Projects
It's a New Dawn
The Friends of the Dawn Theater are committed to the preservation of the historic building and its history. We labor to bring its past to life and and share a new dawn with the community.
Of the many tasks for which the Friends are responsible, fundraising is chief among them. The Friends continue to pursue historic preservation grants from the State of Michigan as well as from private funding. While many generous funds have been raised, there are more exciting projects on the horizon to be completed.
Our current list of projects include:
1. Restoration of the 1925 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ
2. Film projection equipment and supporting sound system
3. Stage lights
4. A theater curtain
Below are some highlighted projects we are currently working on or have completed.
Reinstallation Set for Summer 2025!
Original, 1925 Wurlitzer Theater Pipe Organ
The excitement continues as the Friends of the Dawn plan to reinstall the grandeur of the original, 1925 Wurlitzer theater pipe organ to the Dawn Theater on it's 100th anniversary in 2025!
The Wurlitzer organ of the 1920’s was the "voice" of the silent screen. They were a distinctly American musical creation which became the monarch of the movie palace. Only about a dozen of these instruments remain, unaltered, and in factory original condition. The Dawn Theater’s Wurlitzer organ (opus 1176,shipped by rail from the Wurlitzer factory on October 15, 1925), holds the distinction of being unaltered and still in its original location.
We know that our Wurlitzer was used in the Dawn Theater to accompany vaudeville performances and silent movies from 1925 until “talkies” became commonplace. The organ was taken out of the theater in 1943 and donated to Hillsdale College where it was used for church services, organ lessons, and theater productions. In the 1970s, Jerry Jordan of Jonesville saved it from the dumpster, did some restoration and moved it to his garage. Later,Dr. Jeffrey Horton, realizing the organ’s historical value, gave it safe storage and then, with wife Marcy, donated the organ to the Friends, along with a significant contribution for the express purpose of having it restored and reinstalled back into the Dawn Theater!
To raise financial support, the Friends of the Dawn applied to the Wyncote Foundation and wereawarded a $50,000 matching grant towards the organ project. Both the Hortons and the WyncoteFoundation recognize the historic importance of restoring this Wurlitzer, not only for our community,but for the preservation of a piece of Americana. The organ has now been moved to the studio of JLWeiler Co., of Chicago, IL, internationally recognized as one of the finest historic organ restorationstudios in the country, specializing in vintage Wurlitzer Theater organs.
The restoration work is well on its way,with reinstallation of the organ plannedfor summer of 2024.
Once re-installed, the Dawn Theater will regain its“voice”, a cultural icon of national importance.Reinstalling the pipe organ presents programmingopportunities that would otherwise be unavailable suchas silent film programs, classic film series, lectures andcivic events, weddings and receptions, pre-show music,and performances involving choirs and instrumentalensembles. Once restored, our 1925 Wurlitzer pipeorgan will become the modern-day centerpiece—theCrown Jewel—of the Dawn Theater rehabilitation.
Original Movie Poster Restoration
While rehabilitating the 100+ year-old vaudeville and movie theater, we discovered many relics from its rich and storied past. We found old candy wrappers, vintage soda bottles, newspaper clippings, and more. Among these treasures, we discovered four incredible posters that had survived from an another age. Two of them are thought to be one of a kind and unique to the Dawn Theater in Hillsdale, Michigan.
We raised funds to restore four historic posters for movies that were shown in the early 1900s in the Dawn Theater. The posters were recovered during rehabilitation of the historic building. They were found in the basement, covered with debris, adhered to old doors, walls, or wooden boards. The posters were meticulously removed from the wood and sent to be restored by Lis Art Conservation & Restoration Services in Livonia, Michigan.
These wonderful and vibrant posters give us an excellent glimpse into the theater’s past and provide a snapshot of early 20th century entertainment, vaudeville theater, and the golden age of the movie industry.
Support the Dawn Theater by purchasing a limited reproduction of these wonderful treasures, available in original and mini poster sizes, as well as a note card set of all four.
Rehabilitation of the Dawn Theater Building
Step into the glow of the new Dawn. Enter under the gold glowing Edison-style bulbs of the historic marquee into the rehabilitated historic treasure—The Dawn Theater in downtown Hillsdale, Michigan. Our stage offers a great vantage point for photographers as they capture the essence of live performances. Whether it's the energy of the crowd, the emotion on stage, or the details in between, every moment is a masterpiece waiting to be framed.
