Historic theatre gives piece of history back to Hood River county

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Story Published: Mar 14, 2008 at 3:35 PM PDT

By Azenith Smith

COOS BAY - As it looks to restore its own historic look and feel, a downtown theatre gives back a piece of musical equipment to its original owners, in hopes to help them preserve their own history.

Volunteers spent the last two days loading up the old Wurlitzer from the Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay to give back to Hood River county for their new historical museum.

Back in 1925, the organ belonged to the Rialto Theatre in Hood River, and when they closed it down, the owners, who also owned the Egyptian Theatre, moved it here.

Now in 2008, the Egyptian has decided to give it back since it was not being used and it was taking up space.

Scott Johnson, from the Hood River Lion's Club, says it was a bigger project than they anticipated, but he's happy to have gotten the community's help.

"The Coos Bay Lion's Club and some of the people from the fire department came out last night to help us load it," says Johnson. "It's really important because the console weighed 500 pounds and we have a huge blower that weighed 500 pounds. All that went in the truck and all the extraneous pipes and attachments are all in the truck."

Johnson adds, they're excited to have it this year, since it's the county's 100th anniversary, and they plan to keep it in storage until that new facility is built.

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