Requiem for the Mighty Wurlitzer

June 20, 2008 4:36 PM

A recently divulged casualty of the Iowa floods (previously covered on Mefi here) is the Mighty Wurlitzer organ at the Paramount Theater. The pictures are pretty awful, and the video is even worse. If you grew up in Cedar Rapids any time in the last 80 years, you'll have heard the Wurlitzer on at least one occasion. Cedar Rapidians are vowing to "Return and Rebuild".

"It’s ready for you– This Palace of Splendor with its acre of seats. The rare paintings are hung, the sculptures are in place, the deep carpet is waiting for the tread of thousands who will come to marvel at the countless wonders!"
…The Cedar Rapids Evening Gazette and Republican, 1928.

posted by thanotopsis (5 comments total)

.

*dissonant organ chord*
posted by optovox at 4:39 PM on June 20, 2008

Sad stories coming out of that part of the country. Great post.
posted by nola at 7:28 PM on June 20, 2008

Fuck you, nature.
posted by dirigibleman at 7:57 PM on June 20, 2008 [2 favorites has favorites]

That sucks. Thanks for the post, though. I never would have known. What a loss.
posted by paddysat at 10:29 PM on June 20, 2008

That is very sad.
posted by LobsterMitten at 6:25 PM on June 21, 2008