| Detroit Theater Organ Society - History |
| Featuring the Mighty 4/34 Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ |
6424 Michigan Avenue
Detroit, Michigan 48210
Telephone (313) 894-0850
Concert Hotline (313) 894-4100
Detroit, Michigan 48210
Telephone (313) 894-0850
Concert Hotline (313) 894-4100
The Fisher Years
The Fisher Family Success Arriving in Detroit from Norwalk, Ohio, the two eldest Fisher brothers invested
$50,000 and formed the Fisher Body Company in 1908. Through innovations like interchangeable parts and
all-weather body designs the company was successful. By the time the family sold the business to General
Motors for $208 million in 1919 and 1926, they had over 40 plants employing 100,000 workers and used more
wood, carpet, tacks and thread than any other manufacturer in the world. The sale was a profitable one, and the
Fisher family decided to focus their ambitions on the construction of a new office building in Detroit, one that
would be advertised as "The Most Beautiful Building in the World".
The Fisher Building In 1927 the Fisher family asked architect Albert Kahn to design a building that would be a
combination of office space, shopping and, being a family supporting the arts, contain a theater. Fred Fisher,
announcing the plans in January of 1927 commented, "Our aim is to create the outstanding building in the city
and express in this highest character the Fisher's appreciation of what our adopted city means to us". In August
of 1927 Fred had the honor of turning the first shovel of dirt at the gala ground breaking ceremony. Although
Kahn designed the entire $35 million complex to be constructed in three phases (Two 28 story towers flanking a
60 story central tower), only the first phase, the 28 story tower containing the theater, was completed before the
Great Depression of 1929.
Located at Grand Boulevard and 2nd Avenue, across from the Kahn designed General Motors Building, the 28
story tower was topped with gilded roof panels that the Detroit Times described as "ablaze with light ... It
presents a startling spectacle ... The tower will be to Detroit what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris". WJR-AM,
trademark broadcast "From the Golden Tower of the Fisher Building", for many years. During World War II the
gilded roof was replaced with green Terra Cotta so the building would not become a beacon for enemy bombers.
The arcade in the Fisher building includes 40 varieties of marble from Europe, Africa and parts of the US. 30 feet
wide by 44 feet high, it is L-shaped and provides access to 500,000 square feet of office space, 99,000 square
feet of retail space and the Fisher Theater.
Mayer & Graven, well-known theater architects, were engaged to design the theater. With a lobby complete with
a pond, goldfish, turtles and five talking macaws, the theater was a very special part of the building. Decorated
with a Mayan/Byzantine motif, the gilded walls dazzled visitors who attended movies, organ recitals,
performances by the house orchestra and stage shows. The cavernous theater seated 3500 and was decorated
with gilded statues, banana trees, columns, and frescos. Even the organ console was designed to match the
Mayan decor of the theater.
The organ, a 4 manual, 34 rank Wurlitzer, was installed in the theater as a memorial to the parents of the seven
Fisher Brothers who enjoyed classical organ and also singing gospel hymns. Therefore, the capability of
performing both kinds of music influenced the specification of the organ voicing given to the manufacturer. The
resulting instrument contains stops not usually found on theater organs (French Horn, Cor Anglais, Quintadena
Celeste, Pedal Open Wood Diapason and a large number of string ranks). The reeds are filled with fire, the
strings are lush and the flutes and tibias are mellow and sweet. This allows the music of Bach and Widor to be
performed with magnificent glory as well as the music of Gershwin, Rogers and Porter. Another significant
feature of the organ is the arrangement of the stop tabs by chamber rather than just loud-to-soft within a pitch as
is common on other theater organs.
In the Fisher Theater, the organ was installed in 4 chambers with the grand piano on a small balcony on the left
side of the theater. The console was on a lift in the pit, which rose from the basement to above the stage level.
The organ was originally intended to accompany silent movies when the orchestra was not available.
Changing Times Sound films came in soon after the dedication on November 11, 1928. Shortly afterward the
organ was only used for intermissions on Friday night, played by the great Don Miller, as well as an occasional
radio broadcast from radio station WJR whose studio was located in the tower several floors above. The theater
continued to air films through the years, but the usage of the organ became far less frequent.
