December 31, 2011
December 31, 2011
April, 2013. Entire organ installed house right
Console restored, March 2012
Wurlitzer opus 490 was installed in the Virginia Theatre shortly before the theatre opened on December 28, 1921. Originally a Style 185 2/7, it was upgraded by Wurlitzer in June 1924 to a Style 185 Special with the addition of the 8' Tibia Clausa. A 16' relay addition was made in 1928.
David Junchen worked on this organ beginning in October 1963 while an Electrical Engineering student at the University of Illinois, bringing it to life after 18 years. A short article appeared in the Summer 1966 issue of Theatre Organ magazine, and excerpts from letters written to Henry Przybylski in 1967 were published in the July-August 2022 issue.
The organ again fell silent after Junchen's graduation but was reawakened 20 years later by Warren York and a small crew of volunteers. During the 1990's, various minor additions were made, including effects such as duck call, surf, and jazz/tap cymbal.
A special variety show on May 5, 1991 sold out the theatre, with the organ prominently featured. The Chorale sang the music of Stephen Foster, the audience participated in a sing-along using historic glass slides from the theatre's extensive collection, and Warren York gave a demonstration of the Wurlitzer. On December 31, 1991, a near-capacity audience attended the first annual News Year's Eve variety show, which followed closely the format of the May 5 program.
Until 2009, the organ was regularly played, primarily by Warren York, prior to and during intermissions for events. With the exception of 1995, Warren also provided pre-show, intermission, and sing-along accompaniment music for each annual New Year's Eve program until December 31, 2008, when a plaque was presented to honor him and future house organists. The plaque, and official knowledge of its existence, has disappeared. Due to declining health, Warren was unable to play the Virginia's Wurlitzer during 2009, and Michael Hammer, The Chorale's accompanist, took the console for the New Year's Eve program. Hammer played an electronic instrument brought in for the New Year's Eve programs in 2010 and 2011, returning to the refurbished Wurlitzer in 2013 and 2014.
John-Paul Buzard Pipe Organ Builders removed the Wurlitzer from the Virginia in December of 2010 for a complete rebuild. They began reinstallation of the organ on January 25, 2012 and, as a memorial to Warren York and his years of service as house organist at the Virginia Theatre, have enlarged it to a Style 216 with the addition of two additional Wurlitzer ranks (Orchestral Oboe and English Post Horn) as well as incorporating a 2' Tibia extension originally built in 1998 by Douglas Cable & Associates of Long Beach, California. A 2011 video can be seen here.
The Virginia was closed for renovation from May 2012 until early April 2013, reopening with a public Open House on April 13 and featuring Danville, Illinois' David Schroeder on the organ.
Those interested in volunteering to play the Wurlitzer should call the Virginia Theatre.
Rank List:
Tremulants: Main, Tibia Clausa, Vox Humana, Tuba Horn, English Horn
A detailed stoplist can be seen at pages maintained by Buzard Pipe Organ Builders, ATOS and OHS.
Milan Digital Audio has digitally sampled the instrument (prior to the Buzard rebuild) for Hauptwerk Virtual Pipe Organ systems.
Wurlitzer concerts and other notable uses:
A program to rededicate the organ was held on March 31, 2012 at 7:00 PM, with Chris Gorsuch as the featured artist.
Ebertfest preludes with Mark Noller:
April 25, 2012
April 17, 2013, with a sing-along of "Those Were the Days", with lyrics written by Roger and accompanied by Mark on the Wurlitzer.
April 23, 2014
April 15, 2015
April 13 & 16, 2016
April 19, 2017
Dave Schroeder, the Virginia's house organist, played the Wurlitzer for Ebertfest 2018, 2019, and 2022.
On October 5, 2013, Mark Herman, ATOS' 2012 Organist of the Year and 2004 winner of the ATOS Young Theatre Organist competition, presented a program honoring the late Warren York, who maintained the Wurlitzer for nearly 20 years before his death in 2011.
