| The pipe organ is owned by the HTOS and will remain in the Palace Theatre. HTOS volunteers are working to complete the restoration and reinstallation of the original pipe organ that was begun in 2000. In cooperation with the Friends of the Palace, the HTOS presents concerts and silent movie shows to support the ongoing pipe organ project and restoration of the Palace Theatre. |
| Aloha & Welcome to the HILO THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY and its PALACE THEATRE PIPE ORGAN PROJECT |
| Palace Pipe Organ Project in 2000 Palace Pipe Organ Project in 2001 Palace Pipe Organ Project in 2004 & 2005 |
| MAHALO (Thanks) to the generous individuals and businesses who have contributed time, services, materials and major financial donations to support the Palace Theater pipe organ project: Roger Angell; Lowell Angell; Bill Petty; Don Baker; Duane Dodgson; Dan Anderson & P.T. of ATTCO INC; CONSOLIDATED AMUSEMENT COMPANY; Cheryl "Quack" Moore; Roxanne Aburamen; KOEHNEN'S INTERIORS; Karyl Franks; Joe Sebastian; Harold Segovia; Tim Iida; Michael Cadaoas; Ron Creager; Rick Mazurowski; Mike Kingston; Perry Armor; Bob Alder; CASTLE RESORTS; Hideo Yoshida; Suchon Lee; Walter Mensching; Steve Carvalho; Tommy Stark; Scott Bosch; Richard Harger; Al Jackson; Hawaiian Telcom; Doug Rightmer; Dwight Beacham & ALLEN ORGAN COMPANY; Toni Barnhart; Alex Carney & Electro-Motor Services; Bill Field & Old Town Music Hall; Church Organs Hawaii; Barry Taniguchi & KTA SUPERSTORES; RESTAURANT KAIKODO; Gil & Teri Gagnon; KEN'S HOUSE OF PANCAKES; Richard Moore; Mark Gilliam & SOLID STATE ORGAN SYSTEMS; Ty Lewis; Clay Callaway; Hawaii County Fire Department |
| PHOTOS OF THE WAIKIKI THEATRE PIPE ORGAN RESCUE AND REINSTALLATION IN THE PALACE ARE NOW POSTED HERE: Organ Transplant In Paradise (2004) |
| Roger Angell tells the history of the original Palace pipe organ and his role in its rescue and preservation before he eventually donated it back to the Palace Theater in 1991. A brief history of the original Palace pipe organ |
| To Palace Theatre Home Page for info on current events and program schedules in Downtown Hilo's historic performing arts center. |
| Donations by check may be made out to HTOS-Palace Organ Project and sent to: Hilo Theatre Organ Society c/o Palace Theater 38 Haili Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 The Hilo Theatre Organ Society (AKA "Hilo Bay Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society) is a 501-C-3 tax exempt organization. All donations are deductible as allowed by IRS regulations. HTOS officers: Don Baker, President donbaker@hawaii.rr.com Bob Alder, Vice-President rlalder@aol.com Duane Dodgson, Secretary/Treasurer ddodgson@hawaii.rr.com |
| Your support is vital to the completion of this project. All labor is being done by our volunteers. Donations will help purchase needed supplies, equipment and replacement parts. Secure tax deductible donations may be made on line using VISA / Mastercard / Discover / Amex by clicking on the DONATE link below. |
| (This page will be updated from time to time, so please check back often) The Hilo Theatre Organ Society (aka Hilo Bay Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society) is alive and well! On 14 February 2005 an agreement was signed by Friends of the Palace President Cheryl "Quack" Moore and Hilo Theatre Organ Society (HTOS) President Don Baker. |
| Right: Johnny DeMello was the longtime popular organist at the Palace and Hilo theatres. He is shown here at the original Palace console circa 1934. This console would be destroyed by the 1960 tsunami that ravaged Hilo. |
| Hear the Palace organ played by Tommy Stark, Dwight Beacham and Bob Alder. Click on title to listen. MP3 files NOTE: Some users may have to right click on title and then select "Save Target As..." |
| ABOUT THE HILO THEATRE ORGAN SOCIETY |
| OUR FRIENDS & RESOURCES: |
| CHURCH ORGANS HAWAII Representing ALLEN ORGANS, STORY & CLARK PIANOS, REUTER PIPE ORGANS, MAAS-ROWE CARILLONS email: ChurchOrgansHI@aol.com |
| CINEMATONE Electronic & Digital Organ Service & Repair email: organservice@aol.com |
| BOSCH SERVICE Complete Pipe Organ Repair, Service & Tuning email: boschs001@earthlink.net |
| HELP PRESERVE THE HILO PALACE PIPE ORGAN |
