The Mighty WurliTzer

At the May 30, 1905 opening of The Oaks, the D'Urbano Italian Band played for skating as well as concerts in the park. In time, a large band organ (the music machines of carousels) replaced the live band. In 1925, a Wood Pipe Organ was installed then upgraded until 1955.

In a response to a circa 1954 article by Mike regarding the comparison of organs, Bill Hansen, Jr wrote, "Comparisons made by Mr. Sykes with Broadway organ and such instruments as the civic organ are hardly fair.  It's like comparing a brass band to a symphony orchestra.  Broadway organ, while not containing as many pipes, has a great deal more stops and volume than the organs Mr. Sykes mentioned.  This is accomplished through a system of wiring which makes the various ranks available on any keyboard at any pitch and high pressure air which bring more volume out of each individual pipe.  The Broadway organ also differs in that it contains many percussion instruments not found in a refined classic organ.  These include glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, chromatic sleigh bells, tambourine, bird whistles, Chinese wood block, snare drum, bass drum, Persian crash cymbal and many others.  On these counts I felt that a fair comparison between classic and theater organ is impossible."



The Mighty WurliTzer was purchased by Robert Bollinger from the Broadway Theater in downtown Portland, OR, which had been its home since July 3, 1926.  See the 1955 Souvenir Program

While not containing as many pipes, it has a great deal more stops and volume than other organs. To satisfy the demand for volume, there were no shutters installed.

A system of wiring makes the various ranks available on any keyboard at any pitch and high pressure air brings more volume out of each individual pipe. It also differs in that it contains many percussion instruments not found in the refined classic organ. These include glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba, chromatic sleigh bells, tambourine, bird whistles, Chinese wood block, snare drums, bass drums, Persian crash cymbal, and many others.

It is a four manual, eighteen rank instrument. The organ has 1,242 pipes, including the following ranks: Gamba, Vox Humana, Flute, Viol d'Orchestra, Clarinet, Viol Celeste, Horn Diapason, Tuba Horn, Diaphonic Diapason, String Celeste, Saxophone, String, Kinura, Orchestral Oboe, Tibia Clausa, Trumpet, Oboe Horn, and Quintadena, plus Marimba, Harp, Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Orchestra Bells, Sleigh Bells, Chrysoglott, Cathedral Chimes, Snare Drum, Tambourine, Castanets, Chinese Block, Sand Block, Bass Drum, Kettle Drum, Tom Tom, Crash Cymbal, Sizzle Cymbal, Triangle, Bird Whistle, Boat Whistle, Horses Hoofs, Fire Bell, Auto Horn, Telephone Bell, and Surf Sound.

Taken at the 1955 Dedication