Weinberg Center for the Arts 20 West Patrick Street Frederick Md 21701

Our History

Opening Night, 1926

On December 23, 1926, the Tivoli, opened its doors for the first time. Built at a price of more than $350,000, the theater was, at the time, the second largest structure ever built in Frederick. Designed to comfortably seat 1,500 people, the Tivoli not only had a xvi-foot picture screen, but it could also adjust live performances with an orchestra pit, a large stage, 50 sets of pulleys for scenery, and a full complement of dressing rooms.

Unlike the area theaters of the solar day, which catered to lovers of depression-budget films, the Tivoli maintained an atmosphere of refinement. Ushers wore uniforms with gold-buttoned jackets, and the managers dressed in tuxedos. Surrounded by crystal chandeliers, marble and silk wall coverings and leather seats, an opening-dark sell-out crowd watched a selection of short features and silent films.

The Frederick Daily News published an editorial proclaiming that "Frederick may indeed feel proud of her handsome new theatre . . . The erection of such a beautiful entertainment house is in itself a tribute to the customs. It demonstrates in a most outstanding way the religion that a not bad theatrical organization has in the future of our city."

The 1940'due south

In 1940, the Tivoli became the showtime edifice in Frederick to exist air conditioned – all because of a horse race.

The building was designed with large congenital-in fans to circulate air, merely pasty Frederick summers provided a challenge. Installing air conditioning in the Tivoli would have cost more than $100,000, and the owners simply couldn't afford it.

Enter Challedon, a race horse raised in Walkersville, Maryland, just outside of Frederick. When Challedon traveled to race in the Hollywood Gold Cup Race at Hollywood Park, he was accompanied past his possessor, W.L. Brann and Brann's friend, Edward Thomas. Thomas was non only a race fan, he was also a patron of the Tivoli.

At a pre-race party, Warner Studio head Jack Warner was overheard saying he was going to bet $50,000 on the favorite. Thomas persuaded him to bet on Challedon instead. When Challedon won the race, Warner asked how he could return the favor. Thomas'south request – install air conditioning at the Weinberg. Warner made good on his offering, and for many years afterward, the Tivoli's air conditioning probably attracted more people to the theater than the shows did.

The 1950'due south

The Tivoli's original owners kept the theater through 1930's, simply somewhen sold it to a subsidiary of the Warner Brothers Corporation. By the 1950's, tv set was chipping away at movie theaters' business organization. And new, suburban cinemas were alluring an increasing number of patrons.

The Tivoli gradually fell into a state of disrepair. Staff painted the marble walls blackness to reduce glare and thick padding was used to cover the carved forest wall coverings and then that they wouldn't reverberate sound. The seat coverings deteriorated and pigment was peeling off the walls.

In the late 1950's, local man of affairs Dan Weinberg and his wife Alyce took an interest in restoring the Tivoli to its by grandeur. In 1959, the Weinbergs bought the theatre for $150,000 and eventually renovated and reopened the theater. But by the 1970'south downtown Frederick was deteriorating, businesses were leaving and large, ornate movie houses only could non compete with suburban picture show theaters.

The 1970'due south

In 1975, Dan and Alyce Weinberg and others began advocating the thought of turning the Tivoli into a cultural arts center that could exist a driving force in the revitalization of downtown Frederick. In Baronial, 1976, the theater held a 50th anniversary celebration during which initial conversations were held about the Tivoli'southward hereafter. But but two months later, the storm-driven waters of Carroll Creek flooded the theater and much of downtown Frederick. The Tivoli was nearly destroyed as water peaked three feet above stage level, submerging the seats and floating the Wurlitzer organ onto the stage. Water filled the theater, along with mud, slime and muck.

Although trigger-happy down the building was an option, individuals and companies in the customs decided to donate their services to restore much of the Tivoli's 1920s elegance. Sixteen months and $175,000 later, on Feb 9, 1978, the theater reopened equally the Weinberg Eye for the Arts, named in award of the Weinberg family unit, who donated the edifice to the City of Frederick.  The building was now equipped to showcase live performances and theater too equally film.

The Weinberg Today

The center is all the same owned and operated by the City of Frederick, with the support of the Weinberg Center for the Arts Inc.—a nonprofit system created in 1995. A capital campaign was started in 2008 to raise funds with the goal to reflect the center's original style while offering more modernistic comfort and technology. Thank you to tremendous customs support, the campaign goal was reached, and renovations officially began in the summertime of 2011. Updates include new carpeting, refurbishing of the outdoor ticket berth, and new chandeliers. In the grand lobby a new ticket desk has been built. A lighter color scheme was used to burnish the spaces and meticulous decorative painting adorns the grand lobby, vestibule and mezzanine bar surface area.

Since it began presenting live theater in 1978, the Weinberg has drawn such famous names equally Marcel Marceau, Hal Holbrook, George Carlin, Judy Collins, Tammy Wynette, Garrison Keillor, the Temptations, Michael Moore, and Tom Jones to Frederick. Broadway plays and musicals take graced the phase, as well equally symphony orchestras, choirs, comedians, dance groups, bands, storytellers and other live performances.

