ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
From: Danny Ray, June 1998
The Worth Theatre Wurlitzer was purchased by the Walsh family
and donated to Casa Manana in Fort Worth. Jim Peterson
installed it in 1973 [?], and maintained it for a number of years. I
don't believe it has played in years. The last time I played it was for the
summer season in 1980, although I believe the Gwodtz Man has played it some
since then. The last time I went to Casa, for "Mame" last summer, it was lying
in state.
From: Jim Pitts, January 2012
Casa Manana was/is a theatre-in-the-round in Ft. Worth (30 miles west of Dallas).
The organ from the Worth Theatre was removed and placed in the Casa when the Worth closed and was slated for demolition.
I use the term "placed" for it was far from a suitable "installation."
There were grand schemes for the organ but I don't think any of them ever materialized.
It is encouraging to learn that the organ may soon have a suitable and properly installed home.
The organ was in rather poor repair before it left the downtown movie house and really wasn't treated very fairly in its second venue.
From: Lew Williams, February 2012
For those who are not informed about this venue, the organ is a Wurlitzer 3/11, style 235, installed 1927
in the Worth Theatre, Ft. Worth, TX. The Worth was THE big house in FW, and the best-known organist there was Billy Muth.
He was most popular during his tenure there.
One interesting change he made to the specification: 8' Tibia on Great 2nd Touch
became a 5-1/3' Tibia..............STILL on 2nd Touch.
It was decided to demolish/implode the Worth in early 1972.
An auction was held, and the organ was bought by the F. Howard Walsh Foundation for something like $35,000.
The instrument was removed by a local, dedicated crew before the axe fell.
In about 1972-73, it was decided that the organ would be installed at Casa Manana, a large, domed, "theatre in the round" venue.
Paul Forster, who had opened the organ in 1927, was brought in to play a cameo at
the grand opening, which was given by the late Rex Koury.
After this, the organ played prelude music for most of the live musicals (Fiddler on the Roof, No, No Nanette, etc)
during the summer season. Dan Bellomy was one of the featured organist at that time.
At some point in recent years, the theatre was remodeled.
The center stage was done away with, and the organ removed.
At last report, the organ is in storage, awaiting a new home.