The Columbia River Theatre Organ
Society is in the process of installing a theatre pipe organ in the
historic Hollywood theater in Portland. This installation is progressing
but it may be several years before the pipe organ is actually playing. A
Ken Crome built Wurlitzer replica console was purchased for the pipe
organ. This console had been attached to some Devtronix analog
electronics in its past.
As there are many scheduled silent picture events and
other opportunities at the Hollywood, it was decided to install a
virtual organ as an interim instrument. After some research and
experimentation, the Hauptwerk
virtual pipe organ software was chosen for the instrument. Hauptwerk was
chosen as it is the most advanced PC based virtual organ software
available. It is very flexible, stable and has many pipe organ sample
sets available for it.
The console specification has
recently been completely revised with the addition of some 60 new stops and 15 general pistons.
This sample set, produced by noted Australian organist Neil Jensen, is the
3/35 set from Key
Media Productions. It currently provides 23 virtual ranks of pipes, along with the typical array
of tuned and non-tonal
percussions, as well as sound effects that will be used
for the accompaniment of silent pictures.
The organ loudspeakers repose in the original
pipe chambers on either side of the proscenium. The audio system configuration is listed in the table below, and consists of 12 audio
channels that includes a bi-amplified subwoofer pedal channel.
Noted theater organist Donna Parker played the
dedication recital. Future Hollywood theatre events using the
virtual
organ are scheduled, including silent films.
Recent upgrades and additions to the instrument
include the addition of a second Tibia Clausa
and Vox Humana, Horn Diapason Celeste, and Vibraphone, and a software based reverb.
A second sub woofer has been added in parallel with the original sub, so
there is a subwoofer on each side of the stage.
About the Hollywood theatre
Opened on July 17, 1926, the Hollywood theatre has
continuously remained a beloved Portland landmark and community treasure
— even inspiring the name of the surrounding Hollywood District. With
over 1500 seats, the theatre was one of the most ornate neighborhood
theatres in the Pacific Northwest, readily identified by its unique
Byzantine rococo tower. The art deco interior, with its false balconies
and balustrades remains today, and are currently being restored under
the enthusiastic supervision of Film Action Oregon.
A
highlight of the theatre when first opened was its $40,000 Wurlitzer
pipe organ, used to accompany the movies and to augment the vaudeville
acts. In 1955, the 3/10 style “H” Wurlitzer was moved to the
Imperial skating rink in Portland, Oregon.
The original pipe chambers still exist and CRTOS is in the
process of refurbishing and installing a new Wurlitzer pipe organ in
those chambers.
