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Music Hall (Fox, 7th Avenue) Theatre - 4/16 Robert Morton
Seattle, Washington
7th and Olive
Organ installation timeframe: 1929 - 1964
 Listen to this instrument
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Music Hall Theatre, c. 1939 |
Opening night was April 19, 1929. The theatre was originally named the Mayflower.
It is unknown if it ever actually operated under that name because it was called the
Fox Theatre during most of the early years.
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Music Hall Theatre interior |
The opening organist was Jamie Erickson. Other notables such as Henri C. Lebel and Buss McClelland did stints at the console.
Since the theater was to have been called the Mayflower, the organ grills had a nautical design of ship prow.
During the 1930's, the name was changed to 7th Avenue Theatre and then to Music Hall Theatre. In the 1970's and 80's, the house operated as a dinner theatre and 'mixed-use' house under the name Emerald Palace. |
Four-manual Robert Morton console |
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The four manual, 16 rank Robert Morton (opus 2375) was installed by Balcom & Vaughan in 1929.
The console was mounted on a unique revolving lift. The opening organist was Jamie Erickson, who at the time was well known in the large movie palaces throughout the West and Mid-West. The last regular organist was Eddie Clifford.
Eddie Clifford |
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 Detailed stoplist information
Rank list: Tuba, Trumpet, English Horn, Diapason, Tibia, Concert Flute, Gamba, Violin I, Violin II (2 ranks), Dulciana, Vox Humana, Oboe Horn, Clarinet, Kinura and Krumet
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The last public performance of the Music Hall Robert Morton was given on November 15, 1963 with
popular Seattle organist Dick Schrum at the console.
Click here for details of the
farewell concert at the Music Hall. |
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In June 1964, the large instrument was sold for $7,500 and moved by Balcom & Vaughan for a cost of $3,500 to the Carl Greer Inn in Sacramento California. It operated there for a number of years and then was sold to a private party in Southern California. The organ was stored for over 20 years but never installed. |
Dick Schrum at the Music Hall Morton
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In 2002, the organ was purchased for installation in the Bob Hope (former Fox California) Theatre in Stockton, California. According to Randy Warwick, the installation was spearheaded by Bob Hartzell and organ tech Dave Moreno with help from Kenny Crome and numerous Sierra & Nor Cal members plus "Friends of the Fox". A dedication concert is planned for Spring 2005 in conjunction with ATOS NorCal and Sierra Chapters' annual Morton Madness event.
Visit the Bob Hope Theatre web site at: http://www.bobhopetheatre.com
Sentimental Journey Format: MP3 (96Kbps), Size: 1.81MB
Artist: Dick Schrum
Instrument: Music Hall Theatre, Seattle WA. 4/16 Robert Morton
Date: 1972
Recording: Concert Recording, CR-0119
From the LP So Rare by Dick Schrum at the Seattle Music Hall Theatre 4/16 Robert Morton. The track Sentimental Journey was recorded at the November 1963 Seattle Farewell Concert while the Morton was still installed in the Music Hall theatre.
Update October 2002: The organ has recently been acquired by a group that is installing it at the Fox California Theatre in Stockton,California.
In spite of several attempts to save it, the Music Hall Theatre was torn down in 1991-1992. During the auctions just prior to demolition, a preservationist group hoping that a last minute appeal would save the theatre, attempted to out-bid all others and retain the theatre's ornate chandeliers, fixtures and other equipment.
Unfortunately, the theatre was torn down shortly thereafter and most of the fixtures
have since been scattered to the winds. Several of the most ornate chandeliers and plaster work have recently become available for sale at a local salvage broker. Click
here for some pictures.
Music Hall chandeliers hanging in a warehouse after the auction
The following items have appeared on the eBay Internet auction site:
Gargoyles, June 2001
Chandelier, February 2002
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Seattle Music Hall in New Role
Excerpt from The Console magazine, October 1977 (v15, No 10, pp26):
Seattle's Music Hall, lately the 7th Ave. Theatre, is being transformed into a 1500
seat restaurant, showroom and nightclub. It operated as a movie house until last
September 30. The balcony will be retained for those who want to see the show only.
A planned $20 tab will include dinner, three drinks, main floor seating for shows.
The organ from the theatre is now in Sacramento, CA. |
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