This Wurlitzer Organ is a 4 manual, 36 rank original installation "Fox Special".

The organ was used for theatre tours twice a week and played by the late Stan Kann.

The Saint Louis Fox Theatre's Wurlitzer Organ is one of  five essentially identical instruments. Having 4 manuals, 36 ranks and 348 stops the "Fox Special" has become almost a legend in the theatre organ world. Today this Wurlitzer Organ is one of only two surviving in their original homes. The other being the Detroit Fox Theatre, twin of the Saint Louis Fox.  In 1981 Marlin Mackley got the overwhelming task of bringing this great beast back to life. With a limited budget and time for that task, Marlin brought the Wurlitzer back to life. Since those early days Marlin has pretty much crawled, climbed and fallen in and out of every nook of the organ. Fortunately for him, with only minor scars to show for it (so far!). And now after several years of dormancy, the organ is again being heard again. This time during the theatre tours being played by none other than Stan Kann. Stan Kann was the house organist for 22 years. Stan moved to Los Angles and worked there for 20 year. Stan moved back to Saint Louis area, to once again be seated as house organist. 

 

The person in this picture is unknown. She was one of the first organist to play either with or after Tom Terry.

The organ, in its original finish with the lift side boards.

If you know who this person is, click on the "Contact SLTOS".

We would like to know.

 

 Pictures of the Organ. Photos: Marlin Mackley

 

The Voices of the Wurlitzer Organ.. As complied by Marlin Mackley.

SOLO

BOMBARDE

GREAT

Accompaniment 

SOLO

Upper Row

8' Piano, Solo Chimes, Cathedral Chimes Perc Solo Marimba, Marimba Main Solo Harp Harp Main , Solo Xylophone , Solo Xylophone , Xylophone (Main), Glockenspiel Perc, Sleigh Bells Perc, Chrysoglott +, Bells Ri-it Perc, Solo Sub Octave, Accomp. to (Solo),

Bottom Row

, %, 16' Trumpet (tc) Foun (labeled Solo), 16' Tibia (Orch), 16' Tibia (Foun), 16' Tibia (Solo), 16' Saxophone ( tc) (Solo), 8' Tuba Mirabilis (Orch), 8' Trumpet (Solo), 8' English Horn (Orch), 8' Diaphonic Dia (Foun), 8' Tibia (Orch), 8' Tibia (Foun), 8' Tibia (Solo), 8' Strings + (6 ranks), 8' Orch. Oboe (Solo), 8' Kinura (Solo), 8' Musette (Foun), 8' Krummet (Main), 8' Saxophone (Solo), 8' French Horn (now 4' Octave) (Solo), 8' Oboe Horn (Solo), 8' Quintadena (Solo), 8' Vox Humana + (4 ranks), 4' Piccolo Orch', 4' Piccolo (Foun), 4' Piccolo (Solo), 2' Piccolo (Orch), 2' Piccolo + (2 ranks)

Third Row (top short bolster)

, 4' Clarion (Orch), 4' Piccolo (Orch), 4' Piccolo (Foun), 4' Piccolo (Solo), 4' Harm. Flute Foun , 2 2/3' Twelfth (tibia) (Orch), 2' Piccolo Orch , 8' Piano , Solo Xylophone, Solo Xylophone , Xylophone (Main), Glockenspiel (Solo), Chrysoglott +, Solo Chimes , Cathedral Chimes Perc, Accomp. to Bombarde, Great to Bombarde, Solo Sub Bombarde, Solo to Bombarde,

Bottom Row

16' Bombarde (Orch), 16' Solo Trumpet (tc) (Foun), 16' Diaphone (Foun), 16' Doub. Eng. Hn. (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 16' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 16' Double String (Orch), 16' String II (tc) (Solo), 16' Vox Humana (tc) (Orch), 8' Tuba Marabilis (Orch), 8' Solo Trumpet Foun 8' English Horn (Orch), 8' Diaphonic Dia. (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 8' Solo String (Orch), 8' Strings II (Solo), 8' Gamba (Foun), 8' Gamba Cel. (Foun), 8' Vox Humana Orch

