The Castro Symphonic Theatre Organ Is Here!

Preserving a long tradition of live organ music at the Castro Theatre

The Wurlitzer organ, on loan to the theatre since the early 1980s, was removed from the theatre in 2015. An Allen Theatre III was used as an interim organ until the theatre closed for renovations in February 2024. The new organ, now in place, faithfully preserves the musical tradition of the Castro Wurlitzer and significantly expand it with 21st-century technology.

As the world’s largest digital organ, with seven manuals and over 800 stops, it can authentically replicate the sound of the theatre organ, the symphonic organ, the classical organ, and the symphony orchestra.

Allen Harrah, acclaimed pipe and digital organ builder (previously responsible for two major organ installations in San Francisco, one in Los Angeles, and a huge six-manual organ in Hurricane, West Virginia), brought his expertise to this project, together with Castro organist David Hegarty, with whom he had worked closely in the past. Harrah collaborated with R.A. Colby Organbuilders, who built the spectacular new console, Walker Technical Company, who provided the digitally sampled organ voices and the audio system, and Chris Stone of Audio Impressions, who will soon be installing the “virtual orchestra.”

The Castro Theatre reopened on February 6 following a two-year, $41 million renovation, and the new console was unveiled to the audience that evening. Although it wasn't fully ready to be played on opening night, it premiered on March 17 and is now playing before most movie screenings.