The Mighty Wurlitzer
The Alabama Theatre Pipe Organ is Wurlitzer Opus 1783. The legendary theatre organist, Jesse Crawford, laid out its design for use in delux venues for Publix Theatres, thus the designation by Wurlitzer as Style Publix 1. Its basic design included 4 manuals (keyboards), 20 ranks (sets of pipes), 8 sets of tuned percussion units, and all the sound effects needed to accompany silent movies. Eight additional ranks of pipes have been added to expand the tonal capabilities of the organ, making a total of 28 ranks (2008 pipes). The pipes and percussion units are divided into three chambers as follows:
Main Chamber
(Upper left)
16' Tuba Horn
16' Diaphonic Diapason
8' Tibia Clausa
16' Bourdon/Concert Flute
8' Clarinet
16' Trombone
4' Flute Celeste Wind Chime (exposed
String Chamber
(Lower left)
8' Vox Humana
8' Viol d'Orchestra
8' Viol Celeste
16' Violone/Gamba
8' Dulciana
8' Gamba Celeste
8' Unda Maris
Chrysoglott
Orchestral Chimes
Bird Whistle
Chinese Gong
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Solo Chamber
(right)
16' Ophicleide/Tuba Mirabilis
16' Tibia Clausa
8' Solo String
8' Brass Trumpet
8' English (Post) Horn
8' Vox Humana
8' Brass Saxophone
8' Solo String Celeste
8' Quintadena
8' Orchestral Oboe
8' Kinura
16' Horn Diapason
8' Lieblich Flute
8' Oboe Horn
Xylophone
Glockenspie/Orchestra Bells
Cathedral Chimes
Harm/Marimba
Sleigh Bells
Piano
Toy Counter (21 traps)
Master Xylophone (exposed)
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Go to the Alabama Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society website.