Modernization The Nederlander Company began managing the Fisher Theater early in 1961 after the movie
palace was converted for live theater performances. The Mayan interior was replaced with simple elegant
marble, Indian rosewood and walnut paneling, and crystal and bronze decorative work. The original 3500 seats
were scaled down to 2089, to ensure an intimate atmosphere and optimal sightlines for viewing the traveling
Broadway productions.
The Fisher Brothers placed the Organ up for sale and bids were received from a west coast company and a
local Detroiter, George Orbits. Although the bid placed by Mr Orbits was much lower than the one submitted by
others, the Fisher Brothers decided to award the sale to him so that the organ would remain in Detroit. George
began to remove the organ piece by piece to a storage facility. About 2/3 of the way through the project he
received help from other organ enthusiasts.
In 1962 the Fisher Brothers sold the Fisher Building to Louis and Harold Berry, of International Hotels. In 1974, it
was sold again, to Trizec Corporation, Ltd., of Montreal, who continue to maintain the facility today.
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| "Londonderry Air" performed by Joel Gary |
ABOUT THE DETROIT THEATER ORGAN SOCIETY
The Fisher Theatre was a grand Moving Picture Palace with a great unique Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, one
of the largest ever built. It closed December 31, 1960. The building was about to be remodeled for another
purpose, so the organ was to be sold and removed. The Fisher brothers, anxious to preserve the pipe organ as
it was in its theater days and to keep it in the Detroit area, sold it to George Orbits, a local organ buff.
Orbits original intent was to install the organ in his new home. Until his home was built, Orbits and a few theater
organ buffs created The Detroit Theater Organ Club in 1961, and leased the old Iris Theater on East Grand
Boulevard in Detroit where the organ was installed. Many great concerts were performed there by the top
performing artists of the country.
The Club’s popularity grew and the Iris Theater was soon outgrown, causing Orbits and the DTOC to search for
a permanent home for the Club and the organ. The derelict Senate Theater was found after a city wide search.
Club members spent several thousand man hours over two years restoring the building while the organ was
being installed in four new chambers built on the old stage and in the two original organ chambers on either side
of the stage.
In 1989 the DTOC became The Detroit Theater Organ Society, an all volunteer non-profit organization. The
DTOS and the preceding DTOC have been in existence for 47 years, far longer than the founding members had
ever anticipated.
The organ was purchased by the organization and this mighty Wurlitzer has now been playing longer in the
Senate Theater than in its original home in the Fisher Theater. This remarkable organ has been featured in
monthly concerts at the Senate with internationally known artists since 1964. The Society continues its purpose
of preservation, maintenance and playing of theater organs in a proper setting.
The Fisher Theater
In the fall of 1928, the magnificent 28-story Fisher Building was completed in the New Center area of Detroit.
The building was designed by Albert Kahn and built by the seven Fisher brothers (of automotive fame) across
West Grand Boulevard from the General Motors building. The complex was originally designed to have two 28-
story towers flanking a central tower of 60 stories. Because of the Great Depression that started in 1929, the
complex was never completed as envisioned. Only one tower was completed for offices.
The main building contained many excellent retail shops and one of the finest motion picture palaces in the
country, the Fisher Theater. The theater was designed by architects Graven & Mayger. Opening night
audiences were overwhelmed by the Mayan architecture, live birds in the lounges, and fish swimming in tanks in
the lobby. The 3500 seat theater featured an atmospheric ceiling, elaborate stage presentations, a symphony
orchestra and a one-of-a-kind Wurlitzer theater pipe organ to accompany the silent movies of the day, and play
audiences in and out of the theater..
In 1961, the theater was remodeled into a legitimate playhouse.
The Senate Theater
The Senate Theater, designed by architect Christian Brandt, opened October 7, 1926 on Michigan Avenue just
west of Livernois Street in Detroit. It had about 1200 seats and a full working stage. The Martin Brothers
washing machine factory was torn down to make way for the new theater.
Mainly a movie theater, it also presented some young comedians and entertainers on their way to later stardom,
including performances by Amos Jacobs, later known as Danny Thomas. The theater once had a small Robert
Morton theater organ often played by Thelma Boomhower.
The theater closed in 1955 after a short period of showing some horror and x-rated films. The building was used
for church services for a short time, then abandoned. The empty building soon became a derelict with its seats
gone, glass and mirrors broken, a flooded basement and a large part of the roof blown off.
