HCR 19 Text

House Concurrent Resolution No. 19

(By Delegates Morgan, Craig, Leach, Stephens, Howard and Sobonya)
[Introduced January 17, 2006.]

"Designating the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ, located in Huntington, West Virginia, as the official theater pipe organ of West Virginia."
Whereas, The Bluefield, WV, Granada Theater Wurlitzer theater pipe organ, now installed in the Keith Albee Theater in Huntington, WV, is the sole remaining theater pipe organ originally installed in a theater in the State of West Virginia; and
Whereas, The original Keith Albee Wurlitzer theater organ has been sold to a private individual and cannot be returned in its original state; and
Whereas, The theater organ is a uniquely American musical invention, designed and constructed to provide sound accompaniment in the silent era of motion pictures; and
Whereas, Between 1910 and the 1930s, there were nearly 7,000 theater organs across the United States performing each day for motion pictures; and
Whereas, Soon after sound came to motion pictures, the theater organs were abandoned, discarded, given away, or left to languish dormant in their theaters, leaving at the present time approximately 125 theater organs in public venues nationally; and
Whereas, In 2001, the Huntington Theater Organ Project, Inc, a not-for-profit, tax-exempt West Virginia Corporation consisting of private citizens was established to renovate and install the Bluefield Granada Theater Wurlitzer in the Keith Albee Theater in Huntington, WV; and
Whereas, The Huntington Theater Organ Project, Inc., has obtained parts of the Moller theater organ originally installed in the Smoot Theater, Parkersburg, WV which will be added to the theater organ installed in the Keith Albee Theater; and
Whereas, The glorious, majestic sounds of the most powerful musical instrument ever produced will once again thrill West Virginians in such events as mini-musical concerts between movies, Marshall University Artists Series, an annual concert series, and educational curriculum programs with area schools and universities; and
Whereas, The theater organ installed in the Keith Albee Theater is the only remaining theater organ built for a theater in the Great State of West Virginia and the glorious, majestic sounds of the most powerful musical instrument ever produced will once again thrill West Virginians in such events as mini-concerts between films, an annual concert series, and educational curriculum programs with area schools and universities;
Be it resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ located in Huntington is hereby designated the official theater pipe organ of the State of West Virginia.

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