PSTOS - Dream Theatre, Sedro-Woolley Washington

Dream Theatre - 2/5 Kimball
Sedro-Woolley, Washington
218 Woodworth St.
Installation timeframe: 1925-1946

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Dream Theatre, c.1917. Photo, courtesy Dan Warner

Dream Theatre, date unknown. Note addition of DREAM Theatre signage at top of facade.

Main Street signage, c.1918

The Dream Theatre originally had a 2/5 Kimball (KPO 6826) installed in 1925. Harold Knox was a staff organist in 1927.

The instrument was later moved in 1946 to St. James Episcopal Church (also in Sedro-Woolley) by Walter D. Price of Bellingham. According to Jeff Fox, some of Mr. Price's handwriting is on a tag board. The console retained all of its pistons and toe pedals.

According to Jim Stettner, there was a three-button expression control switch located atop the Accomp manual right keycheek. The top button when pressed controlled the Stage Expression. The bottom button controlled the Theatre Expression. And both buttons could be pressed simultaneously for dual control. A middle button labeled "R" [for Release] cancels the other two buttons.

Main Street, c.1930s. Note absence of Dream Theatre signage.

Dream Theatre entrance, c.1950. Photo, courtesy Dan Warner

Dream Theatre marquee, c.1950. Photo, courtesy Dan Warner

Interestingly, the Skagit River Journal's 2005 article "Dream Theatre, Abbott Motor Co., Dad Abbott family, Emma and Hugh Ridgway" By Noel V. Bourasaw, included the following photo, attributed to the Dream Theatre in the 1930s. The text of the article refers to a "$10,000 Wurlitzer pipe organ" being installed. The photo shows costumed performers on the stage and a Wurlitzer photoplayer in the orchestra pit. The Wurlitzer logos are clearly visible on the cabinetry. From the photo, the instrument appears to be a Wurlitzer "Style O" Photoplayer.

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Stage and performers attributed to the Dream Theatre, c.1930. Photo Skagit River Journal

The 1930s date of the photo cannot be reconciled with existing shipping records for W. W. Kimball showing that a Kimball instrument was installed at the Dream Theatre in 1925. Additonally, Jeff Fox of Bellingham recalls speaking with Gunnar Anderson who played the Dream Theatre during the silent era and Gunnar mentioned that the Dream Theatre had a Kimball instrument.

There are several possible explanations for these discrepancies, including:

The Wurlitzer Photoplayer could have pre-dated the Kimball instrument, meaning the photo is actually dated pre-1925

The photo above may not be the Dream Theatre, but rather another theatre. In that case, the mention of the "$10,000 Wurlitzer" may actually refer to the Kimball instrument.

To definitively confirm the date and location of the photo, it would be helpful to see other photos of the Dream Theatre stage and decorative curtain.