BALBOA THEATRE
868 Fourth Avenue, San Diego, CA 92101
The Balboa Theatre first opened in 1924 as a vaudeville house in downtown San Diego. It was nominated to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The City has recently invested over $26 million in the restoration of the facility to turn it into a true performing arts center of the 21st Century. The theatre reopened in January 2008 with much acclaim from audiences and performers. The restoration of the theatre also included a 4/24 Wonder Morton.
The Balboa Theatre’s 1929 Wonder Morton organ was relocated from the Loews Valencia Theatre in Queens, New York. It was moved to California where is was restored and installed by Wendell Shoberg between 2008 and 2009. This organ is believed to be the first Wonder Morton built because of the unusually ornate console carvings and unique details that the other Wonder Morton instruments lack.
Photos taken by Richard Neidich.
Visit the Balboa Theatre website.
This organ is not owned or maintained by LATOS.