Dr.  Doug Rittmann, Mighty Wurlitzer Organist

The Mighty Wurlitzer was a major part of the theater experience enjoyed by its patrons. Each of the organ’s fifteen ranks produced the same sound within the rank at a different pitch for each pipe. Containing 1,071 pipes, the Mighty Wurlitzer replicated traditional instruments such as the piccolo, clarinet, viola, tuba, oboe and marimba. Other characteristic sounds offered up as part of the organ’s Toy Box (located above the organ console) included castanets, sleigh bells, a fire gong, train whistle, horse hooves and, among others, the sound of the surf crashing on the beach. It was this depth of sound that was essential in providing the wide range of sound effects for the silent films of the late 1920’s and early 1930’s. By the time the Plaza Theatre opened, silent films would soon be on the decline and the organ would be used for sing-a longs, radio broadcasts and entertaining patrons before and after shows. Dr. Doug Rittmann played the "Stars and Stripes Forever" as his closing theme song for each performance.