Ernest M. Skinner Company
Opus 199, 1912

Information from Jayson Enquist via email 2026-10-07:
We found out (via John Panning from Dobson, who does work on the little Skinner at Lakewood Cemetery Chapel) that the instrument is NOT from the Garden Theater, but rather a separate/unique installation from the 1930s. I had asked him the same question (since the balcony echo division was 6 ranks and so is the little cemetery chapel instrument. Not sure if Panning/Dobson recorded the Skinner opus # when they restored the organ about 5-10 years ago.

Updated through online information from Jayson Engquist (September 2, 2026): Additional note: The Garden Theater sat on the corner of Hennepin Ave. and 7th St. in Minneapolis. Entrances from both would place you in lobby. POD entries have differing addresses (both are "legit," as they led to the same lobby, but it's confusing).

https://pipeorgandatabase.org/instruments/39703 is the main listing for this Skinner, Op. 199. Both front and "under balcony echo" divisions were installed at the same time. The smaller division (marked "auditorium" on POD entry) should really be listed as "echo/lobby" division, as it spoke out into the main lobby where there was a separate 2-manual console that could be played as patrons entered building and heard in lobby. The "auditorium" organ console was a 3-man console controlling both front and under balcony divisions. Perhaps only ONE entry is sufficient, as this was one instrument in one location.

Updated through online information from Jayson Engquist. -- The smaller lobby console (2-man) played the "under the balcony" Echo into the lobby. The larger 3-man console down by stage controlled the ENTIRE instrument.

Updated through an email received from Jayson Rodovsky Engquist on July 22, 2020. -- Skinner records (and OHS) both list a Skinner (built 1912) with Op. 199 (and TWO instruments listed with it) for a Gordon Theatre. We discovered the theater is actually the GARDEN THEATER in downtown Minneapolis (corner of Hennepin Ave. and N. 7th St.). It was first shipped from Skinner to Welte (in Poughkeepsie) where a player-mechanism was probably added. When the instrument arrived in Minneapolis (with two consoles), it was installed in two locations. The "under balcony Echo division" of about 6 ranks also spoke into lobby AND had its own 2-man console for patrons as they arrived. The 3-man console (controlling 36 ranks up front and the Echo in back) was up in orchestra pit up front. Theater was built in 1905 (as the Milo). Renamed in 1912 (when it was renovated and organ came), the Garden, it was in this location for many years. The theater changed names once more (circa 1950) to the World Theater. The fate of the Skinner is unknown. The theater was (unfortunately) razed in about 2000. Perhaps the organ went with it!

We believe there may have been a spelling error in the name of the theater, going all the way back to Skinner. There is not and never has been a "Gordon" theater in Minneapolis. However, to great fanfare, a "Garden" theater of some 3128 seats was built around 1912 in Minneapolis. An article in the Minneapolis newspaper on May 11, 1913 describes the hall and the fact that it will have a great organ WITH AN ECHO. We believe this to be the theater. The article can be found at the Minnesota Historical Society newspaper archives in a search for "Garden Theater" and "organ".

Identified through online information from Richard C Greene. -- The theater and organ are no longer extant. We have no further information at this point. [NB -- Kinzey-Lawn indicates this opus number built for Welte in Poughkeepsie, New York.]