ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
From: Tom Blackwell, 15 March 2008
Several of us in PSTOS were very involved in this.
The theatre tracked down the organ in Clute, Texas using information found on the PSTOS website.
We helped with an inventory and assessment of the instrument (we even talked ATOS President Ken Double,
who lives near Houston, into driving down to Clute with Dick Willson to have a look. Nice guys, Ken & Dick!).
We negotiated a favorable truck rental rate for them and assembled a tools/materials list. One of our members,
Dave Luttinen, flew down to help build proper pipe crates and load everything into the truck.
Watch this page link for updates with photos and more information:
http://www.pstos.org/instruments/wa/hoquiam/7th-street.htm
Much of the organ is in poor shape. The console was "Balcomized" to a three-manual by
Balcom & Vaughan after it was removed from the theatre and most of the theatre
stuff (percussions, traps, etc.) removed before installation in a Parkland
church (near Tacoma) in the 1940's. We explained to the theatre that organs in much better
condition could be found for less cost or even "free" here locally, but the theatre wanted the
original organ only. We can relate to that! They understand there is an enormous amount of work
to be done to get it playing, but they appear to have strong community support and financial
backing. They are pumped up!
At this point, once the organ arrives in Hoquiam, we will assist further with an honest
assessment of what it will take to get the organ playing again using a combination of
professional and volunteer labor.
The 7th Street Theatre, only atmospheric-style theatre in Washington state, is quite
large (1,300+ seats I believe) so they will ultimately need a larger instrument than a
Style B (4 ranks) for it to be truly successful.