing it in 1926, made an offer to buy the organ from Roy Davis. The sale was completed and Wilson employed Heaston Pipe Organ Company of Brownsburg, IN to rebuild and reinstall it in his Fayette County mansion.
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While the organ was installed in the Wilson residence, the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society conducted several programs and regular meetings showcasing the 3/14 Wurlitzer organ. Father Jim Miller entertained Chapter members and guests on two different occasions with performances on this Wurlitzer theatre organ. Music samples from these recorded concerts have been included in the “Recordings for Sale” stop tab for you listening enjoyment.
Oscar Wilson, at the age of 89 and in very poor health, donated his Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ to the University of Kentucky in November 1989. Oscar Wilson died in May 1993.
The original 3/14 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ, which has been stored at the University of Kentucky since 1989, has been provided to Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer-Theatre Organ Project, Inc by an executed project agreement for reinstallation in the Kentucky Theatre.
In 1997, KMW-TOP, Inc hired Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations for technical assistance for respecification, expansion and restoration, of the Oscar Wilson (Kentucky Theatre) Wurlitzer theatre organ. Under technical guidance of internationally recognized theatre organist Mr. Lyn Larsen, Musical Contrasts, Inc of Phoenix, AZ, the organ was enlarged to a 3/16 instrument. The organ was expanded with additional ranks and percussion instruments, including 16’ Tibia Clausa (12-notes), 16’ Salicional (12-notes), 8’ Brass Saxophone (61-notes), 8’ Orchestral Oboe (61-notes), 8’ English Post Horn (61-notes), 16’ Oboe Horn (12-notes), 2’ Tibia Clausa (12-notes) and 49-note Marimba harp; and Wurlitzer piano; in addition to variety of miscellaneous equipment including swell shades, manual chests, reservoirs, tremulants, winkers, cymbals, solid state relay, computer, blower, software and MIDI record/playback unit.
The 1997 Project Budget “hard costs” included $212,085 for the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ rebuilding, expansion and reinstallation; and $269,915 for new new solo, main and percussion chambers, console pit, lift and other required construction in the theatre, as the organ could not be reinstalled into its original locations due to renovation of the theatre. The total 1997 Project Budget was $615,000 including endowment, maintenance fund, and marketing, newsletters and fundraising budgets.
In April 2005, at the request of KMW-TOP, Inc, the instrument’s original Main chamber Vox Humana was included and a new solo chamber Voix Celeste were added to the 1997 Larsen Specification. Refer to the home page 3/18 Mighty Wurlitzer (2005) stop tab for a revised console specification.
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