3/31/2024 0 Comments Wurlitzer organ model 30When Ayars died in 1992, he willed it to his friend Brantley Duddy, and Duddy contacted the Smithsonian, which gratefully accepted it for the musical instrument collection of the National Museum of American History. Ayars kept it in museum-quality condition during the 30-some years it was played in his home. The Smithsonian’s instrument is a rare, completely original Wurlitzer donated by the estate of Lowell Ayars, a New Jersey music teacher, in 1993. This one worked its wonders in the Fox Theatre in Appleton, Wisconsin. In the early 20th century, thousands of these gigantic pipe organs were installed in movie theaters throughout the United States, Canada, England and Australia to accompany silent movies. Of all the musical instruments in the Smithsonian Institution’s collection of 5,200 violins, pianos, banjos and others, the largest-it fills three rooms-represents a unique period of nearly forgotten American history. The Smithsonian's Wurlitzer (its console above, with the Star-Spangled Banner) likely played the national anthem before movies.Įric Long/National Musuem of American History, SI
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