Tivoli Theatre

The Tivoli Theatre opened on March 19, 1921, following two years of
construction, at a cost of nearly $1,000,000 – a huge sum for its day. The
Tivoli’s interior reflects the Beaux Arts style popular for movie palaces in
the 1920s. Its high-domed ceiling, grand lobby, crystal chandeliers and
elegant foyer were designed to transport patrons to a world of richness and
splendor. Designed by the Chicago-based architectural firm of Rapp and
Rapp, the Tivoli was built to accommodate both silent movies and live stage
productions, making it state-of-the-art for its time. In 1926, the Tivoli
became one of the first public buildings in the entire country to be
air-conditioned. That same year, Paramount Studios bought the Tivoli,
making it part of the Paramount-Publix theater chain.

The theater reigned as Chattanooga’s premier movie theater through the
1940s. However, with the emergence of television in the 1950s, its
patronage declined. Forced by its owners to close after the last show on
August 17, 1961, the theater narrowly escaped demolition.

In 1963, a grant from Chattanooga’s Benwood Foundation allowed the Tivoli to
reopen after a partial renovation. The occasion was the March 5, 1963,
sell-out performance of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra. The Tivoli was
placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and was purchased
by the City of Chattanooga from ABC Southeastern Theaters in 1976 for
$300,000.

In 1979, The Chattanooga Arts Council (now Allied Arts) received a $25,000
grant from the Lyndhurst Foundation for a feasibility study on restoring the
Tivoli to its former glory. It wasn’t until 1986, however, that the State
of Tennessee made $3.5 million available for renovation. A private campaign
raised another $3.2 million, and the City of Chattanooga contributed
$300,000.

After a two-year renovation, the Tivoli re-opened to rave reviews on March
29, 1989. In addition to a complete cosmetic overhaul, the Tivoli’s
technical improvements included new dressing rooms to accommodate up to 70
performers, new state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, a
hydraulic-lift orchestra pit and a new “green room” and rehearsal
facilities. Stage depth was increased by over 14 feet to meet the
requirements of today’s concerts and theatrical tours.

The organ at the Tivoli Theatre was installed in 1926 at a cost of $30,000 –
a considerable sum for a 12-rank organ when you consider that the 78-rank
Austin was installed at the auditorium just one year earlier for $44,000.
The organ was not used after 1939 until local organ curator Bill Barger, now
of Barger & Nix, became interested in getting it playing again. It was
first played again in 1963. During 1977 it was used during a very
successful series that showed films from the 1930s and 1940s. In the early
1990s the console and switching were converted to solid-state. The console
is now on a moveable platform and can be moved anywhere on the stage or in
the pit. The organ is in good condition and is used for various events –
particularly graduations.

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Op. 780, Style 235, 1926, 3/12

GREAT

16′ English Horn
16′ Trumpet
16′ Tuba Profunda
16′ Diaphone
16′ Tibia Clausa
16′ Orchestral Oboe
16′ Clarinet
16′ String Ensemble III
16′ Bourdon
16′ Vox Humana
8′ English Horn
8′ Trumpet
8′ Harmonic Tuba
8′ Diaphonic Diapason
8′ Tibia Clausa
8′ Orchestral Oboe
8′ Kinura
8′ Viole d’Orchestre
8′ Viol Celeste
8′ Salicional
8′ Concert Flute
8′ Vox Humana
5 1/3′ Tibia Quint
4′ Trumpet
4′ Cornett
4′ Octave
4′ Piccolo
4′ Viol
4′ Octave Celeste
4′ Salicet
4′ Flute
4′ Vox Humana
3 1/5′ Tibia Tenth
2 2/3′ Tibia Twlefth
2 2/3′ Flute Twelfth
2′ Fifteenth
2′ Piccolo-Tibia
2′ Piccolo-Flute
1 3/5′ Tierce
1′ Flute
16′ Piano
8′ Piano
4′ Piano
Harp
Marimba
Xylophone
Glockenspiel
Chrysoglott
Cathedral Chimes
Sub
Unison Off
Super
Solo to Great 16
Solo to Great 8
Solo to Great 4

GREAT SECOND TOUCH

16′ English Horn
16′ Trumpet
16′ Tuba Profunda
8′ English Horn
8′ Trumpet
8′ Harmonic Tuba
8′ Tibia Clausa
Solo to Great
SO to GT Pizzicato

ACCOMPANIMENT

8′ English Horn
8′ Trumpet
8′ Harmonic Tuba
8′ Diaphonic Diapason
8′ Tibia Clausa
8′ Clarinet
8′ Viol d’Orchestre
8′ Viol Celeste
8′ Salicional
8′ Concert Flute
8′ Vox Humana
4′ Octave
4′ Piccolo
4′ Viol
4′ Octave Celeste
4′ Salicet
4′ Flute
4′ Vox Humana
2 2/3′ Twelfth
2′ Flute Piccolo
8′ Piano
4′ Piano
Harp Sub
Harp
Marimba
Chrysoglott
Chrysoglott Octave
Super
Solo to Accomp 8′

ACCOMP SECOND TOUCH

8′ English Horn
8′ Harmonic Trumpet
8′ Tuba
8′ Diaphonic Diapason
8′ Tibia Clausa
8′ Clarinet
4′ Piccolo
Piano
Glockenspiel Octave
Snare Drum
Tap Cymbal
Brush Cymbal
Great to Accomp 4′
Solo to Accomp 8′
SO to ACC Pizzicato

ACCOMP PERCUSSION

Snare Drum
Tomtom
Sizzle Cymbal
Tap Cymbal
Brush Cymbal
Castinets
Tambourine
Chinese Block
Sleigh Trap
Triangle

SOLO

16′ English Horn
16′ Trumpet
16′ Tuba Profunda
16′ Diaphone
16′ Tibia Clausa
8′ English Horn
8′ Trumpet
8′ Harmonic Tuba
8′ Diaphonic Diapason
8′ Tibia Clausa
8′ Orchestral Oboe
8′ Clarinet
8′ Kinura
8′ String Ensemble III
8′ Concert Flute
8′ Vox Humana
2 2/3′ Tibia Twelfth
2′ Piccolo
1 3/5′ Tierce
1 1/3′ Larigot
1′ Fife
Piano
Harp
Marimba
Xylophone
Glockenspiel
Sleigh Bells
Chrysoglott
Cathedral Chimes
Sub
Octave
Third Solo
Fifth Solo
Seventh Solo
Unison Off
Great to Solo 8′
Great to Solo 4′

PEDAL

32′ Tibia Resultant
32′ Bourdon Resultant
16′ Tuba Profunda
16′ Diaphone
16′ Tibia Clausa
16′ Bourdon
8′ English Horn
8′ Trumpet
8′ Harmonic Tuba
8′ Diaphonic Diapason
8′ Tibia Clausa
8′ Clarinet
8′ Cello
8′ Salicional
8′ Flute
4′ Octave
4′ Flute
16′ Piano
8′ Piano
Accomp to Pedal 8′
Great to Pedal 8′
Great to Pedal 4′
Solo to Pedal 8′

PEDAL PERCUSSION

Bass Drum
Kettle Drum
Sizzle Cymbal
Tap Cymbal
Bruch Cymbal
Triangle
Accomp Traps

TREMULANTS

Main
Harmonic Flute
Solo
Trumpet
Tibia Clausa
Vox Humana
Blank
Blank

GENERAL

Mandolin
Xylophone
Chrysoglott
Tambourine
Chinese Block
Blank (yellow)
Blank (white)
Blank (red)
Blank (black)

The stoplist was copied from the 210 stop tabs and is listed here in the
order that they appear on the console.