Wurlitzer Style 260
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| Console Type | Curved Console | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Bolsters | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Manuals | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranks | 15 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tuned Percussions | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traps | 14 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank Information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Toe Pistons | Auto Horn Steamboat Whistle Two Birds (One in each Expression Box) Fire Gong Horse Hoofs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| General | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Two Expression Pedals with Indicating Keys One Balanced Crescendo Pedal Thunder Pedal (Diaphone) - Piano Pedal Thunder Pedal (Reed) - Piano Pedal One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal - 1st Touch, Full Stops (wind) - 2nd Touch, Everything One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal - 1st Touch, Snare Drum - 2nd Touch, Bass Drum and Cymbal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Wurlitzer Style 260 is one of the company's most iconic large-scale theatre organ models, which were often installed in deluxe movie palaces during the late 1920s. It is a 3-manual, 15-rank instrument that provided a powerful and versatile sound palette for silent film accompaniment, vaudeville performances, and solo concerts.
Layout – Manuals & Touches
| Pedal | Pedal Second Touch | Accompaniment | Accompaniment Second Touch | Great | Great Second Touch | Solo | Tremulants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st & 2nd Touch Traps Switch | 10 Double Touch Adjustable Combination Pistons | 10 Double Touch Adjustable Combination Pistons | 10 Double Touch Adjustable Combination Pistons | ||||
| 3 Combination Toe Pistons | One Suitable Bass Tablet and Release | One Suitable Bass Tablet and Release | One Suitable Bass Tablet and Release | ||||
| 32' Diaphone | 32' Diaphone | 16' Contra Viol (TC) | 8' Harmonic Tuba | 16' Ophicleide | 16' Ophicleide | 16' Ophicleide | Main |
| 16' Ophicleide | 16' Ophicleide - Pizzicato | 16' Bourdon | 8' Tibia Clausa | 16' Diaphone | 8' Tibia Clausa | 8' Trumpet | Solo |
| 16' Diaphone | 8' Tuba Horn | 8' Clarinet | 16' Tibia Clausa | Octave | 8' Tuba Horn | Vox Humana | |
| 16' Tibia Clausa | 8' Diaphonic Diapason | Sleigh Bells | 16' Clarinet (TC) | Solo to Great | 8' Diaphonic Diapason | ||
| 16' Bourdon | 8' Tibia Clausa | Xylophone | 16' Saxophone (TC) | Solo to Great - Pizzicato | 8' Tibia Clausa | ||
| 8' Tuba Horn | 8' Clarinet | Triangle | 16' Contra Viol (TC) | 8' Clarinet | |||
| 8' Octave | 8' Saxophone | 16' Bourdon | 8' Orchestral Oboe | ||||
| 8' Tibia Clausa | 8' Viol d'Orchestre | 8' Trumpet | 8' Kinura | ||||
| 8' Clarinet | 8' Viol Celeste | 8' Tuba Horn | 8' Saxophone | ||||
| 8' Saxophone | 8' String | 8' Diaphonic Diapason | 8' String | ||||
| 8' String | 8' Oboe Horn | 8' Tibia Clausa | 8' Oboe Horn | ||||
| 8' Cello | 8' Quintadena | 8' Clarinet | 8' Quintadena | ||||
| 8' Flute | 8' Flute | 8' Orchestral Oboe | 4' Clarion | ||||
| 4' Flute | 8' Vox Humana | 8' Kinura | 4' Piccolo | ||||
| 16' Piano | 4' Piccolo | 8' Saxophone | Cathedral Chimes | ||||
| Bass Drum | 4' Viol | 8' Viol d'Orchestre | Xylophone | ||||
| Kettle Drum | 4' Octave Celeste | 8' Viol Celeste | Glockenspiel | ||||
| Snare Drum | 4' Flute | 8' String | Ochestral Bells (re-it) | ||||
| Crash Cymbal | 4' Vox Humana | 8' Flute | |||||
| Cymbal | 2 2⁄3' Twelfth | 8' Vox Humana | |||||
| Great to Pedal | 2' Piccolo | 4' Clarion | |||||
| Solo to Pedal | 8' Piano | 4' Piccolo | |||||
| 4' Piano | 4' Viol | ||||||
| Mandolin | 4' Octave Celeste | ||||||
| Marimba (re-it) | 4' Flute | ||||||
| Harp | 2 2⁄3' Twelfth | ||||||
| Chrysoglott | 2' Fifteenth | ||||||
| Snare Drum | 2' Piccolo | ||||||
| Tambourine | 1 3⁄5' Tierce | ||||||
| Castanets | 16' Piano | ||||||
| Chinese Block | 8' Piano | ||||||
| Tom Tom | 4' Piano | ||||||
| Marimba (re-it) | |||||||
| Harp | |||||||
| Cathedral Chimes | |||||||
| Xylophone | |||||||
| Glockenspiel | |||||||
| Orchestra Bells (re-it) | |||||||
| Sleigh Bells | |||||||
| Chrysoglott | |||||||
| Solo to Great | |||||||
General Information
The Style 260 represented the pinnacle of Wurlitzer’s factory-produced, standardized three-manual instruments. It included an extensive array of orchestral and classical ranks, traps, tuned percussions, and effects to replicate a full orchestra. While some Style 260s were installed exactly as spec’d, many were customized at the request of venue owners or prominent organists.
History
Introduced in the mid-1920s, the 260 was marketed as a deluxe alternative to the more common Style 235. It was part of Wurlitzer's strategy to offer turn-key "unit orchestras" that could fill vast auditoriums with expressive sound. Around five dozen known 260s were built, with variations in stoplists and console decoration depending on customer preference and budget.
