Pipe Organ Database

a project of the organ historical society

Owner (1973)

Originally The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. (Opus 1791, 1927)

Location:

Colorado Springs City Auditorium
221 E. Kiowa Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903 US
Organ ID: 73054

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Status and Condition:

  • This instrument's location type is: Auditoriums and Concert Halls
  • The organ is unaltered from its original state.
  • The organ's condition is good, used occasionally.
We received the most recent update for this instrument's status from Daniel Wicks on March 30, 2023.

Technical Details:

  • 8 ranks. 608 pipes. 4 divisions. 3 manuals.
Main:
  • Built by The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.
  • Manuals: 3
  • Divisions: 4
  • Position: Movable console.
  • Manual Compass: 61
  • Pedal Compass: 32
  • Key Action: Electrical connection from key to chest.
  • Stop Action: Electric connection between stop control and chest.
  • Console Style: Horseshoe style console.
  • Stop Controls: Stop keys in horseshoe curves.
  • Combination Action: Setterboard (remote or in console).
  • Swell Control Type: Balanced swell shoes/pedals, AGO standard placement.
  • Pedalboard Type: Concave radiating pedalboard meeting AGO Standards.
  • Has Combination Action Thumb Pistons
  • Has Combination Action Toe Pistons
We received the most recent update for this console from Daniel Wicks on March 30, 2023.
Daniel Wicks on April 01, 2023:

"The only original Colorado Springs theatre pipe organ still in existence, this Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra is complete and almost exactly as it was originally installed in the Burns Opera House (later known as the Chief Theatre) in 1927. The original cost of the organ was $14,000.00, a significant investment when you consider a new Model A Ford that year cost about $400.

The organ was carefully dismantled and removed from the theatre in the Spring of 1973 by members of the Pikes Peak Theatre Organ Society after the theatre was condemned to demolition. Over the next few years, members invested over 5000 man-hours rebuilding the instrument and performing the installation in City Auditorium where it was rededicated in March of 1979.

The organ has eight ranks (sets of pipes or voices), for a total of just over 600 pipes, plus many tuned percussion and special effects. All the pipes and sound producing effects are located in four chambers, two on each side of the stage, stacked one above the other behind the plaster grillework."

Source: PPATOS.com

We received the most recent update for this note from Daniel Wicks on April 01, 2023.
2005 AGO Region VI Convention booklet: Open In New Tab Originally published 2005
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Daniel Wicks on March 30, 2023.

Pikes Peak Theatre Organ Society website (PPATOS.com): Open In New Tab Originally published 2017
We received the most recent update for this stoplist from Daniel Wicks on April 01, 2023.

Instrument Images:

Close-up of stoprail and keydesk: Photograph from an archival source: Pikes Peak Theatre Organ Society website (PPATOS.com), submitted by Daniel Wicks. Taken approx. 2017

view of console from the floor: Photograph from an archival source: Pikes Peak Theatre Organ Society website (PPATOS.com), submitted by Daniel Wicks. Taken approx. 2017

Interior of main auditorium to front, showing stage and organ chamber grills: Photograph from an archival source: unknown, found online, submitted by Daniel Wicks. Taken approx. 2021