Wurlitzer Opus 493

Wurlitzer 235 3/11 Opus 493
Hope - Jones Unit Orchestra
History and Restoration

Wurlitzer 235 Opus 493 Console Coming to Temora, NSW Australia

Wurlitzer 235 Opus 493 Reassembly and Installation

Wurlitzer Opus 493 Style 235 3/11 was made in the Wurlitzer factory in North Tonawanda, New York and installation was completed on 30 November 1921 according to Wurlitzer’s official records. Cost was between $26,000 and $50,000.

The Indiana Theatre constructed in 1921 turned out to be the last commercial theatre built in the twentieth century in downtown Terre Haute. Both its construction features and the date of its completion reveal a great deal about where the city was in the 1920s. Theodore W. Barhydt

organized the Indiana Theatre company to raise more than $750,000 to build the Indiana Theatre. Esteemed Chicago theatre architect John Eberson was enlisted to create an entertainment palace to accommodate 2000 patrons in stadium-style seating. The theatre's ornate domed ceiling was trimmed in 24-carat gold plate. It was originally affiliated with Paramount Pictures. Six weeks prior to opening, an article in the Terre Haute Tribune discussed the 12 big transfer wagons needed to haul in the “big organ,” the cost of which varied by newspaper account from $26,000 (likely) to $50,000 (unlikely).

The Indiana Theatre was officially opened on January 28, 1922. Theatre employees wore costumes consistent with the theatre's Spanish or Andalusia motif. Peacocks strutted about the lobby, which included handsome mosaic floors, an elegant fountain and a marble staircase. The 12-foot "Paramount Peacock," at the top of the marquee, required 3,000 light bulbs. Sidney Smith was the theatre's first manager.

The 20-piece Indiana Symphonic Orchestra, conducted by Raymond Bond Townsley, occupied the orchestra pit which incorporated the Wurlitzer Hope-Jones pipe organ played by R. Wellington Welch and “relief” organist Miss Doris Scully. From chambers located behind two false box seat balconies on either side of the house, the “big organ” spoke forth with great power. Festivities began with an inspiring version of "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," by Terre Haute native Paul Dresser. Featured on the opening program was an original composition by Welch entitled “The Elements.” The composition was so well received it was featured in theatre ads for the next six weeks. Welch himself and the Opus 493 were so popular; both were featured in two newspaper articles within the first two months of opening. The premier film feature was "Cappy Ricks," starring Thomas Meighan and Agnes Ayers.

At the preview, Theodore Barhydt had even arranged to rent live peacocks to roam the lobby. In doing so, he chose to ignore a long-standing vaudeville superstition regarding the presence of a peacock in a theatre, convinced perhaps that the undeniable power of this new entertainment medium, not to mention a theatre costing three quarters of a million dollars, could overcome mere folklore.
Folklore or not, these things are known for sure. The following year, Theodore Barhydt's venture with Paramount Pictures abruptly ended and the Indiana Theatre closed. The 14-foot peacock, with its 3,000 light bulbs, was quietly removed before the theatre re-opened under new management.


Indiana Theatre 1922	Indiana Theatre postcard	Wurlitzer 235 3/11 opus 493 Opening Brochure	Indiana Theatre 2010

