BUFFALO, N.Y. — ​The mighty Wurlitzer organ at Shea’s Buffalo Theater is getting some much needed TLC.

The performing arts center announced that they are receiving a $20,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to restore the historic piece.

“The Mighty Wurlitzer Organ in Shea’s Buffalo Theatre is often regarded by experts as one of the finest theater organs in the country,” said John Schaller, director of development at Shea’s. “It’s deeply lush and seemingly limitless tones have delighted patrons and organ enthusiasts for close to 96 years.  And we are so grateful for the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo for recognizing and understanding the importance of restoring and maintaining such a rich piece of pride and history that exists within these walls at Shea’s Buffalo Theatre.”

The restoration work will repair the Wurlitzer organ’s four high-pressure regulators, the foundation chamber and the brass chamber.

“I cannot emphasize to you in any stronger terms the ‘Gold Standard’ of theatre pipe organ that sits in those chambers at Shea’s Buffalo. It is not simple hyperbole, but fact. If one were ranking or awarding top honors for the finest sounding theatre organ in the world, Shea’s Buffalo could be arguably Number One, and most certainly Top Three. The Wurlitzer factory employees installed this organ, and the resulting sound is so incredibly and breathtakingly spectacular, if someone argued to me that Shea’s is Number One, I would not put up a fuss,” said Ken Double from the American Theatre Organ Society.

The goal is to complete the project by the theater’s 100^th anniversary in 2026.