PSTOS - Imperial Theatre, Great Falls Montana

Imperial Theatre - / Smith
Great Falls, Montana
309 Central Ave.
Organ installation timeframes:

Fotoplayer: 1914 - 1916
Kimball: 1916 - 1923
Smith: 1923 -

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Imperial Theatre entrance, c.1912

The Imperial Theatre opened on April 23, 1911. See the Grand Opening ad from the Great Falls Daily Tribune.

Three pipe organs are associated with the Imperial Theatre. A Fotoplayer was installed in 1914, followed by a Kimball in 1916. Then, according to the PSTOS Bill Bunch/Eugene Nye records, a Smith organ was installed in 1924. No other information is available and status of each of these instruments is unknown.

Ad in the Great Falls Daily Tribune April 26, 1914 describing installation of the new fotoplayer.

News item in the Great Falls Daily Tribune April 26, 1914 describing installation of the new fotoplayer.

Ad in the Great Falls Daily Tribune April 27, 1914 announcing the dedication of the new Fotoplayer.

Ad in the Great Falls Daily Tribune March 1, 1915. "Hear the augmented unit orchestra."

News item in the Great Falls Daily Tribune March 24, 1916 describing Roscoe Kernan's engagement to play the new Kimball instrument at the Imperial Theatre.

Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune May 25, 1916 describing the "sweet-toned Kimball pipe organ" and "ROSCOE KERNAN, who understands how to hit the 'soul' of the pictures."

Click for a larger version. Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune May 25, 1916 describing Roscoe Kernan as "The boy who understands how to hit the 'soul' of the individual photoplay. Who makes the study of every picture and plays the music that will properly bring out the dramatization and full effect."

Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune May 28, 1916 describing Roscoe Kernan's ability to "bring out the wonderful feeling, the heart-interest, the youthful romance and the touches of comedy on the individual productions."

Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune September 9, 1918. "Hear Hazel Moore play the proper musical setting for the pictures upon our Kimball pipe organ - music you will enjoy."

Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune February 17, 1920 describing "Mr. Arthur Merrick on the pipe organ...."

Advertisement in the Great Falls Daily Tribune November 11, 1923 "The Imperial expects to have its new organ ready for use with this film." This ad most likely refers to the Smith organ installed in late 1923.

Advertisement in the Great Falls Tribune January 2, 1924. "Have you heard MR. MERRICK On Our New Organ?"