That is how members found it in 1962. Following 2 years of restoration, installation of some 880 seats and the
great Wurlitzer organ, it became an anchor site for the neighborhood and a Michigan Avenue landmark.
Members take great pride in their Club home, and in preserving a bit of history.
The dedicatory concert on April 11, 1964 featured the celebrated New York organist, Ashley Miller, at the
console. In December of 2007, the 642nd concert will be performed.
The Fisher Theatre was a grand Moving Picture Palace with a great unique Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ, one
of the largest ever built. It closed December 31, 1960. The building was about to be remodeled for another
purpose, so the organ was to be sold and removed. The Fisher brothers, anxious to preserve the pipe organ as
it was in its theater days and to keep it in the Detroit area, sold it to George Orbits, a local organ buff.
Orbits original intent was to install the organ in his new home. Until his home was built, Orbits and a few theater
organ buffs created The Detroit Theater Organ Club in 1961, and leased the old Iris Theater on East Grand
Boulevard in Detroit where the organ was installed. Many great concerts were performed there by the top
performing artists of the country.
The Club’s popularity grew and the Iris Theater was soon outgrown, causing Orbits and the DTOC to search for
a permanent home for the Club and the organ. The derelict Senate Theater was found after a city wide search.
Club members spent several thousand man hours over two years restoring the building while the organ was
being installed in four new chambers built on the old stage and in the two original organ chambers on either side
of the stage.
In 1989 the DTOC became The Detroit Theater Organ Society, an all volunteer non-profit organization. The
DTOS and the preceding DTOC have been in existence for 47 years, far longer than the founding members had
ever anticipated.
The organ was purchased by the organization and this mighty Wurlitzer has now been playing longer in the
Senate Theater than in its original home in the Fisher Theater. This remarkable organ has been featured in
monthly concerts at the Senate with internationally known artists since 1964. The Society continues its purpose
of preservation, maintenance and playing of theater organs in a proper setting.
The Fisher Theater
In the fall of 1928, the magnificent 28-story Fisher Building was completed in the New Center area of Detroit.
The building was designed by Albert Kahn and built by the seven Fisher brothers (of automotive fame) across
West Grand Boulevard from the General Motors building. The complex was originally designed to have two 28-
story towers flanking a central tower of 60 stories. Because of the Great Depression that started in 1929, the
complex was never completed as envisioned. Only one tower was completed for offices.
The main building contained many excellent retail shops and one of the finest motion picture palaces in the
country, the Fisher Theater. The theater was designed by architects Graven & Mayger. Opening night
audiences were overwhelmed by the Mayan architecture, live birds in the lounges, and fish swimming in tanks in
the lobby. The 3500 seat theater featured an atmospheric ceiling, elaborate stage presentations, a symphony
orchestra and a one-of-a-kind Wurlitzer theater pipe organ to accompany the silent movies of the day, and play
audiences in and out of the theater..
In 1961, the theater was remodeled into a legitimate playhouse.
The Senate Theater
The Senate Theater, designed by architect Christian Brandt, opened October 7, 1926 on Michigan Avenue just
west of Livernois Street in Detroit. It had about 1200 seats and a full working stage. The Martin Brothers
washing machine factory was torn down to make way for the new theater.
Mainly a movie theater, it also presented some young comedians and entertainers on their way to later stardom,
including performances by Amos Jacobs, later known as Danny Thomas. The theater once had a small Robert
Morton theater organ often played by Thelma Boomhower.
The theater closed in 1955 after a short period of showing some horror and x-rated films. The building was used
for church services for a short time, then abandoned. The empty building soon became a derelict with its seats
gone, glass and mirrors broken, a flooded basement and a large part of the roof blown off.
That is how members found it in 1962. Following 2 years of restoration, installation of some 880 seats and the
great Wurlitzer organ, it became an anchor site for the neighborhood and a Michigan Avenue landmark.
Members take great pride in their Club home, and in preserving a bit of history.
The dedicatory concert on April 11, 1964 featured the celebrated New York organist, Ashley Miller, at the
console. In December of 2007, the 642nd concert will be performed.
| This is a picture of the Fisher Theatre before it's modernization. The organ is in the left corner of the orchestra pit. Warning: This file is LARGE. Those on dial up, don't go here |