Opening night, 1925. Photo courtesy: THE COMPLEAT PHOTOGRAPHER
 
The Liberty Theatre opened in 1925. A Style F "Special" Wurlitzer, opus 949, was shipped from the factory in November 1924. The "Special" designation was due to the addition of a marimba and piano.
 

In 1930, the organ was removed and sold to the Mayan Theatre in Denver, Colorado. This disagrees with the Judd Walton opus lists which indicate 1926 as the removal date.   <--- The inscription here was found on the empty organ chamber wall during a recent rennovation of the theatre. It is 2-3 feet long, written with heavy black pencil. Photo courtesy Larry Bryant.

 

c.1925
 

Commercial Street, c.1930
 

Commercial Street, c.1930s
 

Commercial Street, c.1940s. Liberty Theatre on left.
 

c.1946
 

Commercial Street, c.1953. Liberty Theatre on right.
 
In 1945, the organ was sold to R.C. & Edith Maddy of Denver. It was removed from the Mayan Theatre over the course of three years and eventually installed in their home.
 

Edith Maddy with the console

R.C. in the chamber

In the mid-1930's, another Wurlitzer was installed at the Liberty Theatre. It was the 2/4 Style B from the Astoria Theatre across the street. This organ remained in the Liberty Theatre until the late 1940's when it was purchased by Bill Blunk.
 
The organ was moved and/or sold several more times:

• 1954 - Blue-C Rink, Astoria OR
• 1956 - Bill Blunk, Indiana (in storage)
• 1958 - Viking Rink, Astoria OR
• 1961 - Laurel Ruby residence, Corvallis OR
• 1966 - Don Rittenburg residence, Portland OR
• 1987 - Beth Adkison residence, Port Orchard WA
• 1999 - George Perks residence, Spokane WA
• 2010 - A party in Belgium

 

Liberty Theatre entrance, 2013. Photo courtesy, Jeff Fox