There were well over 7,000 of these extraordinary machines installed in American movie palaces in the decade and half between 1915 and 1930. With the coming of the "talkies" and the Great Depression, most instruments fell silent or found themselves without a home. Of these original installations, we believe that fewer than 40 instruments now exist in their original homes.

Church organs tend to display the pipes and hide the organist. The idea was to focus the "audience" in a church on the power of heaven, not man. Theater organs are just the reverse. In a turn of the century theater, the celebration of human skill and technical achievement was considered vital.   Before the advent of television, these grand movie palaces presented stunning projections of silent film. And most theaters were created in an elaborately decorated style (often called gaudy.)  Most large to medium sized film theaters, it was customary to begin the performance with a highly decorated "theatrical" console as it rose from beneath the stage into a waiting spotlight. Pipe chambers were commonly found on stage right, or stage left chambers covered with ornate facades. Sometimes the chambers were installed beneath the stage in the space behind orchestra pits, or above the stage proscenium. The sounds of all these unseen pipes fill the theater. Many, many audiences had no idea that pipes were involved in the production of popular music day. Organs were subsequently installed in radio stations and live organ was broadcast from coast to coast in the USA.  

The Barton Organ Company, of Oshkosh Wisconsin, was the one of the leading theatre organ builders in America.  While it sold less than rivals like Wurlitzer and Kimball, these organs were know for a distinctive "jazzy" sound.  Company founder Dan Barton was a musician and had toured with Chautauquas, dance bands, carnivals, dog and pony shows, Uncle Tom's Cabin shows, and, in 1909, with the Ringling Brothers Circus. In fact, the organ console style used in many installations is referred to as the "circus wagon,'' because of its lavish use of carvings and the red and gold coloring. Originally designed to provide accompaniment for silent movies and vaudeville, the intense and vibrant colors of this new type of "orchestral" organ thrilled and amazed theatre audiences. Their organs are referred to as the “Mighty Barton" and “Barton Grand” organs. Most feature drums, bells, wood blocks, bird calls, surf and thunder.

Barton primarily built theater organs to accompany silent movies. They expanded into the church organ business when ‘talking pictures’ were introduced causing the demand for theater organs to plummet. At least one example still exists. But churches were reluctant to buy an organ from a company so well-known for its theater organs, and Barton closed his doors in 1932.

Dan Barton was one of the top five suppliers of organs to theaters in the silent era, and built over 340 theatre organs from about 1918 to 1931.  His most famous installation was the 6/51 Chicago Stadium organ of 1927 boasting over 3,000 pipes.  In 1927 Barton it was the largest theater organ ever constructed.  The organ played for 60 years and developed a rich history, including being played at Franklin D. Roosevelt's inaugural ball in 1933. While the organ was destroyed in a fire, the Chicago Stadium Barton Console is once again controlling a pipe organ, but this time with a fully operational combination action in the residence of Phil Maloof Las Vegas, NV.  The Chicago Stadium Organ

The second largest Barton was installed in the State Fairgrounds in Dallas Texas.  We acquired the Dallas organ and are meticulously recreating this wonderful instrument.  While the pipes from the Dallas organ are no longer known to exist, we have carefully reconstructed the organ using historical documentation.  At some point we hope the carefully restored organ will play in the Acorn Theater .

Opus 343 - By popular request we are posting information on the 1931 Barton Theater Pipe Organ.

Theater pipe organs were intended to allow one musician to accomplish the sound of a full (and well paid) orchestra.  So Theaters could afford to spare little expense in having the finest and largest instrument on the block. In their hay-day organists were prized as celebrities in their own right, even receiving marquee billing to draw an audience.

Barton Opus 343, One of the last ever built this instrument is 14 ranks and includes many orchestral percussions including a large scale marimba, xylophone, glockenspiel and celeste. An assortment of drums, cymbals and so called "toys" also grace this instrument.  The instrument was built with Barton three valve wind regulators; the Tibia rank even has scooped languids, a feature that adds a wonderfully mature and rich sound to the instrument.  Originally installed in the Paramount Theater in Hamilton Ohio, this organ has been hosted by several homes.  

We invite you to call ahead for information or to arrange a tour of the instrument.

Opus 343

Ranks include -

Tuba Mirabilis 
Post Horn 
Trumpet
Tibia
Diapason
Kinura
Vox Humana
Solo String
Orchestral Oboe
Flute
Clarinet
Viol D’ Orchestra
Viol Celeste
Quintadena          
To see Solo Chamber images click on the thumbnail photo
16' Tuba and 16' Tibia Tibia and Solo Reeds

The electronic brains of the system are controlled by a large computer system created by Canadian Dave Milton's Company Opus-Two.  This system records performances, controls a variety of pipe work, samples/ synthesizes and even plays video in real-time and runs the theater lighting system. If you are an organ fanatic, then you might want to visit  Opus-Two website. Click on Opus Two.

Coming soon is the second Barton Organ (and larger) is the Dallas State Fair Barton the largest theater organ ever installed in the State of Texas and the second largest built by this company.  It contains four manuals and almost 30 ranks. The installation is not yet complete and more information will be available as curtain time draws near.

This second installation has been prepared for and designed so that both organs fill the theater.  In fact, some shifting will occur as we settle into the new instrument in the coming months. The current Tuba Mirabilis will be moved from 343 and a smaller tuba available on opus 343. The Mirabilis will then be played on the State Fair instrument.