KILGEN STORY Opened the House, Is Seen Above at the Con Sole, in 1927
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The finest example of The a Kilgen organ was the installation in the Pic cadilly Theatre, Chica go. Leo Terry, who KILGEN STORY opened the house, is seen above at the con sole, in 1927 Hy CHARLES CROOK and -BROTHER B. A. CORSINI KILGEN: here we have a name not gen theatre organ was the installation at who died just this past year, opened the too familiar to the readers of THEATRE the Piccadilly Theatre, Chicago. This Piccadilly and also the Rialto (Barton) ORGAN. Perhaps the only previous men was their pride and joy, and rightly so, Theatre, Joliet, Illinois. tion of this famous old name on these for at the time it was the largest model The console for the Piccadilly left pages was in the article which appeared the Kilgens had built. the factory in the unfinished state shown in an early issue of TIBIA about Herbie The Piccadilly Theatre was built by in the accomprnying photograph. The Koch of WHAS, Louisville, and his studio H. Schoenstadt & Sons at a cost of some fancy art and scroll wot.k, along with the Kilgen there. Yet the fact that Kilgen $4,000,000.00 in 1926-27 on the South gold-m-onze finish, were applied by the did build many theatre organs is attested Side of Chicago in the Hyde Park dis Deccrator Supply Company of Chicago, to in the accompanying list of theatre trict. This figure includes the apartment which also finished the Wurlitzer console organ installations. As nearly as can be hotel which surrounds the theatre proper, f cr the Ambassador, St. Louis. The determined at this time, we find a grand a very imposing building even today. The Baldwin Grand piano, which was to be total of 191 installations! Piccadilly was designed by C. W. and an outstanding feature of this organ, was Probably the most heard of these Geo. Rapp, Architects, who also design also finished in the same bronze-gold organs was not in a theatre, but at Radio ed the Ambassador, St. Louis, and many color. With the Decorator Supply Com Station KMOX, St. Louis, with Venida other of the large luxury houses of that pany doing both the Piccadilly and the Jones at the console. This organ shared era. The organ~ built by Geo. Kilgen & Ambassador consoles, it can be assumed time with Ann Leaf from the Paramount Sons, was purchased in April, 1926, at that they worked with the architect and Studio on CBS Radio back in the days a cost of S23,500.00, and Leo Terry did the finishing job on all of the con before a disk jockey was even dreamed assisted in the Jreparation of the stop soles for the theatres he designed. of. However, the finest example of Kil- list along with the Kilgen staff. Terry, The Piccadilly pian.o had an unique 7 action and as far as we have been able seated in a choice spot. When Leo Terry played the piano for the first time the SPECIFICATIONS OF KILGEN ORGAN♦ to discover, was one-of-a-kind ••• this IN PICCADILLY THEATRE, CHICAGO feature not having been used by anyone audience stood up to get a better look except Kilgen. Usually, in the U.S., at the instrument way up there on the along with the depression soon elimin pianos were placed in the chambers, little balcony and marveled at the won ated such "unnecessary" items as though there are a few exceptions. The der£~! expression obtained by the organ organs and organists. Today? The last motive for placing them there was mainly ist seated at the console in the pit. rumor afloat about the Piccadilly instru to obtain the expression afforded by the But all was not "peaches and cream". rre nt was that it had suffered severe swell shades. Since the Baldwin grand Naturally, everything has its little weak damage from rain and flood. A rather sad was to be exposed on the balcony below nesses, and to go back a few days before ending for such a glorious beginning. the chamber, a different arrangement had the opening, we find evidences of the (ED. NOTE: In a letter to Bro. Andy to be used. The right hand swell pedal usual chaos that precedes most impor dated Jan. 23, 1960, Tom Garrett of on the console has the often-seen piano tant events. To start with, the generator Chicago, Ill. states that he played the sustain button which as usual controlled was giving trouble and the Glockenspiel crgan a few days prior to writing the the sustaining pedal on the piano. How and xylophone