Crystal Theatre

Crystal Theatre is the lone survivor of a half dozen theaters built in Crystal Falls during the heyday of 1920's cinema. With the help of a Michigan Equity Grant by the State of Michigan, this theater is being restored as the Crystal Falls Performing Arts Center, a multi-purpose performance facility and assembly hall serving residents and visitors in a fifty mile radius of the Upper Peninsula community.

The theatre's revival is part of a larger program of historic preservation currently being undertaken on the sloping Superior Avenue. Recognizing good building design from the past and led by the Crystal Falls Arts Association, local businesses and city planners are determined to save this grand old building. The original art deco wall murals and architectural detailing have remained remarkably intact, and a 3/21 Moeller Theatre Pipe Organ has been found as a replacement for the original Wurlitzer Organ.

    The existing design and architecture will provide the point of reference for the renovation and construction of additional spaces. Additional audience amenities will include new restrooms, concessions and improvements for public safety and handicap accessibility.

"It is a mighty fine theater. Every detail of the building would do a much larger city credit."  --Mr. Boex, installer of the original Wurlitzer Organ in the Ejay Theater, 1927

With its 1,620 pipes some 18 feet long, Crystal Theater's 3/21 Moeller Theatre Pipe Organ is three times larger than the Wurlitzer organ which graced the theater in its early days. Its prominent display will be a focal point of theater organ shows and special performances.

The Moeller Theatre Pipe Organ has 61-note manuals, twenty-one sets of pipe voices, and a 32-note pedal board. The first installation (only seven ranks of pipes) was completed on December 1, 1927, at the Illinois College of Music in Chicago at a cost of $6,200. There the organ was used to train theater organists to accompany silent movies.

The organ was sold and moved several times. Fourteen ranks from a Moeller Organ at Lowe's Metropolitan Theatre in Brooklyn, New York, were later added in Green Bay, Wisconsin, tripling the size of the organ to its current size of twenty-one ranks or 1,620 separate pipes. The pipes range from pencil size to 16-foot long wooden and metal pipes, each weighing hundreds of pounds.

Percussion instruments include kettle drum, bass drum, tom tom, snare drum, crash cymbal, sizzle cymbal, bells, castanets, wood block, tambourine, orchestra bells, sleigh bells, bird song, glockenspiel, harp/chrysoglott, auto horn, and train whistle, so far...

Two blowers in the basement of the theater, which are run by 7 1/2 and 15 horse power motors, supply air to the pipes and percussions.

Continual work to improve the workings of this organ is being done by the Crystal Theatre Board and interested workers.

We are happy to report that we have come a long way in our quest to preserve a theater atmosphere of years gone by, and yet provide an attractive, comfortable facility in which to enjoy live performances. Theater improvements (not all of which can be seen) continued to be completed, and show presentations were varied and generally well-attended. Your financial support made it all possible! Equally encouraging was the growing attendance from other communities within our target 50-mile service area. If you reflect for a moment on the many benefits a highly successful theater will bring to our corner of the world, you will realize what motivates your theater's staff of volunteers.

Much is yet to be accomplished, however, so if you would like to share in this dream, please consider supporting Crystal Theatre. Growing numbers of people have supported this restoration effort by naming Crystal Theater in their wills.

Donations are categorized as follows:

• Friend of the Theater -- Any Amount
• Contributing Member -- $25
• Supporting Member -- $50
• Patron -- $100
• Backstage Club -- $500
• First Nighter -- $1,000
• Golden Circle -- $10,000 (or more)
  

A new project was begun in 1999. Over the years, many auditorium seats were damaged or have deteriorated and don't meet fire codes. All of the seats have been removed and shipped to Grand Rapids, MI for total renovation.

Community help is needed. A seat can be endowed for $125; a plaque inscribed with each donor's name will be affixed to a seat. The name will also be placed on a plaque permanently displayed at the theater. To endow a seat, send a donation to the Crystal Theatre Seat Fund at the address below.

If you would like some written information in this regard, 
simply drop a note to the theater at:

Crystal Theatre
P.O. Box 275
Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Thank you,
Board of Directors, Crystal Theatre