CROC
Returns to Oaks Park
The Oaks
Park Open Console and Picnic presents
a rare opportunity to play one of only two
remaining theatre organs installed in a roller
rink.
On
July 26
CROC will hold their annual Oaks Park Open Console
and Picnic. The concert presents a rare
opportunity to play one of only two
remaining theatre organs installed in a
roller rink in the United States. Experience
the excitement of sitting down at the 4-manual
Wurlitzer console that controls 18 ranks of pipes
suspended from the middle of the rink ceiling!
Unlike traditional theatre organ
installations where the pipes are enclosed in
chambers, this is not the case at The Oaks—all
18 ranks are exposed to the skaters and audience.
Therefore, expression is achieved by
careful selection of which and how many ranks of
pipes are in use.
Even if you don’t play, it’s thrilling
to listen to the sound of the organ and hear how
it changes as you walk around the rink floor—in
your stocking feet, of course.
Oaks Rink staff organist and CROC member, Keith
Fortune, will be on hand to help us with the
complexities of this marvelous instrument.
There is a nominal $4 charge to help defray
the cost of the building rental.
To
reach the park, look for Oaks Park signs at the
east end of the Sellwood Bridge. Follow the road
signs to the park.
Enter the parking area by turning into the
north lot entrance, which is in front of a big
green building. The Rink is at the northernmost
end of the park.
You can park in that lot or go around
behind the rink and park as close to the rink as
you can—often right in front if you arrive
early. If
you cannot attend the open console, please join us
for the picnic at Noon.
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 About
the Oaks Park
Surrounded
by the same stately trees for which it was named, The
Oaks, celebrates its 98th consecutive year
of operation in 2003, making it one of the oldest continuously
operating amusement parks in America.
Built by the
Oregon Water Power and Navigation Company, the park opened its
gates on May 30, 1905. In
keeping with the design of other "Trolley Parks"
across the country, most of its visitors disembarked from
trolley cars, which ran along the Portland-to-Oregon City
tracks forming the eastern boundary of the park.
Edward H. Bollinger purchased the park comprising of
more than 44 acres in 1943 from the Portland Electric Power
Company. Ownership
passed to Edward’s son, Robert, in 1949, who continued to
operate the park until January 1, 1985, at which time he
donated The Oaks to a non-profit corporation he had formed to
perpetuate the park.
The current
Theatre Organ is a 4-manual, 18-rank Wurlitzer from the
Broadway Theatre, Portland.
It was built for the theatre in 1926 and moved to The
Oaks in1955.
The first
organ at The Oaks was a 2-manual, 5-rank William Woods (a
local builder), which was expanded to a 4-manual, 13-rank
instrument, which is now in a Newport, Oregon in the home of
member Arthur Allen. Prior
to the Woods organ, a live orchestra played from above the
rink floor.
The Wurlitzer
has had the Dulciana removed and replaced with a Gamba, and a
Robert-Morton Post Horn was added.
The relays are all original.
Bring
your own picnic lunch to enjoy with friends after the open
console. There
are picnic tables reserved down by the river—
From
the Rink entrance, head towards the river by going around the
“kiddie” ride. Follow
the pathway around a big tree with a sign on it that reads
“Riverview 1.”
The pathway turns to the right around this tree.
Just a short distance in front of you, you will see a
sign that reads “Section 16.”
Immediately to the left of Section 16 is our spot.
Look for the picnic tables with the CROC signs.
The park amusements will be open for everyone to enjoy.
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