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Liberty (Fox) Theatre -

  • 1st organ: 2/8 Wurlitzer Style F "Special" 1924-1930
  • 2nd organ: 2/5 Wurlitzer "Style B" mid 1930s - late 1940s
     
    Astoria, Oregon
    1203 Commercial St.
     
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    Opening night, 1925. Photo courtesy: THE COMPLEAT PHOTOGRAPHER
     
    The Liberty Theatre opened in 1925. A Style F "Special" Wurlitzer, opus 949, was shipped from the factory in November 1924. The "Special" designation was due to the addition of a marimba and piano.
     
    Click for a larger version of this image (22K) In 1930, the organ was removed and sold to the Mayan Theatre in Denver, Colorado. This disagrees with the Judd Walton opus lists which indicate 1926 as the removal date.
     
    <--- The inscription here was found on the empty organ chamber wall during a recent rennovation of the theatre. It is 2-3 feet long, written with heavy black pencil. Photo courtesy Larry Bryant.
     
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    c.1925
     
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    Commercial Street, c.1930
     
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    Commercial Street, c.1930s
     
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    Commercial Street, c.1940s. Liberty Theatre on left.
     
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    c.1946
     

    Commercial Street, c.1953. Liberty Theatre on right.
     
    In 1945, the organ was sold to R.C. & Edith Maddy of Denver. It was removed from the Mayan Theatre over the course of three years and eventually installed in their home.
     
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    Edith Maddy with the console
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    R.C. in the chamber


    In the mid-1930's, another Wurlitzer was installed at the Liberty Theatre. It was the 2/4 Style B from the Astoria Theatre across the street. This organ remained in the Liberty Theatre until the late 1940's when it was purchased by Bill Blunk.
     
    The organ was moved and/or sold several more times:


     
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    Liberty Theatre entrance, 2013. Photo courtesy, Jeff Fox


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