| Tax deductible donations can be sent to: HTOS Palace Organ Project c/o Palace Theater 38 Haili Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 |
| Secure online donations may be made with major credit cards through PayPal by clicking on this button: |
| Palace Theater, 38 Haili St, Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Map |
| Plan to stop in Downtown Hilo on Wednesdays, at 11:00 AM, for the weekly "HAWAI'IANA LIVE!" AT THE PALACE featuring the Pipe Organ, Stories and Songs of Old Hawai'i, Ancient & Modern Hula and Historic Films. After the show, enjoy exploring Historic Downtown Hilo including shopping, dining and the famous Hilo Farmers Market! |
| ARE YOU VISITING THE BIG ISLAND? |
| Important donation received from SOLID STATE ORGAN SYSTEMS: Solid State Organ Systems, a leading innovator and developer of the highest quality electronic systems for pipe organs, has presented a donation of their diode matrix relay system circuit boards to the HTOS for the Palace Theater organ project. This valuable contribution will allow for several more unified ranks of pipes to be added to organ. The HTOS is very grateful to Mr. Mark Gilliam, of SSOS, for his support and assistance. |
| Hawaii's Largest Theatre Pipe Organ. |
| Tommy Stark, Bob Alder, the Palace & its organ on YouTube Palace Theater TOMMY STARK BOB ALDER: "Hilo March" BOB ALDER: "Waikiki" BOB ALDER: "I'll Remember You" |
| COMING EVENTS: |
| Photo by Toni Barnhart of Far Flung Productions |
| Photo by Toni Barnhart of Far Flung Productions |
| ALL RECORDED PERFORMANCES AVAILABLE FOR LISTENING BY PERMISSION OF THE ARTISTS. |
HTOS and the Palace Theater visited by
nearly 40 organ enthusiasts travelling with
Wayne and Cheryl Seppala's Organ Stop Hawaii Cruise.
Upon arriving in the port of Hilo on 27 October, following their voyage from the West Coast aboard the Celebrity Mercury,
the passengers were greeted at the Palace Theater with Tommy Stark playing the pipe organ.
Bob Alder gave a brief talk about the history of the theater and the Robert-Morton organ, and played the Hawaiian favorite
"Waikiki" on the organ.
Following Alder's performance, cruise hosts Wayne and Cheryl Seppala took to the keyboards, even including a piano and
organ duet!
Several of the cruise passengers then took the opportunity to put the Mighty Morton through its paces. The organ was well
received and won praises from everyone attending.
After their brief visit, the passengers were then driven up to view the on-going eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano.
nearly 40 organ enthusiasts travelling with
Wayne and Cheryl Seppala's Organ Stop Hawaii Cruise.
Upon arriving in the port of Hilo on 27 October, following their voyage from the West Coast aboard the Celebrity Mercury,
the passengers were greeted at the Palace Theater with Tommy Stark playing the pipe organ.
Bob Alder gave a brief talk about the history of the theater and the Robert-Morton organ, and played the Hawaiian favorite
"Waikiki" on the organ.
Following Alder's performance, cruise hosts Wayne and Cheryl Seppala took to the keyboards, even including a piano and
organ duet!
Several of the cruise passengers then took the opportunity to put the Mighty Morton through its paces. The organ was well
received and won praises from everyone attending.
After their brief visit, the passengers were then driven up to view the on-going eruption of Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano.
| Above: Wayne Seppala at the organ console and Cheryl Seppala at the piano. |
| EVENTS FEATURING THE PALACE ORGAN Bob Alder will perform before these shows: |
| The Four Manual ROBERT ~ MORTON |
| 19 Ranks of pipes are playing (as of 17 June 2010) |
| The 1922 vintage organ console has been enlarged and updated with a full capture combination system: Twenty General pistons. Eight Divisional pistons per manual. Twelve Memory Levels. |
| Plan to stop in Downtown Hilo on Wednesdays, at 11:00 AM, for the weekly "HAWAI'IANA LIVE!" AT THE PALACE featuring the Pipe Organ, Stories and Songs of Old Hawai'i, Ancient & Modern Hula and Historic Films. After the show, enjoy exploring Historic Downtown Hilo including shopping, dining and the famous Hilo Farmers Market! |
| PALACE ORGAN PIPE CHAMBERS |
|