3/10 Mighty Möller
Theatre Pipe Organ
Rylander Theatre
Americus, Georgia.

This month's featured organ is the Frank Sheffield Memorial 3/10 Mighty Möller Theatre Pipe Organ Opus#5351, installed at the Rylander Theatre in Americus, Georgia. Built in 1928, it was a gift to the theatre from a private individual organ lover and was lovingly restored and installed in The Rylander Theatre in 1999. The Inaugural concert for the instrument was held on October 30, 1999.

Built in 1921 by Americus businessman Walter Rylander, this theatre hosted live entertainment and motion pictures until its closure in 1951. Designed by C.K. Howell of New York, the Rylander was (and is!) a visual feast of ornate plaster work, stencils, and painted murals. Closed for over 40 years, the theatre reopened in October, 1999 with former president Jimmy Carter and his first lady in attendance.

In a second inaugural on October 31, 1999, the Rylander's Frank Sheffield Memorial 3/10 Mighty Möller Theatre Pipe Organ was dedicated with the talented Ron Rhode at the console (this was the third organ to be installed in the theatre after a small Kimball and later a Robert-Morton performed silent film duties.)

Since then, numerous first tier theatre organists have been featured here, and the organ has been professionally recorded by Ron Rhode. The organ is often featured prior to shows and in concert. Dr. Fred Boska serves as house organist, assisted by John McCall and other members of the Atlanta Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, an organization that has had a close association with the Rylander.

The restoration architect was Lane Green who has won several honors and awards for his effort at the Rylander. The theatre's restoration was spearheaded by Americus' "Renaissance Man", former mayor Russell Thomas and his wife, Andrea.

Americus businessman Walter Rylander began construction of one of the South's premier performance theatres and movie palaces in 1919. After a year and a half, the Rylander Theatre opened the doors for its first live performance, the hit play Lightnin on January 21, 1921, and was called "The Finest Playhouse South of Atlanta." Three weeks later, the Rylander presented its first movie double feature with Mary Pickford's The Love Light and Harold Lloyd's Get Out and Get Under. Through most of the next 30 years, it hosted the finest in live entertainment and motion pictures and finally closed in 1951.

Designed by C.K. Howell of New York with interior design by William Saling, also of New York, the Rylander Theatre was a visual feast of ornate plaster work, beautiful stencil patterns, and painted murals. Closed for more than 40 years, the theatre still has much of its original grandeur intact. Having reopened after an extensive restoration (4.8 million dollars), the Rylander Theatre is nothing less than stunning and is once again reclaiming its title as "The Finest Playhouse South of Atlanta."

The Rylander Theatre reopened October 1, 1999 in Celebration of President Carter's birthday. The Auditorium was named in his honor. Here, we see the Main chamber grillwork in the auditorium to the left of the stage.

This is a view of the Solo chamber grillwork in the auditorium to the right of the stage.

Here, we see the restored auditorium, looking toward the stage. The Rylander Theatre seats over 600 on three levels, the orchestra, balcony, and the gallery. The restored Theater looks exactly as it did in 1921 but is equipped with comfortable new seats and state of the art theatrical equipment.

When Tom Hoehn performed at the Rylander Theatre, the cameras were rolling. Not only did we get some spectacular stills during the show, some nice video clips were also obtained, three of which can be seen below. To play a video, just click on the play button in the center of the picture. Enjoy!

During the shows Tom Hoehn provided Theatre Pipe Organ accompaniment for, the cameras were rolling and we obtained some spectacular shots for you to enjoy. As we get these edited, they will be posted below. Stay tuned...