Coburn Organ Co.
1911

Charles Eberline on May 8th, 2023:
David Junchen's identification of the venue as the Iris Theatre in his *Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ* was an error (typographical?). *The Diapason* briefly mentioned the organ twice: "The contract for the organ in the new Isis Theater at Houston, Tex., has been awarded to the Coburn Organ Company of Chicago." (August 1911, [1]); "The Coburn Company is finishing an organ for the Isis Theater at Houston, Tex." (January 1912, 1). The *Houston Post* carried a half-page spread with a photograph of the auditorium and an explanation of the name of the theater, surrounded by advertisements under the heading "MEN WHO BUILT AND FURNISHED THE ISIS THEATER" ("Why the Theater Was So Named," *Houston Post*, April 21, 1912, [60], Newspapers.com, accessed May 8, 2023, https://www.newspapers.com/image/94958445; see the document). The Coburn Organ Company proclaimed (in full caps): "The magnificent $5000 pipe organ in this theater specially built and installed by the Coburn Organ Co. 220 North Washtenaw Ave., Chicago, Ill." The Iris Theatre was a different venue, located at 612 Travis Street. See "New Motion Picture House to Open Doors Saturday," *Houston Post*, Thursday, June 5, 1919, 13, Newspapers.com, accessed May 8, 2023, https://www.newspapers.com/image/95058439: "After weeks of hard work Houston's new movie house, the Iris theater, will open Saturday, June 7. This theater will give Houston one of the largest one-floor houses in the South." The article gave further details about the theater but did not mention a pipe organ. This theater was presumably the home of Reuter's Op. 137 if David Junchen's information on it is correct (2:489).

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Jim Stettner on May 7th, 2021:
identified from the *Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ* by David L. Junchen. The theatre closed in 1928. Subsequent disposition of the Coburn is unknown.