Chicago Stadium Barton Organ Removal - 3 of 3

Dismantling and removal of the Chicago Stadium 6/51 Barton theatre pipe organ. Part 3 of 3.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Chicago
• Stadium
• Illinois
• Barton
• Theatre
• Pipe
• Organ
• Blackhawks
• Bulls
• Hockey
• Arena
• Basketball

[GodivaGirl1]

It was said that it would have cost $11,000,000 dollars to move the entire organ across

the street to the new United Centre. So they put a small one in the corner and made it

sound like the old one.

[RonRizzy]

@GodivaGirl1 .....if you believe that, sure. The fact of the matter is that the organ in the stadium had 51 sets of pipes...I know a theatre organ in Michigan that's 31 sets that only cost $250,000. No...it would NOT have cost $11,000,000 to restore AND install in the new building. The organist who is still the organist for the UC has been an electronic organist for years, and simply wanted to do away with the pipe organ.

[RonRizzy]

@GodivaGirl1 I meant $250,000  to completely restore and install in its new home.

[Blackhawksrule18]

wow thats amazing, i always wanted to see the stadium, always wanted to hear the organ play or hear the sound of waynne messmer's voice in person. thats too bad that i was born a blackhawks fan in 94. =[

[SuperBlackhawksfan88]

@Blackhawksrule18 The old building was a dump, but it had character and I loved going there as a kid (b.1980)

[bfs1888]

facts, and figures are interesting, especially when they are right, BUT,,glad the organ was saved! great job guys!

[jbunzo]

Have heard the same stories. One thing to point out, I was told that many of the pipes were ties into the structure of CS. Also, the "Organ Room" above the catwalk was huge. Not sure if moving that would have increased the cost of the UC construction. Fortunately, the Organ is used a bit more than it was a few years ago during games Hawks games

[TouchMeKnott]

@snowman5676

[snowman5676]

@Dojora4

Yes it is.

[snowman5676]

@RonRizzy You are 100% right. He talked Wirtz out of it. Even though the fake barton at the uc is still the best in the NHL too bad they don't use it much anymore.

[furrypeanut1]

@RonRizzy It sickens me to think that they actually LET this happen. Who in their right mind would want to do away with something that is as much a piece of art as a historic painting? Something that has such deep roots in America's history. I can't even imagine how you could put a price on a theatre organ as such.

[alexcubs25]

@103Uke the console is in private possetion of someone, dont know who, and the rest of the organ was destroyed in a fire

[RonRizzy]

@RandyS1982 It was not Wirtz that told people this from his own mouth. It was the organist of the CS/UC that told Wirtz it would cost that much. Wirtz, not knowing any better, believed him. When a well-known, respected theatre organist came in to voice the organ for the room, that organist told Wirtz that it would NOT have cost millions and would've only cost "X" number dollars (in the thousands) and story has it that Wirtz's face just completely sank...the damage had been done already.