Arcada Theatre organ plays once more before restoration
The dulcet tones of the Arcada Theatre's 3/16 Marr Colton/Geneva pipe organ filled the historic venue Sunday during a free concert hosted by The Chicago Area Theatre Organ Enthusiasts.
The organist, CATOE board member Taylor Trimby of Joliet, performed a mixture of melodies in the one-hour showcase, ranging from George Gershwin to Frank Sinatra, songs from the '60s and '70s, and even a compilation of songs from “The Sound of Music.”
The 89-year-old organ will be undergoing a full restoration overseen by CATOE starting this spring, and a major fundraiser will be started to help pay for it.
”Part of our restoration is to put it back into concert-ready state so we can do silent movies and do things with orchestras and choirs and bands,” Trimby said. “At one time there were hundreds, every theater had one. Now there such a few left that we want to make sure that these things are kept for future generations.”
Trimby said the group needs to raise about $120,000 for the project, which will take about a year to complete, as many replacement pieces will have to be handmade.
The fundraiser will kick off in May, and donations will be accepted via a direct link on their website. For more information, visit catoe61.org.