The Rylander Theatre in Americus Georgia (approx. 135 miles south of Atlanta) has undergone a complete restoration. The historic Windsor Hotel's restoration was finished earlier along with many other downtown structural improvements.
John McCall, Atlanta Chapter member and theatre organ 'evangelist', discovered this renovation project at its beginning stage. He approached the restoration committee about the possibility of installing (returning) a pipe organ to the theatre. The theatre opened on January 21, 1921 with a small Kimball unit orchestra. In 1926 the Gortatowsky Brothers of Albany, Georgia assumed management of the theatre and on 11/4/27 a Robert Morton theatre organ replaced the Kimball at a costs of $12,740.
After several meetings between interested parties, a Möller theatre pipe organ was installed in the theatre! This organ, generously donated to the Rylander Theatre by AC/ATOS member James Thrower, has been completely rebuilt. Thanks to the generosity of Anne and Bradley Hale, the refurbishment and installation was done by the A.E. Schlueter Organ Company of Lithonia, Georgia.
Mrs. Hale's father, Frank Sheffield of Americus (of Sheffield Hardware fame) once played at the Rylander and was an organist and enthusiast all his life. The Möller organ, opus 5351, originally from the Riveria Theatre, Scranton, Pennsylvania will be named the "Frank Sheffield Memorial Organ". It was originally a Style 70 consisting of 3 manuals and 7 ranks. After leaving the Scranton, a partial installation into Atlanta's East Point theatre began in the 1970s. However, when this project was abandoned, the organ was purchased by Mr. Thrower and placed in storage. As currently installed, the now organ consist of 11 ranks of pipes and a full compliment of tuned percussions and traps. Due to space considerations, a solid state relay and stop action magnets replaced the orginal mechanical relay and console stop pneumatics respectfully.
The new renovated Rylander Theatre had its grand opening in the Fall of 1999. The inaugural organ concert was held on October 30th with internationally known artist Ron Rhode. See the links below for early pictures of the renovation. Visit the Rylander Home Page for current pictures and performance schedule.
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