Archetype and silent movies are still a oversupply favorite, accompanied by the love Wurlitzer organ. The theater offers nigh 150 events annually, and numerous local arts groups perform at the Weinberg to enhance funds for their organizations. Today, the Weinberg Center for the Arts is regarded as the county's home for the performing arts, and the quondam Tivoli is once more a source of entertainment and pride for the community. With ongoing renovations and an impressive diversity of exciting arts entertainment, "The Jewel of Frederick" shines brighter than ever.

The Weinberg Wurlitzer

One of our virtually asked-nigh possessions is our mighty Wurlitzer organ. Purchased and installed in 1926 at a cost of $19,000, it continues to entertain audiences during silent movies and sing alongs. The Weinberg Wurlitzer is the just theater organ in Maryland withal in its original installation.

The 1920'south

Our theater was designed to handle both films and stage shows, and when it outset opened its doors in 1926, most films were silent. The solution – a ii-manuel Wurlitzer that generated a magnificent, booming audio from 656 pipes congenital into the theater walls. During the 1920'southward our organ accompanied Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., John Barrymore, Gloria Swanson and dozens of other stars of the silver screen. The price of a movie ticket back so – thirty cents.

At the keyboard in 1926 was George Emmans. For the then-impressive wage of $125.00 per week, Emmans had to play flawlessly near every minute from 15 minutes prior to the opening matinee in the early on afternoon until the end of the last reel, which was typically after xi:00 p.m.

Our Wurlitzer was known for existence total voiced. And then extremely total voiced that Emmans's successor, George T. Schroeder, Jr. had to hang blankets over the pipes to end patron complaints about the book. Just the thing that finally silenced the Wurlitzer was the appearance of talking films.

1950-1970

The Wurlitzer fell into disrepair along with the residue of the theater during the 1950's. But in 1959, local businessman Dan Weinberg bought the theater, dedicated to restoring it to its original grandeur.

Some organ enthusiasts establish the Wurlitzer under a pile of sheet drop cloths and decided to return it to playing status. With occasional piece of work, the organ was rendered usable. In 1969, the Potomac Valley Chapter of the American Theater Organ Society (ATOS) decided to completely restore the Wurlitzer from the ground up, including the replacement of near everything except the ivory keys and the metal pipes. The try was headed by Ray Brubacher, who would get on to get the theater'south long-time organist. When the total restoration was completed in 1970, organ virtuoso Lee Erwin traveled here from New York to accompany the 1928 film "Wings" at a rededication ceremony.

1972-1976

1972

With the organ fully restored, many members of the ATOS traveled to Frederick to play it. The Wurlitzer was such a hit that the ATOS leadership decided to hold a national rededication of the organ during its 1972 convention in Washington, D.C. Viii hundred ATOS members fabricated plans to visit Frederick for the anniversary.

Just days earlier the celebration, hurricane Agnes blasted the entire mid-Atlantic declension, pouring many inches of rain over downtown Frederick, flooding the Monocacy River and the theater basement. The organ blower motor, located in the basement, spent an entire twenty-four hours under ten anxiety of water. Electrical brusque circuits completely burned out the motor's bearings and windings.

A emergency replacement motor was ordered, just the equipment delivered was unusable. Dan Weinberg, who had come up to the theater's rescue in 1959, loaded the old motor in his car and drove it to a service store in Frederick. He told the employees, who were surrounded past piles of equipment damaged by the storm, that the Wurlitzer's blower motor had to be rebuilt by the adjacent morning, regardless of the expense. The repairs were completed overnight, and the following 24-hour interval, organist Hector Olivera performed for a full business firm.

1976

In the autumn of 1976, Frederick experienced another circular of severe flooding from days of heavy rains. This time, flood waters rose out of the basement into the main part of the theater. The Wurlitzer floated upwards from the orchestra pit, on to the stage, and came to rest hanging precariously over the edge of the phase, covered with mud, slime, grass and weeds.

For more than than a yr, an army of volunteers worked to restore the theater and the Wurlitzer. And in February, 1978, the theater opened once again, complete with its honey Wurlitzer.

The Wurlitzer Today

Our organ is now playing better than always, and we'd love for you to hear information technology in person. Merely visit u.s. during a showing of a silent film to experience the aforementioned pleasure our audiences did more than than 75 years ago when they came to the Tivoli to be entertained by the mighty Wurlitzer. Make plans at present past checking out our silent movie schedule.

About the Organist

The Wurlitzer is played past Baltimore native Michael Britt, who previously served every bit a substitute for longtime organist Ray Brubacher.

Britt has been featured on a number of televised presentations on the theater piping organ, including an appearance on Maryland Public Television. He serves every bit the minister of music and organist at Brown Memorial Park Avenue Presbyterian Church building in Baltimore and banana organist at Beth-El Congregation. He is on the faculty at the Customs College of Baltimore County and holds a bachelor'south degree in organ performance from the Peabody Solarium of Music.

Thanks to:

Frederick News Post
Theatre Organ Magazine, December 1972 issue.

millersagen1975.blogspot.com

Source: https://weinbergcenter.org/about-us/

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