FORMER
Hildegarde Usselman Kraus Lobby Organ
2/7 Composite |
Fargo Theatre 
Fargo, North Dakota

History of the Hildegarde Usselman Kraus Lobby Organ at the Fargo Theatre

 

The Fargo Theatre Lobby/Mezzanine organ was completed during the winter of 1987-88 and was dedicated at Silent Movie Night in April, 1988 in honor of Hildegarde Usselman Kraus, one of the original house organists of the Fargo Theatre from 1929-1948. Hildegarde was still alive during the dedication, and a plaque was affixed to the back of the console to commemorate the dedication of the finished organ.

 

The lobby organ used the theatre's original 1926 Style E Wurlitzer console and controlled 7 ranks of pipe installed under the balcony seating. It should be noted that these 7 ranks were entirely independent of the 15 ranks of the main/house organ at the theatre (3/15 at that time). The 7 ranks of the lobby organ were likely derived from various sources and builders.

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However, the lobby organ was connected to the main/house organ and if desired, it could be played from the house as an "echo" division or in tandem with the 15-rank house organ.

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The lobby organ was used for movie prologue music when silent films were presented, as background music for mezzanine receptions, and as a practice organ.

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It remained in use until preparations were made for the large-scale 1998-99 restoration of the Fargo Theatre at which time all of the organ was removed except the Style E console, which remains as a static display in the mezzanine. The console is still affectionately named, "Hildegarde" for Hildegarde Kraus.