On a chilly, dreary afternoon, members and friends gathered at the club’s organ located inside the historic Riverside Theatre. The Riverside Wurlitzer is the only theatre organ in Milwaukee that remains in its original home—though the organ belongs to Dairyland, not the theatre itself. Nonetheless, it was a wonderful day for our September 2026 social!
A Theatre Nearly 100 Years in the Making
The Riverside Theatre opened on April 29, 1928, as part of the Orpheum circuit and served as a vaudeville house. At the time of its opening, they also installed a Wurlitzer organ—a Style 240, Opus 1865. Designed by architects Kirchoff and Rose, the theatre is situated within the 12-story Empire Building on the west bank of the Milwaukee River. Once considered Milwaukee’s premier entertainment venue, it boasted a seating capacity of 2,500 and was renowned for its excellent acoustics. The organ accompanied everything from silent films to big bands throughout the 1940s and remained in regular use into the 1950s.
How the Organ Became Dairyland’s
By the 1980s, the theatre was struggling and closed its doors on Labor Day in 1982. The organ’s survival largely came down to dedicated DTOS members who advocated for it during those challenging years. We were fortunate to have one of those members, Fred Wolfgram, with us for the afternoon. Without his hard work in the ’80s, none of the enjoyment we experience today would be possible. When the Riverside reopened as a live performance venue in 1984, the theatre generously donated the organ to the Dairyland Theatre Organ Society, and it has been under our care ever since.
The day began with a presentation on the theatre and organ’s history, led by club president Ryan Jonas. He and Dean Rosko then discussed the organ’s history and its journey to becoming part of DTOS.
Rising From the Pit
One of the most exciting aspects of a visit to the Riverside is witnessing the organist rise from the pit to the stage as the performance begins, and then sink back down when it concludes. Nearly 100 years old, this spectacle never fails to elicit a strong reaction from the audience.
The Music
Dean performed a diverse selection of music throughout the afternoon. He showcased the organ’s dynamic range, starting with lively Latin pieces that highlighted its energetic side, and transitioning to softer, more contemplative compositions that displayed its gentler tone, including the contemporary piece “Adoration.”
Some highlights from the set included:
- Pass Me By
- Spanish Eyes
- Love Changes Everything
- No Matter What
- Adoration
- Funiculì, Funiculà
…along with other Latin and pop favorites throughout the afternoon.
Want to learn more about the organ and the theatre? Read the full story here: dtoswi.org/riverside-wurlitzer
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Join us and discover the joy of music—no need to be an organist! In fact, most of our members aren’t. We welcome everyone who shares a passion for music, making it a vibrant community for all!