hammers were slipping on letter. Other makers also used the same ever, the action of the swe 11 pedal itse 1£ their shafts. Then the reservoir springs principle described above to control the controlled the striking power of the started to snap. A new and larger gen piano volume. Wurlitzer used a four stage piano action. In other words, with the erator was supplied, the hammers were control device.) swell pedal jp a closed position the tightened and heavier springs installed wind pressure on the piano action was on the reservoirs. Everything finally low so that the piano wires were struck worked out fine, and on opening night, Kilgen Family lightly. As the pedal was depressed to Kilgen had an instrument they could truly an open position, the wind pressure was be proud of. Ace ording to research by increased so that the piano action struck The records fail to reveal how long the Kilgen family, Sebastian with full force. Thus the force of the Leo Terry remained at the Piccadilly Kilgen fled from France to Dur striking act ion varied with the posit ion console. In looking through old papers lach, Germany, where he built of the swell pedal. With this arrangement of that date, it appears he was soon fol the first Kilgen organ in 1640. the organist could control the expression lowed by Mildred Fitzpatrick, who was The trade was handed down of the piano as well as if he were at the considered the outstanding woman organ from generation to generation, piano keyboard. ist of the time by her male counterparts. It may be well to note here that op To bring this account of the Piccadil and in 1851 the Kilge n craft posite the piano, on the balcony below ly Kilgen to a close, of interest is a manship was brought to this the opposite chamber, there was placed rather novel attachment Leo Terry had country by George Kilgen, who a stringed harp, spotlighted as was the rigged up for use during his solos. He set up the first Kilgen factory piano. However, it was a "phony," as sometimes sang as he accompanied him in New York City. After George the "harp" sound was really a product self oa the organ. For this he u.sed a Kilgen 's death, the business of a regular xylophone-type harp con separate small keyboard mounted behind was brought to st. Louis by his cealed behind curtains. This xylo-harp him, a littl~ to one side. When he came son, Charles. That was in was made by Kohler-Liebich, one of the to this point of his solo he simply swung 1873, and the next fifty years very best at the time. around, faced the audience, and gave Then came the opening! Originally it them his all, while accompanying him saw the company grow to be had been scheduled for Christmas of self on this auxiliary keyboard con one of the largest, if not the 1926, but for various reasons was post nected to the main console. largest, organ manufacturers in poned until Jan. 23, 1927. The audience This wonderful instrument, like so the country. was composed of invited guests, some many others, was used for less than five Then, in 1932, Charles Kil 4000 of them, with the Mayor of Chicago years. The coming of the ct talkies" gen died and the business was handed down to his four sons; Eugene, George, Alfred and Below: Interior of Piccadilly Theatre, in 1927 Charles, Jr., after which it was operated for a short time, and dis banded. A few of the former employees then organized what was called· "Kilgen Associ ates", which also lasted a short time and disbanded. In 1939, Eugene Kilgen, with the assistance of his brother Charles, Jr., as plant manager, and Max Hess, another Kilgen veteran, as designer, organized "The Kilgen Organ Company". Shortly after organ ization, World War IT came along and the company put aside organ building and went into the production of gliders. When the war was over, the building of organs was restored and continued until the present time. The future of the company is questionable, another result of present-day inflationary. conditions. CHAMBER & RANKS Pres .Pipes°Compass Pedal Accomp. Acc. 2nd Great Gt . Bomb. Solo SOLO CHAMBER 2nd Tuba 15" 85 16'-4 16-8 8 8 16-8-4 16- 16-8-4 16-8-4 T- ·---.a. 1 O" 61 8' 8 8 8 16-8-4 -0 F=nnlish Horn · 10" 85 16'-4' 8 8 8 Tihia Clausa 15" 97 16'-2' ~ )6-8 16-8-4 8-4-2 2/3 8-4-2 2/3 16-8 16-8 16-8-4 -2 2/3 N Kin11l'n 8' 1 O" 61 ,..,.0 R 8 8 Rrass SaxoDhone 1 O" 61 8' 8 16-8 8 16-8 16-8 16-8 Snln Strinn l 0" 97 16'-2' "E:16-8 16-R..d.