After suffering permanent water damage, the restoration of the historic Goldie Theatre Organ began in August. Led by a $400,000 project by COSS Organs of Delmar with guidance from the Hudson-Mohawk Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, Goldie is scheduled for completion in September 2026, ahead of Proctors’ 100th anniversary.
Following a broken drainpipe during a severe storm in 2021, Goldie’s wooden wind chest — the heart of the instrument — was permanently damaged and is being replaced as part of the restoration. All pipes in both chambers will also be removed, cleaned, and restored. Additional upgrades will protect Goldie from future water damage.
Since the theatre’s opening night in 1926, Proctors featured a theatre organ used for various vaudeville acts and silent films. Following a $90,000 grant by the Golub Family, Goldie was transported from Minnesota to Schenectady’s Proctors Theatre in 1983. A year later, nationally acclaimed organist Allen Mills became the first full-time artist in residence at Proctors, releasing LPs featuring Goldie, as well as organizing holiday shows and special events for over a decade.
As Proctors Theatre approaches its 100th anniversary, the restoration of the historic Goldie will continue to inspire and delight audiences for generations to come, honoring the theatre’s past while celebrating its role as a cultural cornerstone for the Capital Region.
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