The organ pipes and parts in the "organ room" at house on the rock are mostly for show. At one time, I believe that some of the ranks in the chambers were actually playable from the middle few manuals of the 15-manual console; also, the small 2-manual (Wurlitzer?) console hidden under the tubular chime display, behind the typewriters, might also have played parts of this "organ". However, only the diaphones and the smaller pipes are real; the giant "pipes" in the photo here are fake and for stunning visual effect only. As a matter of fact, the whole reason behind most of the displays at HOTR, especially the fake ones, was stunning visual effect. It seems to be all that Alex Jordan was really good at (besides making money via his wild imagination). All the real organ parts in the organ room (pipes, chests, percussions) came from many smaller organs which Alex bought for parts. The huge, unplayable consoles were made from parts of many smaller consoles, and indeed, could theoretically be broken up and remade into many smaller consoles again. I do not know the exact number, but over 100 ranks are present. Were they all repaired, revoiced and mounted in suitable, well-designed chambers, and hooked up to possible, playable consoles, a large multi-console organ would indeed be possible here. There are certainly enough parts.
Brandon Tuomikoski
12-Nov-2007 23:40
I was wondering if any one has a stop list if these organs. Who made it? And are those big tubes in the back realy pipes??!! This looks like the biggest organ!
