American Theatre Organ Society

From an article by Bill Peterson in the Winter 1963 issue of Theatre Organ

The William Wood Pipe Organ Company was established in Portland, Oregon, in 1922. William Wood (or "Billy," as his friends knew him) was a man of many talents. His genius for electrical mechanics, his profound knowledge of music and musical instruments, and his devotion to perfection in the building of pipe organs endeared him to all who knew him. He built many fine pipe organs and he carved a niche in the musical history of the Pacific Northwest.

Bill Blunk and the 4/13 Wood organ originally in
The Oaks Amusement Park Roller Rink, Portland

During the early days of silent films, the Jensen and Von Herberg theatre chain installed many fine organs in their theatres, and for a time William Wood was their service man for these instruments in the Portland area. Most of these organs were Wurlitzers, including the 4/32 Hope-Jones Wurlitzer (Opus 164) in the Portland Liberty Theatre. Billy also maintained a Marr & Colton theatre organ in suburban Forest Grove, Oregon. Since the pipe organs which he later built contained similar chestwork of excellent quality, there is no doubt that Billy was influenced by Marr & Colton in his own designs.

Most of the wooden pipes used in a William Wood organ were made in their own factory, a great many of them by the founder himself. To his specifications of wind pressure, scale, and voicing, all metal pipe work was purchased from Anton Gottfried and Son in Erie, Pennsylvania. Musical percussions were purchased from J. C. Deagan in Chicago, and the electric magnets from Reisner Manufacturing Company in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Console of the Rollerdome organ as it appeared after 34 years of constant use

The company's most popular theatre organs appear to have been two manual, eight rank instruments with a horseshoe console. The Main chamber contained a 16' Flute, Open Diapason, Viol d'Orchestra, Viole Celeste, and either a Clarinet, Krumet, Oboe, or French Horn. A metal bar Harp, if ordered, was also placed in the Main Chamber. The Solo chamber contained a 16' Tuba (if ordered), Tibia Clausa, Vox Humana, Percussions, and Traps. The consoles were equipped with two swell pedals and usually a crescendo pedal. Three tremulants were standard -- Solo, Main, and Vox Humana.

One of the company's notable organs was the 3/9 (with piano) installed in Gellers (later the Aladdin) Theatre in Portland. The brassiest was the special 2/8 at the Imperial Roller Rink in Portland. The largest organ was the 4/13 in the roller skating rink at the Oaks Amusement Park near Portland. This organ was originally installed as a 2/5 special but was enlarged, set by set at the skating rink, to its eventual 4/13 size.

The 3/6 Wood Band Organ in the Rollerdome Skating Rink, Culver City, California, 1929

In 1929 the company built and installed a special 3/6 organ in the Rollerdrome Skating Rink in Culver City, California. This organ later became the property of a former Wood Organ Company employee, Daniel F. Haworth of Burbank, California.

After the arrival of motion picture sound, the William Wood Pipe Organ Company went out of business. William Wood moved to Los Angeles where he installed one of his last pipe organs in the Shrine Roller Rink, adjoining the Shrine Auditorium. He later became the manager of this skating rink.