The Dairyland Theatre Organ Society, a chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, was established on May 30th, 1969 - Dan Barton's birthday.  On January 1, 1970, the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) issued Charter Certificate #36 to Dairyland, making us an official ATOS chapter.

On October 28, 1970, we presented our first public concert at Racine's Capitol Theatre with John Muri presiding at the console.  (This organ was later moved to the Racine Theatre Guild Playhouse, with Mr. Muri again playing the dedicatory program on February 21, 1982)  The same year, our inaugural concert at Milwaukee's Avalon Theatre took place, with Tom Gnaster as artist.  The first DTOS public program at the Riverside Theatre occurred on April 26, 1981, with Walter Strony debuting the newly restored Wurlitzer.

The Dairyland Chapter hosted the ATOS 1991 Regional Convention, the success of which prompted us to bid for the 2000 National Convention, which took place July 27 - August 2, 2000.  Dairyland once again hosted the national convention in July, 2004.