GSTOS
moved the 4/23 Robert-Morton "Loew's
Paradise Wonder Morton" into Loew's
Jersey on Saturday July 26 1997.
Moving Day July 26 1997
"I
can't believe it !!!!!" said Bob
Balfour after over 78 volunteers from
GSTOS and Friends of the Loew's worked
from 10 AM to 4:30 PM July 26 1997 unloading
a 65 ft moving van that was filled to
capacity with the Wonder Morton Theatre
Pipe Organ. The Wonder Morton dusted
off and moved into the Loew's Jersey
Theatre on Journal Square Jersey City
NJ. There it is being stored and readied
for an inspection, rebuilding, and installation
in the theatre. The process of rebuilding
and reinstalling the large 4 manual
23 rank theatre pipe organ is expected
to take several years and a committee
has already begun a fund raising drive
for the project, estimated to cost around
$50,000.00. Also on hand donating their
services was Quality Fork Lift, not
only to move the console and blower
into the theatre, but also to lift the
trays of pipes into the main chamber
for storage. Thanks to Quality Fork
Lift and also to ABC Movers/National
Van Lines. 
The
Wonder Morton moved in was one of the
5 Wonder Mortons originally installed
in Loew's Wonder Theatres built around
Manhattan in the late 1920's. This instrument,
is an exact duplicate of the Wonder
Morton that was removed from the Loew's
Jersey Theatre some 25 years ago (and
now in a theatre in Santa Barbara CA).
The organ just moved into Loew's Jersey
was originally in the Loew's Paradise
Theatre in the Bronx and also was removed
about 25 years ago and stored in a midwest
warehouse until discovered by GSTOS.
It
will probably take several years to
have the new Wonder Morton sing in all
its glory, but GSTOS now owns a Wonder
Morton. All of the volunteers both now
and in the future are thanked for this
Hurculean effort !!! -- Bob Balfour
Xylophones and other tuned percussion
are all part of the organ. Here they
sit on the
sidewalk outside the theatre on moving
day.
