The Coleman Theatre in Miami, Oklahoma, is marking the 20th anniversary of the homecoming of itsMighty Wurlitzer pipe organ.
The organ was built in 1928 and installed at the theater before its opening a year later, reported the Joplin Globe.
One of the heroes in the Mighty Wurlitzer’s rebirth two decades ago was a Texan more than 350 miles away. When the Coleman fell on hard times during the 1970s, its owners sold the organ to a Tulsa televangelist, who later sold it to Jim Peterson, an organ enthusiast from Burleson, Texas.
When preservationists from Miami came calling in the mid-1990s to get the organ back in the theater, Peterson made a deal they couldn’t refuse:
“He was impressed with what he saw and the sincerity of their efforts,” Duhon said. “He agreed to sell it with one condition: He had to be the one to bring it back and install it, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
The organ celebrated its homecoming to the theater in May 1996. For many years afterward, Peterson traveled from his home in Texas to Miami three or four times each year to maintain the organ, updating the manual switches to digital switches and adding a digital recording device that allows theater management to record and replay tunes on the organ.
Peterson’s declining health has forced him to give up his upkeep of the Mighty Wurlitzer. The organ’s maintenance now falls to Red River Pipe Organ Co. of Norman, Oklahoma.
More facts about Miami’s Mighty Wurlitzer:
- It’s designed to not simply sound like an organ, but a full orchestra, complete with percussion and sound effects.
- The organ contains more than 1,000 pipes.
- Buying back the organ cost $85,000. The organ now is worth more than $300,000.
- The age and complexity of the Mighty Wurlitzer make maintenance and repairs challenging.
Here’s what the organ sounds like, in all its glory:
Coleman guides show the organ during tours, and it’s used a few times a year for concerts or silent films. The next show by the Wurlitzer’s performance master, Dennis James, is a screening of the 1929 silent comedy “Why Be Good?” on March 5-6.
(Image of the Mighty Wurlitzer via Coleman Theatre website)
My husband and I toured Route 66 this past summer, and we stumbled onto the Coleman Theater. We were so impressed, I couldn’t help but write about it on our blog, http://www.gettinourkicks.com. This seems like such an ignored little gem. Not only is the organ great to hear, the building itself is a fabulous example of the later “gilded era” in the 30s. The town is justifiably proud of their theater, and volunteers were on hand to give us a spontaneous, free tour. In my opinion, it was one of the best examples of community based preservation the we saw all along the way. This little gem turned out to be a highlight of our trip! I would highly recommend including it as a “don’t miss” piece of anyone’s Route 66 itinerary
I have to echo Betty’s comments. I fear it’s too often overlooked by travelers on 66, but it’s a “must-see” on our list of 66 highlights. A stop at the Coleman was also one of the highlights of our trip on 66 several years ago. The place is amazing, as are its history and its preservation. The volunteers we met were quite thorough on the tour we received. I only wish we could be there for one of the events scheduled for the theater. Maybe some day.
Agreed! Wouldn’t that be fabulous!