Shea's Buffalo to Host Mighty Wurlitzer Concert for 100th Anniversary
International organist Richard Hills will perform a Great American Songbook program on the historic instrument.
The celebration of Shea's Buffalo Theatre's 100th anniversary takes center stage again on Tuesday, July 8 at 7:30PM, when internationally acclaimed organist Richard Hills takes the bench for an unforgettable evening showcasing one of the theatre's most treasured icons, the mighty Wurlitzer organ.
The program will trace a musical timeline of the theatre's history, spotlighting Great American Songbook composers with selections spanning from 1926 to the present day, with special recognition of the artists and shows that have graced the Shea's stage.
The Mighty Wurlitzer was installed during the construction of Shea's Buffalo Theatre in 1925 and has entertained audiences for the last 100 years. Shea's Wurlitzer is one of the largest instruments built by the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company of North Tonawanda and remains one of the finest and best preserved in the country.
Shea's is delighted to welcome Richard Hills to Buffalo. Hills has had an esteemed education and career, winning numerous awards including 2010 'Organist of the Year' by the American Theatre Organ Society. Today, Hills is organist at St Mary's, Bourne Street in London. He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Organists and serves as Musical Advisor to the UK's Cinema Organ Society.
The event will welcome music and organ enthusiasts from around the country visiting Shea's as part of the 2026 American Theatre Organ Society convention with stops this year in Buffalo, Elmira, Corning, North Tonawanda, Rochester, Rome and Syracuse, New York.
Shea's Mighty Wurlitzer represents virtually every instrument in a symphony orchestra and contains a complete set of percussion stops, including a large xylophone, marimba, harp, chimes, cymbal, kettle, snare and bass drums, orchestra bells, plus an array of sounds that were traditionally used to accompany silent films – auto horn, boat whistle, gong, bird whistle, etc.
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