Draft:Mighty Wurlitzer
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The Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra, commonly known as the Mighty Wurlitzer, is a type of theatre organ produced by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company from 1910 until 1943. It is based upon the innovations of and theatre organs invented by Robert Hope-Jones, who was employed by Wurlitzer from 1910 until his death in 1914.
 The "Mighty Wurlitzer" organ (Type 250) at the Berlin Musical Instrument Museum. | |
| Keyboard instrument | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Wurlitzer Hope-Jones Unit Orchestra |
| Classification | Aerophone |
| Inventor | Robert Hope-Jones |
| Developed | 1910 |
| Related instruments | |
| Builders | |
The Wurlitzer Company built at least 2,143 theatre organs, a number greater than every other theatre organ builder combined. They were primarily installed in theatres in the United States and United Kingdom to provide musical accompaniment to silent films. Twelve Mighty Wurlitzers remain in the venues where they were originally installed.
History
Robert Hope-Jones
Robert Hope-Jones was an English musician and organ builder who believed that the organ should be able to imitate a full orchestra of instruments.[1] Hope-Jones engaged in numerous organ-building ventures in the United Kingdom and the United States before establishing his own company, the Hope-Jones Organ Company, in 1907 in Elmira, New York. Hope-Jones built a total of 246 organs between 1887 and 1911.[2] Hope-Jones, depressed and frustrated by his association with Wurlitzer, died by suicide in 1914.[3][4]
Development
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company acquired the Hope-Jones Organ Company in 1910, including its patents and the factory in Elmira.[5]
Silent film era
Decline and recent history
Following the development of the sound film, the lack of need for musical accompaniment in theatres led to many Mighty Wurlitzers falling into disuse.