• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Buzard Pipe Organ Builders

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders

Committed to building the best pipe organs in the world.

  • About Us
    • The Buzard Sound
    • Our Philosophy
    • Our History
    • Our People
  • Our Instruments
    • Explore Our Instruments
    • The Buzard Collection
    • Service & Restoration Projects
    • Current Projects
  • Service & Restoration
    • Service & Restoration
    • Tuning & Maintenance
    • Restoration
    • Rebuilding & Tonal Enhancements
    • Consoles
    • Relocation
    • Consultation Services
    • For Sale
  • Contact
Our Instruments > Service Department Projects > Virginia Theater

Virginia Theater

Virginia Theater

Champaign, Illinois

1921/1924 Wurlitzer Theater Organ

Buzard Pipe Organ Builders has completed renovations and restorations to the Wurlitzer Theater Organ from the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, IL. The Wurlitzer Style 185 was first installed without a Tibia, as was the fashion in 1921; as the Tibia color became an essential component of movie theater organ accompaniment sound, the owners had one installed by Wurlitzer in 1924; it is one of a precious few instruments still found in its original home. The organ was resurrected by David Junchen during his student days at the University of Illinois in the 1960’s, and more recently had been cared for by a group of volunteers under the leadership of the late Warren York, who was also well known for his playing of the organ, especially in his trademark red socks!

  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Champaign, Illinois
  • Champaign, Illinois

The present work consists of a complete component restoration of the existing mechanism, console and pipework, while the much altered relay was replaced with a new custom-built Peterson ICS-4000 system. This system gives the organ MIDI capabilities, as well as a combination action, the original long since removed. The remaining original relay parts is stored at the Theatre.

An exciting part of this project is the addition of two ranks of Wurlitzer pipework, an Orchestral Oboe, and an English (Post) Horn. With these additions, the organ essentially becomes a Style 216, a real “jazzy” organ that was popular on the West Coast in the later 1920’s. Much care has been taken to keep these additions in Wurlitzer style through the use of restored pipework, chests, regulators and tremulants.

Following the organ’s restorations’ completion and re-dedication by the late Chris Gorsuch in 2012, the majority of the instrument was removed to the Builder’s workshop for secure storage during the Theatre’s complete restoration of 2012-2013. The organ was re-installed, regulated and tuned just in time for the Theatre’s re-opening, for the annual Roger Ebert Film Festival.

The instrument is now regularly played before feature movies and special occasions by Organist Dave Schroeder of Danville, Illinois.

Stoplists

Pedal

13 tablets

16′Ophicleide OPH
16′Bass BASS
16′Bourdon BOUR
8′Tuba Horn
8′Open Diapason OPEN
8′Tibia Clausa TIBIA
8′Cello CELLO
8′Flute FLUTE
4′Octave OCT
Bass Drum
Cymbals
Crash Cymbals
Kettle Drum

Accompaniment

19 tablets

8′Tuba Horn TUBA
8′Open Diapason OPEN
8′Clarinet CLAR
8′Viol d’Orchestra VIOL
8′Viol Celeste VIOL
8′Flute FLUTE
8′Vox Humana VOX
4′Octave OCT
4′Viol VIOL
4′Octave Celeste VIOL
4′Flute FLUTE
4′Vox Humana VOX
2 2/3′Twelfth 12th
2′Piccolo PICC
Chrysoglott CHRYS
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Castanets
Chinese Block

Solo

24 tablets

16′Ophicliede OPH
16′Bass BASS
16′Tibia TIBIA
16′Clarinet (Ten C) CLAR
16′Contra Viol (Ten C) VIOL
16′Bourdon BOUR
16′Vox Humana (Ten C) VOX
8′Tuba Horn TUBA
8′Open Diapason OPEN
8′Tibia Clausa TIBIA
8′Clarinet CLAR
8′Viol d’Orchestra VIOL
8′Viol Celeste VIOL
8′Flute FLUTE
8′Vox Humana VOX
5 1/3′Tibia Clausa
4′Octave OCT
4′Tibia TIBIA
4′Viol VIOL
4′Octave Celeste VIOL
4′Flute FLUTE
4′Vox Humana COX
2 2/3′Twelfth 12th

Nameboard

Back rail — small tablets — L to R 30 tablets

8′Clar (Pedal)
8′Cello
8′Acc/Ped
(blank)
8′Tibia Clausa (Accom.)
4′Piccolo
4’ Octave
TomTom
8′Tuba Horn (Accom. Second Touches)
8′Clarinet
Xylophone
Sleigh Bells
Triangle
16′Ophicleide (Solo Second Touches)
8′Clarinet
2 2/3′Twelfth
2′Piccolo
2′Fifteenth
1 3/5′Tierce
Chrys
Glock
Bells
Xylo
Chimes
Tibia Clausa (Tremulants)
Main
Tuba
Vox Humana

Toe

Toe Pistons — Left to Right

1Doorbell
2
3Bass Drum
4
5
6(Swell shoe)
7
8
9
Lever – Kettle Drum
Level – Repeating Cymbal

Thumb

Thumb Pistons

Under Solomf f ff fff 1 2 3 4 5
Under Acc.P mf f ff fff 1 2 3 4 5

Pipe Count

16′Tuba Horn 85 pipes
16′Open Diapason 85 pipes
16′Flute 97 pipes
16′Tibia 85 pipes
8′Clarinet 61 pipes
8′Viol d’Orchestre 73 pipes
8′Viol Celeste 73 pipes
8′Vox Humana 61 pipes
Cathedral Chimes 18 notes
Sleigh Bells 25 notes
Xylophone 30 notes
Glockenspiel 30 notes
Chrysoglott 49 notes

Filed Under: Consoles, Featured Rebuilds, Rebuilding, Service Department Projects, Tonal Enhancements

Footer

112 West Hill Street
Champaign, Illinois 61820
Tel: 217-352-1955

About Buzard
Contact

Site by Neon Moth | Privacy Policy | Copyright © 2025 Buzard Organs