Top Row

8' Concert Flute (Main), 8' Lieblich Flute (Main), 8' Vox Humana (Orch), 8' Vox Humana (Foun), 8' Vox Humana (Solo), 8' Vox Humana (Main), 8' Dulciana (Main), 4' Clarion (Main), 4' Octave (Main), 4' Piccolo (Orch), 4' Piccolo (Foun), 4' Piccolo (Solo), 4' Strings 2 rks (Solo), 4' Gambette Foun (2 ranks), 4' Viole Main ( 2 ranks), 4' Harm. Flute (Foun), 4' Flute (Main), 4' Lieblich flute Main-, 2 2/3' Twelfth (tibia) Foun-, 2 2/3' Twelfth (tibia) Solo%, 2 2/3' Twelfth Main [Concert Flute]', 2' Fifteenth Main (Viole d' Orchestra), 2' Piccolo (tibia) (Foun), 2' Piccolo (tibia) (Solo), 2' Harm. Piccolo Foun!, 2' Piccolo Main [Concert Flute]$, 1 2/5' Tierce Main [Concert Flute], 16' Piano , 8' Piano 4' Piano Solo Marimba, Marimba Main , Solo Harp , Harp (Main), Solo Xylophone , Solo Xylophone , Xylophone (Main), Chrysoglott (Main), Chrysoglott (Solo), Snare Drum Perc, Snare Drum (Main), Tambourine (Main), Castanets (Main), Chinese Block (Main), Sand Block Perc, Great Sub Octave !, Acc. to Great (now Great Octave), Solo Great Sub, Solo to Great,

Bottom Row

16' Bombarde (Orch), 16' Solo Trumpet (tc) (Foun), 16' Ophicleide (Main), 16' Diaphone (Foun), 16' Diaphonic Horn (Main), 16' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 16' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 16' Clarinet (Foun), 16' Saxophone (Solo), 16' Solo String (Orch), 16' String Ens. (Foun), 16' Vox Humana (tc) (Orch), 16' Vox Humana (tc) (Foun), 16' Vox Humana (tc) (Solo), 6' Vox Humana (tc) (Main), 8' Tuba Marabilis (Orch), 8' Solo Trumpet (Foun), 8' Trumpet (Solo), 8' Tuba Horn (Main), 8' Diaphonic Dia (Foun), 8' Open Diapason (Main), 8' Horn Diapason (Main), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 8' Strings II (Solo), 8' Orch. Oboe (Solo), 8' Kinura (Solo), 8' Musette (Foun), 8' Solo String (Orch), 8' Gamba (Foun), 8' Gamba Cel. (Foun), 8' Saxophone (Solo), 8' Clarinet (Foun), 8' Vio D' Orch. (Main), 8' Vio D' Orch. Cel. (Main), 8' Krummet (Main), 8' French Horn (now 4' Octave) (Solo), 8' Oboe Horn (Solo), 8' Salicional (Main), 8' Quintadena (Solo)

Bottom Row

8' Tuba Mirabilis (Orch), 8' English Horn (Orch), 8' Tuba (Main), 8' Solo Trumpet (Foun), 8' Diaphonic Dia. (Foun), 8' Open Dia. (Main), 8' Tibia (Orch), 8' Tibia (Foun), 8' Tibia (Solo), 8' Strings (Solo), 8' Horn Dia. (Main), 8' Gamba (Foun), 8' Gamba Cel. (Foun), 8' Saxophone (Solo), 8' Clarinet (Foun), 8' Vio d'Orch. (Main), 8' Vio d'Orch. Cel. (Main), 8' Krumet (Main), 8' French Horn (now 4' Octave) (Solo), 8' Oboe Horn (Solo), 8' Salicional (Main), 8' Quintadena (Solo), 8' Concert Flute (Main), 8' Lieblich Flute (Main), 8' Vox Humana (Orch), 8' Vox Humana (Foun), 8' Vox Humana (Solo), 8' Vox Humana (Main), 8' Dulciana (Main),

Top Row

4' Octave (Main), 4' Piccolo (Foun), 4' Piccolo (Solo), 4' Gambette (Foun) [2r], 4' Viole Main (2r), 4' Harm. Flute (Foun), 4' Flute (Main), 4' Lieblich Flute (Main), 4' Vox Humana (Orch), 4' Vox Humana (Foun), 4' Vox Humana (Solo), 4' Vox Humana (Main), 2-2/3 Twelfth (Main) [Concert Flute](Solo), 2' Harm. Piccolo Foun!, 2' Piccolo Main [Concert Flute] , 8' Piano , 4' Piano Mandolin Solo Marimba, Marimba Main Solo Harp, Harp (Main), Xylophone (Main), Chrysoglott (Main), Chrysoglott (Solo), Snare Drum Perc, Snare Drum (Main), Tambourine (Main), Castanets (Main), Chinese Block (Main), Tom Tom (Main), Sand Block Perc Acct. Oct. Solo To Acc.
PEDAL

