Restored Wurlitzer pipe organ brings back historic cinematic experience at Oriental Theatre

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The Milwaukee Film organization has restored a 94-year-old Wurlitzer pipe organ, bringing back the silent film experience to the Oriental Theatre.

A Wurlitzer pipe organ was one of the most mass-produced pipe organs in the silent film era around the 1920's because of its ability to imitate almost any kind of sound effect.

"Originally when films started to exist, they were silent films. And when a theater needed, say, a soundtrack they would either hire a 30-person orchestra or they'd buy one of these and pay one guy to do the job instead of 30," said Toby Washburn, restoration technician.

Milwaukee Film bought the organ from Jeff Weiler, a renowned expert in pipe organ restoration, in 2019.

"So, this organ is just exciting because it's an original 1925 piece of cinema history that's been restored to its original state and sound. So, people will get to experience what cinema was like in the 20's in this beautiful theater which was also built in the 20's," said Robyn Ehrlich, Media Coordinator for Milwaukee Film.

The Wurlitzer is now stationed on Milwaukee's east side in the equally historic Oriental Theatre. The restoration took about five years. Ehrlich said the organization is planning to debut the restored instrument sometime this winter.