PACKERLAND THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY, A CHAPTER OF A.T.O.S.

HOME PAGE
THE BRITISH WURLITZER WEEKEND
CAPITOL CIVIC CENTRE
ARTSTREET 2005
THE LAKESHORE CINEMA
WEIL CENTER TOUR
THEATRE ORGANS EXPLAINED
ABOUT US
BECOME A MEMBER
CONTACT US
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
THE BUSTER KEATON FILM FEST
MEMBERS PAGE
NEWSLETTER
THE VIRTUAL WURLITZER
LINKS
PROJECT PHOTOS

sffoxconsole.jpg

Welcome to our web site!

The Packerland Theatre Organ Society is located in NE Wisconsin.

Updated 05/15/2012 Our next show will be Monday July 16th at the History Museum in Appleton

We now have a facebook page, Packerland Theater Organ Society, click LIKE and get updates, we will be posting photo albums and videos.

Sponsoring our concerts is WISCONSIN PUBLIC RADIO isit their website at www.wpr.org

Also THE AVENUE 91.1 website www.theavenue91.com

The Packerland Theatre Organ Society will be presenting Ramon Navarro in Scaramoush at 6:30pm on Monday July 16th at the History Museum in Appleton WI   Frank Rippl plays the 1926 Austin Pipe organ, doors open at 6pm, tickets are 7.00   

Our Packerland Chapter of A.T.O.S. became officially chartered on 01/31/04. As of December 2004 we became incorporated in the State of Wisconsin as a non-profit corporation. The incorporated name is Packerland Theatre Organ Society a 501 (c) (3) organization. 

Packerland Chapter follows the mission statement of the American Theatre Organ Society and has set goals of preserving and promoting the art of the world's most powerful instrument THE THEATRE ORGAN.   

Feel free to browse our website and learn about the Theatre Organ and events held in our area to present this art form.

Packerland has  negotiated with the Green Bay Film Society to partner with us  to present silent films with organ and sometimes a small orchestra. This organization is non-profit and has a lot of members that attend the current offering of films.

One of our main functions is to present the Theatre Organ historically as a accompaniment instrument to silent films. These powerful instruments under a skilled organist can bring out emotions critical to a sucessful movie going experience. Large orchestras are sometimes not able to keep up with the action on the film and this is why these organs were sold under the name Unit Orchestras. They were the voice of the silent movie in thousands of theatres in many countries. There are about 500 of these organs left in the world and many still play in their original theatres, many are in private homes.

 Our main goal is to acquire a theatre organ and use it in public performances. Currently we are seeking an auditorium, hall or theatre willing to have a wonderful entertaining instrument installed for public use and for society members to practice on. Note, these are not classical or church type instruments but much closer to the entertainment type MIDI keyboards and home organs we know today, except they use pipes and real percussions to make the sounds of a band or orchestra.   

In our territory there are 13 theatre organs that include Wurlitzer, Barton, Kimball, Moeller and Kilgen. Many are installed in Theaters and others are owned by our members who have them playing currently in their homes or have them under construction.

Please get in touch to offer comments and join our mailing list.
 

image001.jpg
Tom McNeely and Frank Rippl at the Meyer Theatre Wurlitzer

deperecinema.jpg
The DePere Cinema is one of our hosts for our movies and music

weiloutside.jpg
The Stephanie H. Weil Center has a Kimball Theatre Organ with 12 ranks of pipes. Take the tour.

austinorganatmuseum.jpg
THE 1926 AUSTIN PIPE ORGAN AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM IN APPLETON WI.

fredhermes2002.jpg
Packerland member Fred Hermes' 5 manual Wurlitzer Organ in his basement theater seating 200.

 

We invite you to visit us or attend an event. Our members are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the organization and how you can join.

Packerland Theatre Organ Society* PO BOX 5161* DePere WI * US * 54115