On September 13, 2014, Mark Gifford entertained us with a variety of music and accompanied Buster Keaton's One Week (1920).
Mark Gifford returned on March 18, 2016, accompanying The King of Kings (1927) and again on March 25, 2017, with Buster Keaton's The General (1926).
On September 9, 2017, Richard Hills, ATOS' 2010 Organist of the Year and 1995 winner of the ATOS Young Theatre Organist competition, performed a variety of popular selections and accompanied two short Keaton films, One Week (1920) and The High Sign (1921).
To celebrate the Virginia's 100th Anniversary in 2021 (season brochure), an Open House event was held on September 25, 2021, with a variety of artists, including Chicago's Jay Warren, who played the Wurlitzer to Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill, Jr. (1928).
May 21, 2022, Steven Ball accompanied Harold Lloyd's Safety Last! (1923).
October 15, 2022, Steven Ball returned with Nosferatu (1922).
May 25, 2024, Jay Warren returned with Lon Chaney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923).
September 6, 2025, Steven Ball with The Phantom of the Opera (1925).
Melissa Merli's tribute to Warren in Champaign's News-Gazette.
Management and Operation since 1992:
During the first half of the 1990's, the number of movie screens in the Champaign-Urbana-Savoy area more than doubled, from 17 to 44, resulting in the Virginia's final showing of a first-run film (Father of the Bride) on February 13, 1992. Local gospel singer David Wyper leased the theatre from GKC Theatres and operated the facility as a live performance venue featuring local community theatre, touring Broadway productions, country, rock, band, Christian, gospel, and classical concerts. Wyper and a number of other community members formed the Virginia Theatre Group to purchase, renovate, and use the theatre as a place for the Champaign-Urbana community to enjoy high quality entertainment. The building was sold to the VTG in December 1995, with the assistance of a loan by the City of Champaign. In 1998, a public fundraising campaign began, and the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company merged with the Virginia Theatre Group to form a new organization, CUTC at the Virginia, to operate and manage the historic facility. In January 2000, the Champaign Park District became owner-operator of the Virginia Theatre.
Leadership:
Spring 1992 - Summer 1996 / David Wyper, Operator
Summer 1996 - 2000 / John Eby, Managing Director
March 2000 - May 2001 / Barbara Edfors, Managing Director
Summer 2001 / Anne Scouffas, Interim Director
September 2001 - Summer 2004 / Rebecca Cain, Managing Director
Summer 2004 - January 2011 / Jameel Jones, Manager
2011 - present / Steven Bentz, Director
Facilities:
In 1999, a State of Illinois grant of $900,000 and forgiveness of loans enabled many needed behind-the-scenes repairs and upgrades to the building, overseen by the Cleveland firm Westlake Reed Leskosky (then called van Dijk Pace Westlake Architects, acquired in 2018 by DLR Group). Decorative restoration of selected lobby panels was begun by Evergreene Painting Studios (now EverGreene Architectural Arts, Inc.) in April 2000, to show how the theatre would look after restoration. Additionally, extensive work was begun in order to provide new lobby and restroom facilities, as well as to upgrade those remaining from 1921.
Other changes to the facility during the summer of 2000 included the replacement of the 22' 4.5" x 54' curved movie screen with a slightly smaller (22' x 46') flat screen which can be flown off of the stage. The theatre re-opened without completed restrooms, but CUTC's production of "Once Upon a Mattress" was successfully presented October 19-22, 2000. The stage footlights were removed on December 28. Accessible restrooms on the main floor were completed in May 2001. The much-needed women's restroom facility in the basement opened on November 1, 2001. Enlargement and remodeling of the box office began in February 2002 and was completed later in the year. In the summer of 2003, star dressing rooms, laundry, kitchen, and shower facilities were added to the basement and backstage areas, and new carpeting was installed throughout the theatre the week of December 14. It was announced at the 2003 New Year's Eve celebration that the Virginia had been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
In June 2005, the orchestra pit had been lowered and the stage modified to be extendable over the pit. Tuckpointing of the stage tower was done during summer 2005 and more exterior emergency exit doors replaced. By January 2006, the ceiling (front of house, above proscenium) plaster had been repaired and repainted. Remodeling of the east lobby began in January 2007, with window replacement in September and completion by the end of the year. On June 26, 2005, Dreamscape Cinema shot portions of their film Act Your Age at the Virginia because of its similarity to a Broadway theatre, and the film was premiered at the Virginia on November 14, 2007. A new traveling curtain was installed in December 2007.