Organists 1922-1929

1922	January 28: Grand Opening. Organist: R. Wellington Welch and “relief” organist Miss Doris Scully. By mid-March 1922, the opulence of the Indiana may have proven too much to sustain financially. An article in The Saturday Spectator, Terre Haute’s society newspaper, reported two cornet players from the orchestra had been “turned off” to cut expenses. Also in this article it was reported the “organist draws $25 per week.” The salary was not enough to keep Mr. Welch in Terre Haute.
1922	Summer: Organist: W. G. O’Neil. However, Mr. O’Neil’s car barely had time to cool off before he left town for another job only a week later. Humorously, on the same page billing “O’Neil at the Wurlitzer” in a theatre ad was the story announcing his departure and replacement by Emil Velasco.
1922	Mr. Velasco became quite popular with audiences at the Indiana, and he was billed in advertisements as “Velasco at the Golden Voiced Wurlitzer” or “Velasco playing the Grand Symphonic Wurlitzer.” He also seemed prone to finding trouble. In April, 1923 Velasco was given a two-week dismissal notice from music director Townsley. The charges were not specified and were later dismissed. Velasco travelled hurriedly to Chicago to appear in court on charges of being a confidence man. Once again, Velasco escaped with his innocence. Only days later, back in Terre Haute, he eloped with a young girl to the surprise of the town—and the girl’s parents!
1923	Summer: Organist: Dean Armstrong
1924	Organist: Arthur All. Mr. All remained at the theatre through mid-1927 even though the theatre had closed for each summer from 1924 through 1927.
1927	August Organist: Margaret Hicks
* Note that no photos of the organists could be found.

1929

On 13 March 1929, movies with sound come to the theatre with the feature Lucky Boy, a 1929 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Norman Taurog and Charles C. Wilson and starring George Jessel. The film was mainly a silent film with synchronized music and sound effects, as well as some talking sequences. This marked the end of an era which meant the organ was no longer used nearly as much.

1930s

In 1932 a short resurgence of the organ with the “Indiana Theatre Organlogue” radio program. This new use for the organ was sadly short-lived. Opus 493 remained intact but silent for decades, becoming a dust-covered relic.

1960s

In the late 1960s, Terre Haute musician and instructor Russell W. McCoy (1917 - 1991) uncovered the dusty console only to find the Wurlitzer in very poor condition. McCoy, Paul Lewis, and Bill Westerman spent many late night hours in the theatre cleaning and repairing the instrument. Following their hard labour the organ was once again presented to the public in a concert on September 30, 1967. Almost as short-lived as the radio exposure in the early 1930s, this second revival was brief in duration.
(photo Russ McCoy 1965/67)

1970s

The United Artist chain sold the organ to Professor Richard Ertel (1939 - 1983) in Vincennes, Indiana. Ertel bought the Organ and removed it during the week without the knowledge of Mr. McCoy. He even took Mr. McCoy's Peterson tuner and tools that were in the chamber. The organ was put into storage in a barn on a dirt floor for many years. Many newspaper reports falsely stated the organ was sold to Vincennes University, yet this was never the case. The exact plans Mr. Ertel had for Opus 493 are not known, and no project with the instrument ever came to be while under his ownership.

1980s

In 1983 Professor Richard Ertel died and the organ was put up for sale. At that time CIC-ATOS sent Larry Mac Pherson over to look at the instrument. He reported back that it was in very bad condition and recommended the club not purchase the organ.

1990s

It was sold in the early 1990s to a broker Roy A.Davis Jr. (1934-2018) (Roy Davis Pipe Organs), in McMinnville, Tennessee who parted the instrument out.

Confirmation was published in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star on June 12, 1990 that the theatre had been purchased by William J. Decker. Mr. Decker continued to operate the venue as a second-run movie theatre, but he strongly desired to return the Indiana to her formal glory. He even travelled to Tennessee to assess the condition and feasibility of purchase and reinstallation of Opus 493. After finding the organ to be in very bad condition, he realized the return of the once-integral part of his theatre was not to be.

Bill Milligan (1953-2002) Bill had totally torn the console down to restore it as a digital organ, then died rather suddenly of a massive heart attack at age 49. He was originally from Chicago, did a lot of pipe organ work in the area and even abroad. He was a principal player and worked with George Buck as manager audio/visual Services extensively on the "Mightiest" project in DeKalb in the mid-80s.

