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The Paramount's Mighty Wurlitzer

An historic instrument holds the keys to another era.

From 1900 to 1930, Seattle was home to one of the largest vaudeville circuits in the country. Typical performance bills included live vaudeville entertainment followed by a silent film with organ accompaniment. Men and women of all ages and social backgrounds came to the theaters day and night to soak in Hollywood's glorious rays, watch Russian acrobats build human pyramids on the stage, and hear the orchestra swing.

One of the most popular attractions of any program was always the organ. Beginning with John Clemmer's Dream Theatre in 1905, every theater in the city resounded with the vibrating chords of theater organs; over time Seattle became known as the “cradle of the theater organ.”

By far the largest and most impressive theater organs ever built was the Publix, but only three remain in their original environments, the rest having been sold to private owners, placed in pizza Restaurants, or simply dismantled. One of those three remaining Publix organs can be found at The Paramount Theatre.

Installed at a cost of over $100,000, the Paramount's mighty Wurlitzer includes an entire grand piano and drum-set built into the side panels of the auditorium. Next to these run hundreds of pipes and bells, chimes, whistles, and horns.

Lovingly cared for by the Puget Sound Theatre Organ Society, the Paramount's own Endangered Species is certainly safe and sound. A new room to safely store the organ console next to the orchestra pit for those rare and beautiful occasions when its pipes may blow and bells may ring.

Thanks to our Season Partners