3/9 Wurlitzer Composite | Weld Hall

The 3/9 Wurlitzer/Composite organ in Glasrud Auditorium can be credited to a man by the name of Ted Larson. Larson, the the head film instructor at Minnesota State University - Moorhead (MSUM), asked for Lance Johnson and Dave Knudtson to play silent movies on the piano for his film class. The piano at the time was less than desirable, so Lance asked Ted if he would be interested in installing an organ in the auditorium. Permission was granted, and the organ was assembled. The console was originally from the Rialto Theatre in New York and was a 2/7 Wurlitzer. It was then was sold to a Methodist church. The RRTOS purchased the organ after that. The pipework from the original organ was lost somewhere along its history, but was replaced with nine ranks of pipes from various organs. The original Wurlitzer console was in very bad condition and was rebuilt for the installation in Glasrud by Johnson Organ Co. A third manual was added as well as a solid-state relay. It was used for MSUM's Summer Cinema Series, occasional film festivals, and RRTOS chapter meetings.

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The future of this instrument's installation is uncertain as of December 2019, as the Glasrud Auditorium will be undergoing a major renovation in the near future and the plans for the renovation do not include space for the instrument. The RRTOS is working with Minnesota State University Moorhead and several area organizations to coordinate a plan for the instrument's removal, storage, and re-installation in another suitable venue.