Left top straight bolster

 bottom straight bolster  

to left of lower acc row

Bomb to Pedal, Great to Pedal, Solo to Pedal, Accomp to Pedal, -,

Third Row (top short bolster)

8' Solo String (Orch), 8' Gamba (Foun), 8' Horn Diapason (Main), 8' String (Solo), 8' Clarinet (Foun), 8' Cello (Main), 8' Flute (Main), 4' Piccolo (Orch), 16' Piano , 8' Piano, Solo Harp , Harp (Main), Tympani Perc, Bass Drum Perc Cymbal Perc, Snare Drum Perc, Bass Drum (Main), Jazz Cymbal (Main), Snare Drum (Main), Chinese Gong Perc, Tambourine (Main), Castanets (Main), Chinese Block (Main), Triangle Main

Bottom Row

32' Diaphone (Foun), 16' Bombarde (Orch), 16' Diaphone (Foun), 16' Ophicleide (Main), 16' Double Eng. Horn (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 16' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 16' Diaphonic Horn (Main), 16' Clarinet (Foun), 16' Bass String Orch!, 16' Bourdon Main [Concert Flute], 8' Tuba (Orch), 8' Solo Trumpet (Foun), 8' Tuba Horn (Main), 8' Eng. Horn (Orch), 8' Octave (Foun), 8' Open Diapason (Main), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Solo)

 Pedal Pizzicato, 16' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 16' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 16' Tibia Clausa (Solo), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Tibia Clausa (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Solo), Tibia ens (plays all) [single gap], Bomb 2t, 16' Bombarde (Orch), 16' English Horn Orch

Ped 2t, 16' Bombarde (Orch), Tympani Perc, Bass Drum Perc Cymbal Perc, Snare Drum Perc, Kettle Drum (Main), Chinese Gong Perc, Snare Drum (Main), Triangle Perc, [Single gap], Acc 2t:, 8' English Horn (Orch), 8' Tuba Mirabilis (Orch), 8' Tuba Horn (Main), 8' Diaph. Dia. (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Tibia Clausa ens, 8' Saxophone (Solo), 8' Trumpet Foun , 8' Clarinet (Foun), 8' Solo String (Orch), 4' Piccolo (Orch), 4' Piccolo ens , 2' Piccolo ens Foun + Solo, [Single gap] Acc 2t , Solo Chimes, Cathedral Chimes Perc Solo Harp, Glockenspiel Perc, Triangle Perc (Main) Bird ens, Great Oct Acc. Solo to Acc., Solo to Acc. Pizz, [Small gap]Great 2t , 16' Double English Horn (Orch), 16' Solo Trumpet (tc) (Foun), 8' Tibia Clausa (Orch), 8' Solo String (Orch), Bombarde to Great, Solo to Great SubSolo to Great, Solo to Great Piz

Swell Coupler Toggle Switches

perc open, (Orch), (Solo), (Foun), (Main), perc, gen

 

Pistons

pp p mf f ff 1-10 (4 manuals), 1-10 pedal (under left acc.), Sostenudo Bottom 2 Manuals,

Shoes:

Orch, Solo , Found, Main, Gen, Cres,

Levers

Top:

Snare Roll/Crash, sfz/sfz perc,

Bottom

Soft Thunder, Loud (32) Thunder, Medium Thunder,

Left Drawer,

Fire Gong, Auto Door Bell, Chinese Gong, Boat Whistle, Log Whistle, Door Bell (Chime), Horse Hooves Fire Bell, Rain, Wind, Birds 1, Birds r ,

Right Drawer Non Functional

 
Tremulants: Right top straight bolster

Orchestral (Orch), Vox Humana (Orch), Tuba Mirab Orch Tibia (Orch), Solo (Solo), Vox Humana Solo Tibia (Solo), Foundation (Foun), Vox Humana Foun Tibia (Foun), Main (Main), Vox Humana (Main), Tuba (Main)