The Virginia suspended operations in June 2010 to enable renovation of both upstairs and downstairs lobbies. Replacement of windows, doors, the concession area, and carpeting continued through mid-November, and the removal of the neon marquee, which had been installed in February 1937 (Champaign News-Gazette, February 10, 1937), occurred on November 16, 2010. The new marquee was installed August 31, 2011. Upstairs restroom renovation began in 2011, with the men's room finished by December (no additional facilities were created, but the windows overlooking Randolph Street remain). The upstairs women's restroom was enlarged and reopened in March 2012. The Virginia closed in May 2012 for final stages of renovation, including elevators, stage lighting, and the much-anticipated redecoration of the auditorium (see Broeren-Russo's photos), re-opening with a sneak preview on April 11, 2013 and a public Open House on April 13. It closed again for several weeks in 2013 for further renovation, which included replacement of the decorative roof above the projection booth.
During the 2020/21 Covid-19 pandemic closure, new sound and air handling systems were installed, and decorative plaster repairs were made to areas throughout the building. The east fire escape was refurbished in 2022. From January into April 2025, the Virginia closed to replace/upgrade the computer-controlled backstage fly system and for periodic paint/plaster and equipment maintenance. Further news about this was posted on August 13, 2024.
Media:
Champaign-Urbana's local alternative weekly newspaper, then known as The Octopus, ran a feature article on the Wurlitzer in the issue for the week of December 8-14, 2000. Renamed CU Cityview, then reborn as The Paper, and later renamed The Hub, it featured the theatre and Ebertfest extensively in its April 26-May 2, 2002 issue. The Champaign News-Gazette announced the start of the Virginia's fund-raising drive in May 2002, and has also sponsored a successful annual film series since Fall 2000. They have also contributed over $50,000 to upgrade the projection booth with a second 35mm/70mm projector (which joins the existing veteran of over 30 years), as well as other equipment. A front page article appeared in the March 31, 2012 News-Gazette, and photos can be seen here and here.
Local Public Radio station WILL AM-580 ran a six-minute spot as a part of their weekly program Sidetrack on June 6 and 9, 2001. It included an interview with and a demonstration of the organ by Warren York. This file contains the segment, which is no longer available at WILL's site. Video and audio links documenting the Wurlitzer restoration project are here.
Smile Politely, Champaign-Urbana’s oniine culture magazine, posted an excellent write-up of the September 6, 2025 performances by Dr. Steven Ball on the Wurlitzer.
Roger Ebert's Cyberfest and Ebertfest:
March 1997's sold out presentation of a beautiful 70mm print of 2001: A Space Odyssey was part of Cyberfest, the University of Illinois' celebration of HAL's birth in Urbana, Illinois, and was hosted by Urbana native Roger Ebert. It was the precursor to the first Overlooked Film Festival, which was held at the Virginia April 22-24, 1999. Ebert hosted lectures, panel discussions, and introduced each film.
Every Ebertfest has included at least one silent film, although only one has featured the Wurlitzer.
