PSTOS - Community Theatre, Bremerton Washington

Community Theatre - 2/11 Wurlitzer-hybrid
Bremerton, Washington
599 Lebo Blvd
Installation timeframe: 1979-2017

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Bremerton Community Theatre Wurlitzer console

The Bremerton Community Theatre (BCT) was built in 1976 to stage live productions. The organ was installed by the Bremerton Pipe Organ Society (BPOS) starting in 1976 and completed in 1979. Mel Retzlaff was president of BPOS for many years. Lew Wells and John Nafie supervised the project.

Bremerton Community Theatre building, 2002

Two manual Wurlitzer console prior to installation

The BCT organ was previously owned by PSTOS member Dan Adamson. It was based around a 1921 Robert Morton organ from the Liberty Theatre in Pasco, Washington. It included various additions of Wurlitzer, Kimball and Smith components. The Wurlitzer console was originally from the Liberty Theatre in Walla Walla.

Pipework and percussions awaiting installation.

Most of the BCT stage machinery was salvaged from the Seattle Orpheum Theatre. A scissor lift was built by retired machinist and BPOS member Earl Winters and others. The BPOS club dug a pit under the lift to allow it to lay flush with the orchestra pit floor.

Tibia II, Clarinet & Bourdon

Toy counter and percussions
Tibia, Tibia II and Clarinet

According to BPOS member Robert Montgomery, the organ was played regularly but was not been used publicly since October 1999 when John Nafie accompanied "Phantom of the Opera." Robert Montgomery, Mel Retzlaff and theatre members provided maintenance for the organ.

Visit the Bremerton Community Theatre's web site:

http://www.bremertoncommunitytheatre.org

Console and chamber wall, July 2003

The organ was installed in a single, three-level chamber on the "house left" side of the auditorium. The blower and regulators were at the orchestra pit level. The second level (lower chamber) had the 4 rank Morton chest with Viola, Vox Humana, Diapason and Flute, plus a Tuba, Kinura and second Vox Humana. The third level (upper chamber) had Tibia, Clarinet, string celeste, and Tibia II. There were plans to install a second chamber on the right side of the house but construction was never completed.

View from the stage

In 2003, a new stage electrical system was installed. This system provides 108 separate lighting circuits, each with its own dimmer.

Color photos, courtesy Robert Montgomery 2003

In late 2016, the busy theatre decided they wanted to repurpose the pipe chamber space. The organ was posted on Craigslist. In January 2017, Dan Walker of Canby Oregon took possession of the organ and removed it over the course of several visits.

Craigslist ad, January 2017:

In March 2020, Dan sold the organ to Warren Scott of Beaverton OR. Included in the sale were extra wind chests, pneumatic actions and percussions from Dan's late friend Kurtis Knight.

Phantom of the Opera presentation - with organ accompaniment, 1977