Specification Variations and Design Considerations
One of the distinguishing features on the spec sheet was the inclusion of a full 32′ Diaphone rank. However, this was frequently omitted in actual installations due to ceiling height limitations in orchestra pits and chambers. In such cases, the pedal section was often adjusted to substitute lower extensions from existing 16′ ranks, or to use resultant tones to simulate 32′ effects.
The Suitable Bass system, another unique element of the specification, was largely considered a marketing gimmick. It attempted to provide a smooth, more mellow fundamental bass tone automatically, but many organists found it to be redundant or underwhelming in practice.
Organists often requested enhancements to the tonal resources of the instrument. A common customization was the extension of the Tuba Mirabilis (on 10″ wind) down to 8′ pitch, which was not part of the standard 260 specification. This gave the instrument a middle ground in its solo voice and reinforced the upperwork with added power and gravitas.
Notable Installations
- Loew’s State Theatre, New York, NY (Customized with additional ranks)
- Paramount Theatre, Oakland, CA (Known for its powerful Tuba and grand scale)
Perception and Legacy
While not as common as smaller styles like the Style D, Style E, or the Style F, the Style 260 has gained legendary status among theatre organists and enthusiasts for its grandeur and flexibility. Surviving examples—especially those restored to original specification—are treasured for their immense tonal resources and expressive capability.
List of Known Installations
| Opus | Year Installed | Location | City | State | Country | Style | Wiring Schedule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 344 | Tivoli Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 383 | Ascher Capitol Theatre | Cincinnati | Ohio | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 404 | Liberty Theatre | Great Falls | Montana | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 501 | Lafayette Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 505 | Grauman Egyptian Theatre | Hollywood | California | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 520 | Rialto Theatre | New York | New York | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 541 | Circle Theatre | Indianapolis | Indiana | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 558 | Sheas Hippodrome Theatre | Toronto | Ontario | Canada | 260 SP | 906 | |
| 568 | Elmwood Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 585 | Sheas Hippodrome Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 637 | C T P Co | Melbourne | Victoria | Australia | 260 | 521 | |
| 839 | Rivoli Theatre | New York | New York | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 870 | Albee Theatre | Brooklyn | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 935 | State Theatre | Cleveland | Ohio | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 943 | Capitol Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 562 | |
| 959 | State Theatre | Minneapolis | Minnesota | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 599 | |
| 978 | Plaza Theatre | London | England | UK | 260 | 521 | |
| 987 | Diversey (Century) Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 609 | |
| 1041 | Harding Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 618 | |
| 1044 | Riding Club | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 | 629 | |
| 1097 | Howard / Paramount Theatre | Atlanta | Georgia | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1099 | Store Demo Organ | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 636 | |
| 1115 | Keith'S Memorial / Savoy Theatre | Boston | Massachusetts | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 654 | |
| 1173 | Newman Theatre | Kansas City | Missouri | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 1195 | Terminal Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 2604M | 676 | |
| 1196 | North Park Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 682 | |
| 1198 | Paramount Theatre(Olympia) | Miami | Florida | U.S.A. | 260 | 521 | |
| 1203 | Stanley Theatre | Camden | New Jersey | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 680 | |
| 1323 | Scollay Sq Theatre | Boston | Massachusetts | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1341 | Palace Theatre | Cleveland | Ohio | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1393 | Keiths Theatre | Atlanta | Georgia | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 724 | |
| 1404 | Capitol (Paramount) Theatre | St Paul | Minnesota | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 749 | |
| 1406 | Fox 14Th St Theatre | New York | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1407 | Keith Theatre | Columbus | Ohio | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1473 | Famous Pl Texas Theatre | San Antonio | Texas | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 764 | |
| 1490 | Kensington Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1541 | Chinese Theatre | Hollywood | California | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 791 | |
| 1555 | Lexington Ave Theatre | New York | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 778 | |
| 1569 | Famous Players (Florida) Theatre | Jacksonville | Florida | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1592 | Avalon Theatre | Chicago | Illinois | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1647 | Loews Capitol Theatre | Washington | District of Columbia | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1657 | Capitol Theatre | Vancouver | British Columbia | Canada | 260 SP | ||
| 1680 | Keith'S Albee Theatre | Cincinnati | Ohio | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 819 | |
| 1726 | Denver Theatre | Denver | Colorado | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1731 | United Artists Theatre | Los Angeles | California | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1752 | Madison Theatre | Ridgewood | New Jersey | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 859 | |
| 1757 | Mosque Auditorium | Richmond | Virginia | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 855 | |
| 1778 | Strand Theatre | Portland | Maine | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1788 | Stanley Theatre | Pittsburgh | Pennsylvania | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 828 | |
| 1793 | Chester Theatre | Bronx | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1808 | Capitol Theatre - Not Installed | Perth | Washington | Australia | 260 | 521 | |
| 1813 | Capitol Theatre | Sydney | New South Wales | Australia | 260 | 521 | |
| 1824 | United Artists Theatre | Detroit | Michigan | U.S.A. | 260 SP | ||
| 1896 | Regent Theatre | Adelaide | South Australia | Australia | 260 SP | ||
| 1901 | Tower Theatre | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 922 | |
| 1902 | Ambassador Theatre | Perth | Washington | Australia | 260 SP | 950 | |
| 1908 | Kenmore Theatre | Brooklyn | New York | U.S.A. | 260 | 900 | |
| 1950 | Bailey Ave Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP | 972 | |
| 2040 | Regent Theatre | Brisbane | Queensland | Australia | 260 | 900 | |
| 2075 | Civic Theatre | Auckland | New Zealand | 260 SP | 1073 | ||
| 2085 | Seneca Theatre | Buffalo | New York | U.S.A. | 260 SP |
See Also
References
- Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ
- Williams, Terry. Theatre Organ Stops and Styles: A Comprehensive Guide