1999 Battleship Potemkin (1925) was accompanied by Concrete Orchestra
2000 The Last Laugh (1924) and Un Chien Andalou (1929), also accompanied by Concrete Orchestra
2001 Nosferatu (1922) and short film Dragonflies, the Baby Cries (2002), with Cambridge, Massachusetts' Alloy Orchestra, which disbanded in 2021
2002 Metropolis (1927), Alloy Orchestra
2003 Featured three silent film events:
* The Black Pirate (1926) in two-strip Technicolor, Alloy Orchestra
* Los Angeles' Silent Movie Theatre's presentation of
The Golden Age of Silent Comedy, with Dean Mora on the Wurlitzer and piano
* The Grey Automobile, with possibly the strangest
form of silent film accompaniment, Mexican-Japanese Benshi
2004 The General (1926), Alloy Orchestra
2005 The Phantom of the Opera (1925), Alloy Orchestra
2006 The Eagle (1925), Alloy Orchestra
2007 Sadie Thompson (1928) with The Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra
2008 Underworld (1927), Alloy Orchestra
2009 The Last Command (1928), Alloy Orchestra
2010 Man With a Movie Camera (1929), Alloy Orchestra
2011 Metropolis (1927), with additional restored footage, Alloy Orchestra
2012 Wild AND Weird: The Alloy Orchestra Plays 10 Fascinating and Innovative Films 1906-1926, Alloy Orchestra
2013 Blancanieves (2012), Alloy Orchestra
2014 He Who Gets Slapped (1924), Alloy Orchestra
2015 Son of the Sheik (1926), Alloy Orchestra
2016 featured two silent films:
* L’Inhumaine (1924), Alloy Orchestra
* Body and Soul (1925), with Renee Baker and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project
2017 Varieté (1925), Alloy Orchestra
2018 A Page of Madness (1926), Alloy Orchestra
2019 Coeur fidèle / The Faithful Heart (1923), Alloy Orchestra
2020-2021 Ebertfest was not held, due to the Covid-19 pandemic
2022 Renee Baker and the Chicago Modern Orchestra Project returned to accompany Siren of the Tropics (1927)
2023 The Alloy Orchestra became the Anvil Orchestra, who brought their sound to The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920)
2024 The Anvil Orchestra returned to accompany Alfred Hitchcock's Blackmail (1929)
2025 The Adventures of Prince Achmed (1926), Anvil Orchestra
At the 15th Ebertfest (2013), Shatterglass Studios released an iPad app containing festival programs, links to the films, panel discussion videos, and more. However, it was not updated beyond the 16th (2014) festival and has been removed from the App Store.
Shatterglass has also produced several documentary films on the festival:
Ebertfest 2011
Ebertfest 2012
Ebertfest 2013
Ebertfest 2014
Ebertfest 2015
Ebertfest 2016
Ebertfest 2017
Ebertfest 2018
Ebertfest 2019
The block of Park Avenue in front of the theatre was given the name Honorary Roger Ebert Boulevard in 2002 and renewed for ten years in 2012 by the City of Champaign. Its status as an Honorary Street is "Retired".
Photos from Ebertfest:
Warren York at the console, 2005.
Again, at the console in 2005, copied from the now-defunct efilmcritic.com.
Another shot at the console, 2005.
Another photograph from 2005, with Roger. This and the previous photo were copied from Roger Ebert's site before they disappeared.
Warren York at the console, 2007.
A shot of Warren with his red socks at Roger Ebert's site from 2007, near the bottom of the page.
Other organ-related and silent film events:
Warren York played pre-show, intermission, and incidental music, in addition to providing sound effects with the Wurlitzer for the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company's production of "You Can't Take It With You" on September 10-12, 1999.
To mark Halloween 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2005, Warren York accompanied Phantom of the Opera (1925) on the Wurlitzer.
For the weekend of February 9, 2003, The Alloy Orchestra came to the Virginia to accompany Harold Lloyd's Speedy (1928) and several short films starring Fatty Arbuckle and Buster Keaton.
On April 1, 2005, members and guests of the St. Louis Theatre Organ Society visited the Virginia, and Warren York presented a short program on the Wurlitzer as part of the group's SLTOS Extravaganza.
For further information on theatre pipe organs and the American Theatre Organ Society,
please see the Theatre Organ Home Page and
ATOS.
Central Illinois Chapter of the
American Theatre Organ Society contact information
can be found at ATOS' Chapter List.
modified 10 september 2025 by chris anderson
