Robert Morton Organ Company
The Robert Morton Organ Company was a producer of theater pipe organs and church organs, located in Van Nuys, California. Robert Morton was the number two volume producer of theatre organs, building approximately half as many organs as the industry leader Wurlitzer. "Robert Morton" wasn't a person, rather the first names of a major stockholder's sons.
The Robert Morton company had its origins in the Murray Harris Organ Company of Los Angeles. The company passed through various owners, business names and locations between Murray Harris and Robert Morton, including the Los Angeles Art Organ Company, the Johnson Organ Company, and the California Organ Company. Despite all the corporate change and upheaval, the output in terms of high quality and tonal character was remarkably consistent. Several Robert Morton key personnel were veteran organbuilders who had served as apprentices with major English organbuilding firms. Tonally, Robert Morton organs had a reputation for being powerful, while being generally more refined and "symphonic" in character than the more brash organs by Wurlitzer and others.
The company's heyday was in the late 1920s, the era of the lavish movie palace theaters exhibiting silent films. The rise of the Great Depression and the advent of sound films eliminated the demand for theater organs and the company closed in 1931.
In addition to their uses in theaters and music halls, Robert Morton organs have been featured in the music for the Haunted Mansion attractions at various Disney theme parks.
Currently installed organs
- Egyptian Theatre, Boise, Idaho (1927)
- Fox Theater, Redwood City, California (1929)[1]
- W. N. Shoberg & Company Pipe Organ Builders shop. Originally installed in Fox Theatre, Banning, California.
- Hawaii Theatre, Honolulu, Hawaii (1922)
- Ironstone Vineyards, Murphys, California. Originally installed in the Alhambra Theater, Sacramento, California (1927)
- Jefferson Theatre, Beaumont, Texas. (1927, restored in 2003.)
- Loew's Jersey Theatre, Jersey City, New Jersey. Originally installed in Loew's Paradise Theatre, Bronx, New York (1929, reinstalled and restored by the Garden State Theatre Organ Society)[2]
- Music Hall, Municipal Auditorium, Kansas City Missouri, (1928, formerly installed in the Midland Theatre)[3]
- O'Brien Theatre, Renfrew, Ontario, Canada (ca. 1924, formerly installed in The Majestic Theatre, Santa Monica, California).
- Ohio Theatre, Columbus, Ohio (1928)
- Saenger Theatre, Hattiesburg, Mississippi (1929) [4]
- Saenger Theater, Mobile, Alabama (1927)
- Saenger Theater, New Orleans, Louisiana (1927)
- Temple Theater, Meridian, Mississippi (1928)[4]
- United Palace Theater, formerly Loew's 175th St. Theatre, New York City (1930). "Wonder Morton", restored and being played.
- Warnors Center for Performing Arts, Fresno, California (1928)[5]
- Wilma Theatre, Missoula, Montana (1920)
- Copley Symphony Hall, formerly Fox Theatre, San Diego CA (1923). Organ was originally installed in the Balboa Theatre in San Diego, and moved to the new Fox theatre in 1929 by Robert Morton. The organ is in regular use and currently being renovated by the San Diego Symphony.
- Balboa Theatre, San Diego CA (1929) Wonder Morton organ. Relocated from Loew's Valencia Theatre. Restored and installed by Wendell Shoberg in 2008-9. Replaces Balboa's original Robert Morton organ which was removed to the Fox theatre in 1929. Believed to be the first Wonder Morton built due to the more ornate console carvings and unique details the other Wonder Mortons lack.
- The Carolina Theatre, Greensboro, North Carolina (1927)
Defunct organs
- Avalon Theater, Brooklyn, New York (1927)
- Colonial Theater, Beach Haven, New Jersey (1940s, closed around 2000 -- now a private residence) [6]
- Loew's Kings Theatre, Brooklyn, New York (1929). "Wonder Morton". organ dismantled after 1974.
References
External links