The BAC-ATOS uses and has access to a few organs locally for concerts, open consoles sessions, meetings, etc.. Though the chapter does not actually own any of the organs, we help to promote a positive interest and usage of each organ in its setting.
3m / 17r Riviera Theatre Wurlitzer Organ
(picture courtesy of Kevin Saky)
Many members of the BAC-ATOS also belong to the Riviera Theatre & Organ Preservation Society which owns the Riviera Theatre in North Tonawanda, NY. Here they work on all sorts of projects, from updating the theatre to helping restore the 3 manual 1926 Wurlitzer Organ. Members often have the opportunity to play or hear this organ in monthly concerts. Also, several joint activities have helped to bring the two organizations closer together and future collaborations are expected.
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4m / 29r Sheas Buffalo Wurlitzer Organ
The BAC-ATOS has strong roots connecting to Shea's Buffalo Theatre; a well preserved downtown motion picture palace with over 3,000 seats built in 1926 by the Paramount Publix Corporation and designed by Rapp & Rapp. Like the Riviera Theatre organ the Shea's Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ is one of the few original and intact installations in the country. It is around this instrument that the BAC-ATOS was actually formed following its restoration in 1984. The chapter has had numerous meetings, open console sessions, and has sponsored several concert series which brought artists of national recognition to play this fine organ.
2m Wurlitzer Organ - Lockport Seniors Center
You can always find a BAC member attending a concert, open console session or meeting held at the Lockport Senior Citizen Center. It is home to the Lockport Theatre Organ Society's 2 manual Mighty Wurlitzer which was acquired by the society from the late Harold Hontz (long time organ enthusiast from the Western New York area).
Dual Console 3m / 35r Heritage/Wurlitzer Organ
What do you get when you take a 3 manual ballroom Wurlitzer, rebuild and enlarge it to 35 ranks, add a second console, and install it in a hard plaster building with over 5 seconds of reverb (including carpet)? The answer is the twin console 3/35 1992 Heritage Organ installed at All Saints RC Church in Buffalo, NY.
Buffalonians will recall this organ was featured on radio broadcasts from the Statler Hotel in its hey day. The chapter is welcome to hold meetings in the church in addition to private appointments to play the organ.
2m Wurlitzer Mortuary Organ
This dandy little late vintage unaltered Wurlitzer organ was installed behind a large solid glass window in the Crematory Chapel of Forest Lawn Cemetery. Although no formal concerts have ever been presented here, the organ still enjoys usage during services and when the occasional organ buff has wandered into the management's office at what is one of the nations finest landscaped cemetery. The organ has some of the most refined voices by the Wurlitzer company, including a very warm "principal-like" Open Diapason, smooth strings, and even volume controlled chimes. Organ expression is maximized by use of the unique "studio" shades instead of the typical Wurlitzer swell shades.
2m / 3r Custom Built Theatre Organ
One of the club's members built a small 2/3 theatre organ which is installed in the basement of his home. The pipework includes a flute/tibia, string and trumpet. Of special interest are the pipe chests which were all fabricated by the owner and utilize a Marr and Colton electro-pneumatic action. The organ also contains a Wurlitzer xylophone, electric glockenspiel and chimes plus a small toy counter. The pipework and percussions for the organ only consume a space of 4 feet by 8 feet. The console was also fabricated from scratch using oak and oak veneers. Even the keyboards and individual keys were hand crafted using white and gold formica for keytop coverings. A small theatre is setup in the basement of the home complete with projection booth for showing silent movies to small groups.
2m / 7r Marr & Colton – Moller Theatre Organ
The latest addition to the Western New York theatre organ scene is a 2/7 organ being assembled by club member Andrew Wos in his home. The core of the instrument was a 2/8 Moller church organ. To make the organ more ‘theatrical’, a Marr & Colton 2 manual, double bolster horseshoe console, theatre trems and percussions were added. Additional percussions and piano are playable via MIDI. Component restoration and installation is still in progress.
Roland Digital Synthesizer Theatre Organ
While not a theatre pipe organ, the incredible sound of this setup helps bring the sound of the theatre organ where ever it is needed. Consisting of 3 Roland keyboards and a single octave pedal board plus additional tone modules the sound of the sound of the 'Unit Orchestra' can go almost anywhere. The various tone qualities of several area Wurlitzers were studied and programmed into these units by one of our members. Programming took several years and is constantly being refined just as with a real pipe organ. The club has been fortunate to have use of this setup for several parties and functions both indoors and out. The owner also travels to many senior centers and nursing homes to bring the sounds of the 'Mighty Wurlitzer' to those who may not be able to attend a concert at a theatre.
