PSTOS - Empire Theatre, Anacortes Washington

Empire Theatre - 2/4 Wurlitzer, Style B
Anacortes, Washington
Commercial St.
Wurlitzer Photoplayer installation timeframe: 1922-1927
Wurlitzer Style B installaton timeframe: 1927-1937

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Empire Theatre, c.1928. Note poster for the film "Sporting Goods" which came out in 1928. Photo courtesy Jeff Fox.

The Empire Theatre originally had a Wurlitzer photoplayer installed in 1922. This instrument is not listed in any of the online opus lists.

News article on the front page of the Anacortes American describing the organ's debut on Wednesday March 1, 1922:

Anacortes American Thursday March 2, 1922

Here's another article from the Anacortes American September 14, 1922 mentioning the "big Wurlitzer."

Stage of the Empire Theatre, c.1926. Note photoplayer in orchestra pit. Photo courtesy Anacortes Museum.

In 1927, the Photoplayer was was replaced by a Style B Wurlitzer, opus #1022. This instrument was originally installed in the Egyptian Theatre, Maywood California in 1925. The organ was installed at the Empire Theatre by Balcom & Vaughan. Fate of the photoplayer is unknown.

News article in the Anacortes American announcing the purchase of the new Wurlitzer. Click to view the full article:

Anacortes American Thursday January 20, 1927. Click for full article.

Here are some other articles from the Anacortes American:

January 27, 1927 mentioning the "mammoth new $20,000 Wurlitzer"

March 17, 1927 announcing Dow LeRoy as opening organist

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Empire Theatre on left, c.1936. Thanks to Andreas Breuer for his keen eye in dating this photo using the movie poster. "Magnificent Obsession" was a 1935 film, released in Seattle in early 1936.

In 1937, the Wurlitzer Style B was removed and relocated to Finlay's Mortuary in Portland, Oregon.

Empire Theatre on right, c.1940's

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Downtown Anacortes, Empire Theatre on left, c.1950's

In 1961, Balcom & Vaughan installed the organ in the Seattle home of Stan Smith.

The instrument is now owned by Russ & Jo Ann Evans of Kenmore, Washington. The original Style B chests and pipework serve as part of a larger 3/17 instrument installed in their home. The original two-manual console was sold.

The Empire Theatre building still exists. It is presently occupied by the Burton Jewelry store and other tenants.

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Empire Theatre building, c.2000

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The building has been modified since the 1920's. The original roof cornice and sidewalk awnings have been removed and the windows replaced.

It is also possible that windows were added to the fly loft when it was converted for other uses, but this cannot be confirmed.