7 manual pipe/digital hybrid going to California

[radagast]

The console was made by R.A. Colby. The digital ranks are by Walker Technical. The bottom manual has 88 keys, with the keys above and below the normal 61 notes are color reversed. It will have over 800 stops. It will many gigabytes of samples and will include theatre, classical, and orchestral sounds.


http://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrgan/News.html

http://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrgan/Home.html

http://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrg...-_Enlarge.html

[Admin]

Old news.

The Castro had a very fine Wurlitzer pipe organ until a few years ago when it was removed for reasons that are not entirely clear to me, but that, apparently, might have been avoided. Anyway, the decision to replace it with an electronic instrument has not gone over well with most enthusiasts, not only because it's electronic, but because it is not strictly a theatre organ. David Hegarty has been attempting to raise money for this project for several years. The San Francisco Examiner reported in June of this year, that $400,000 of the $1,000,000 goal required for completion and installation has been raised. Because of the unwieldy size and cost of the instrument being constructed, and the fact that less expensive pipe or electronic alternatives that are more in keeping with the theatre's history are readily available, many regard this as vanity project that is unlikely to be completed. I guess some people are obsessed with the size of their organs. :>)

[beel m]

A million $$ for an electronic organ????!!! Of course, to keep it in perspective, IIRC 2 or 3 million was spent just to replace some of the Wanamaker Organ's *blowers*.

[radagast]

Well from the pictures it looks like Colby is finished with the console. I know this has been in development for a while, but if these stories are to be believed, the project is going ahead with the console going to Walker for installation of the digital voices. The links also report that Organ pipes have been donated for this instrument. So it seems the chances for this are better than some suppose. And why was this moved when it’s supposed to have symphonic and classical organ stops? The theatre stops are only part of it.

[Admin]

Well from the pictures it looks like Colby is finished with the console. I know this has been in development for a while, but if these stories are to be believed, the project is going ahead with the console going to Walker for installation of the digital voices. The links also report that Organ pipes have been donated for this instrument. So it seems the chances for this are better than some suppose.

The console has indeed been completed and was exhibited at a Florida AGO event. Where it is now is anybody's guess. The Arts & Entertainment article in the SF Examiner on June 6, 2018 stated that $400,000 of the $1,000,000 goal had been raised. That's been over a course of over five years and less than 50% of the funds needed. The article also says, "With the goal of installing the instrument in April 2019, Hegarty...[is] feeling a 'sense of urgency' about fund-raising efforts."

And why was this moved when it’s supposed to have symphonic and classical organ stops? The theatre stops are only part of it.

Since a link to this thread exists in the Church & Classical Electronic Organs Forum, I'm not sure what your problem is. Since the organ has pipes, you might as well complain about why it isn't in the Church & Classical Pipe Organ Forum. But if it really matters, here's my reasons:

1. The page that you linked to on the CODA site refers to the organ as "The Castro Symphonic Theatre Organ"
2. The organ will be installed in a 1400 seat theatre, not a church or concert hall.
3. The donated pipes are from Wurlitzer and Kimball Theatre Organs.
4. It is to replace the Wurlitzer Theatre organ that was removed and the Allen Theatre III that is currently in place.
5. The Castro is a movie house, not a concert venue, and should the organ actually be installed, is more likely to be playing popular music than classical

[rjsilva]

Insane stop list :) Whatever controversy exists I’m sure it will/would sound pretty great overall.

[radagast]

The console has indeed been completed and was exhibited at a Florida AGO event. Where it is now is anybody's guess. The Arts & Entertainment article in the SF Examiner on June 6, 2018 stated that $400,000 of the $1,000,000 goal had been raised. That's been over a course of over five years and less than 50% of the funds needed. The article also says, "With the goal of installing the instrument in April 2019, Hegarty...[is] feeling a 'sense of urgency' about fund-raising efforts."


Since a link to this thread exists in the Church & Classical Electronic Organs Forum, I'm not sure what your problem is. Since the organ has pipes, you might as well complain about why it isn't in the Church & Classical Pipe Organ Forum. But if it really matters, here's my reasons:

1. The page that you linked to on the CODA site refers to the organ as "The Castro Symphonic Theatre Organ"
2. The organ will be installed in a 1400 seat theatre, not a church or concert hall.
3. The donated pipes are from Wurlitzer and Kimball Theatre Organs.
4. It is to replace the Wurlitzer Theatre organ that was removed and the Allen Theatre III that is currently in place.
5. The Castro is a movie house, not a concert venue, and should the organ actually be installed, is more likely to be playing popular music than classical

According to the following site, the goal is $700,000.

http://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrgan/Mission.html

[Admin]

According to the following site, the goal is $700,000.

http://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrgan/Mission.html

That's out of date. This article, from 2015 states an $800,000 goal.

But current articles state $1,000,000.

The SF Examiner of June 6th, for which David Hegarity was interviewed, states a $1,000,000 goal.

As does this fundraising page
which states, "Now, David Hegarty... has a plan with a silver lining: replace the now departed Wurlitzer with the largest hybrid organ in the world! Last year I agreed to help David raise $1 million. "

As does the Wikipedia entry https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castro...es_Association "The initial fundraising efforts have been budgeted at $1 million US dollars.[4] "

[AllenAnalog]

Of course, to keep it in perspective, IIRC 2 or 3 million was spent just to replace some of the Wanamaker Organ's *blowers*.

I've spent a lot of time around the Wanamaker organ in the past so I'm wondering what your source of information for this rather large number could be? I've seen all of the blowers many times and cannot fathom a cost anywhere near this to replace one or more of them.

[beel m]

Private conversation with the curator a while back. I believe but cannot swear he also said that the Wyncote Foundation folks (you know the deal there) paid for some or (probably) all of the job. There was more than one blower, but I don't recall the exact number; probably a few. Come to think of it, the number may be more like 2 mill rather than 3 but I think it was at least 2 million. I *think* it had something to do with failed humidity systems that had rusted out blower(s) and they had to be replaced, or something like that.
I live a half hour away from Macy's and go there all the time, so I hear stuff :-)
R, Bill

I've spent a lot of time around the Wanamaker organ in the past so I'm wondering what your source of information for this rather large number could be? I've seen all of the blowers many times and cannot fathom a cost anywhere near this to replace one or more of them.

[Ben Madison]

Is their a theatre pipe organ not going to california.

[Doddy.van.Straaten]

I found your links to the 7/400 Castro Symphonic Theatre Organ more than interesting. All the more so with Harrah Symphonic Organ at Forrest Burdette Memorial United Methodist Church, Hurricane, W.Va.

Particularly as the Castro Symphonic Theatre organ does not stop at just having Theatre organ voicing installed. Using Walker Technical Co's digitally recorded organ voices to emulate San Francisco's 'Fox Special' WurliTzer, but also from Classical, Romantic and Baroque organs

Additionally, the integration of a studio quality, Orchestral Sample Library from AudioImpressions connected to the stoptabs really puts a cherry on the cake for me.

Many thanks for the web links. Very inspiring! B-)

[bnelson218]

I see 32' and 64' pedal stops; I assume these are electronically produced resultants and am curious as to the amps and speakers used to reproduce these amazing foorages.

[Admin]

The organ has not been installed or completed pending, at last report, another $1 million in funding.