Scott Smith (Scott Smith Pipe Organs) was told by a colleague about the console and some other pipe organ related goods, and wasted no time in checking it out. It was the next-door neighbour of Bill; an older man, who was parcelling everything out. Scott got the idea he was grateful that he had bought as much of that “weird pipe organ stuff” as he did. Bill had totally torn the console down; presumably to repair and paint it for a home digital organ. For hours, and on two separate occasions, Scott walked around and around and around the garage-shop to find pieces of it here and there. Even the pedal board was down to nothing. When Scott was finally satisfied he had everything there was to be had, he left with the assurance that if there was anything else, it was probably already in the landfill.

2000s

21 August 2004	Joel Martis of Joliet, Illinois bought the console from Scott Smith. When the organ was bought, it was missing its back, front kick board, music rest and swell shoes. Joel at the console of the Rialto Square Theatre Barton Grande 4/27 Sept 2021
August 2004 to 2008	Console: Restoration and painting started 2004 and completed 2008
	MIDI input output uMIDI controller boards, LCD, cable and connector kits and power supplies bought from Artisan on the 24 August 2008.
	Keyboards: The keyboards are original and before restored had real ivory on them. The ivory was in such bad shape they had to be re-covered using simulated Ivory “plastic” coverings. New felt, springs and other parts were purchased and on the 15 March 2005 the keyboards were sent to Rick McGee in Atlanta, GA for restoration. Completed 18 January 2008
	Pedal Board: 3 swell shoes from Arndt Organ Supply, Peterson pedal contacts and boards, 1st and 2nd touch. Two piano pedals and 20 Toe Pistons sent to Rick McGee to restore.
March 2009 to June 2011	Horseshoe: 230 Stop Action Magnates, 28 pistons, 16 lighted pistons from Syndyne, tab and piston engraving and other parts sent to Rick McGee in March 2009 to restore. Completed June 2011.
2012	Decorations added
2013	Saw the addition of two swing out trays and later Toe Pistons
	Due to problems with uMIDI output cards changed Stop Action Magnet boards to DTS MIDI Systems DC48 boards.


Condition of the organ when Joel Martis bought the instrument in 2004		Original hand engraved Tabs regretfully sold	23 September 2008 Console and keyboard Complete

18 April 2010 Pedal board, Swell Shoes, Piano pedals completed	Aug 2011 Horseshoe installed	2012 Decorations installed	March 2013 Swing out trays added

LH Swing out tray	RH Swing out tray	RH Toe Pistons	RH Toe Pistons

Wurlitzer Hope- Jones
Unit Orchestra plaque

Peterson Contacts
first and second touch

Console Close-up Nov 2021

Electronics

Is this really Opus 493 Console from the Indiana Theatre?

What happened to 493 up until Roy Davis Parted the instrument out is well documented. Carlton B. Smith of Carlton Smith Pipe Organ Restorations confirmed in an email to Joel Martis that Bill Milligan bought the instrument from Roy. Scott Smith has confirmed in an e-mail that he had picked up 493 from Bill.

Will The Real Opus 493 Console Please Stand Up!!!

The earliest high enough resolution photo we have of 493 is with Russ McCoy. Carlton B. Smith wrote: 2/26/2017 "(Picture Attached) That is Russ McCoy. He was a local music teacher in Terre Haute. That photo would be around 1965-67 when he and some friends got the Wurlitzer playing again. "

Going by the three photos above the following observations can be made:
The holes in the top align with the lights screwed to the lid of the horseshoe.
The wood grain on the side matches in all three photos (2021,1967, 2004)

Look for yourself click on the photo above to enlarge it and decide for yourself.

There can be no doubt that this is the same console as in the Russ McCoy photo 1967.
I have no reason to believe that the photo is not of Russ McCoy at the console in the Indiana Theatre Terre Haute, In
The photo also appears in the Indiana Theatre gallery's website.

Resources:
Indiana Theatre website history timeline and gallery.
Various online archived books and newspapers.
E-mails from Scott Smith, Carlton B. Smith to Joel Martis.
Journal of the American Theatre Organ Society May| June 2008 article The Indiana Theatre “Serving Your Entertainment” for 86 Years by Shawn D. Chase

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