Focus on Volunteers: Jack Woodward, the Senate Theater’s own Mr. Fix-it

by Karen Hunt

The spry 75-year-old comes to the Senate by way of Kokomo, Indiana—yes, the song made famous by the Beach Boys. He grew up going to movies on Saturdays— “just like everyone else did”­— he says at the local historical Sipe Theater, which had opened as a live theater in 1900, and then later was converted to a movie theater. He was even a witness as a high school student when it burned to the ground in 1967. “I watched it burn and turn into a pile of ashes.” Yet that did not plant a seed of being involved with theaters.

As a child, his real interest was in how things worked, and his favorite toy was a Gilbert Erector Set.  By the end of time in high school, he had become really interested in audio, and he soon started volunteering at local churches, helping with their sound systems.

In 1981, as an employee of General Motors, he was transferred to Michigan and settled in Clawson. At General Motors, his role was technical. Known as “Mr. Check Engine Light,” he wrote OnBoard Diagnostic service manuals and trained people throughout the world to learn about diagnosing electronic engine control problems.

He again started volunteering at local churches, helping with their sound systems. He helped churches such as Ward Presbyterian Church, Woodside Bible Church, and Kensington Community Church. “At first, I was the guy who ran the sound system. Later on, I was working on improving and designing sound systems and working with the engineers to create new sound systems.”

 I’ve always wondered, “Why does a pipe organ make such majestic music?”

Jack’s move from churches to movie theaters came through his fascination with pipe organs. “I would start with the love of the pipe organ. I’ve always wondered, “Why does a pipe organ make such majestic music?" " He became a member of the American Theater Organ Society as well as the Detroit Theater Organ Society. He admits that he doesn’t know how to play the organ, but he can demonstrate its sounds; this of course led to a theater that had an organ—the Senate. He began volunteering at the theater in 2022.

In fact, his first job at the theater was keeping the organ humidified during the winter. “Pipe organs have a lot of wood,” he explains. “In the winter the air dries out, and dry air causes the wood to split and separate, and that affects the pipe organs, so you use a humidifier to keep the wood healthy.”

I refer to myself as “the facilities guy.”

Since coming to the Senate, Jack has worked behind the scenes keeping this nearly 100-year-old theater running. Jack calls himself “the facilities guy.” He keeps up the boilers and replaces the light bulbs, including those of the chandeliers, among a host of other things. One proud moment was when he helped out after the Senate’s basement was flooded. “I rolled up with a pump to pump out the basement within two hours after the call went out, with a pump from Home Depot. “I enjoy solving problems so much and fixing things,” he said. Woodward also likes to keep the theater sounding and showing films well. He has helped to rework the audio system and integrate the new projection system into the theater’s set up.

I enjoy so much solving problems and fixing things.

His most fun moment was acting as house manager, when a traveling Australian troupe came to perform at the Senate. “It was a burlesque show, called “The Empire Strips Back.” They performed for six weeks, and they put on 24 shows. I was there from load-in until load-out,” he said; meaning when the show’s equipment arrives until it the show completes its run.

“That has been my most fun event at the Senate because it was a parody of Star Wars. It was a funny show. It was a sexy show. That was the show that was also a turning point for the theater because it made a lot of money to help it out.”

Jack has also helped make presentations for people interested in renting out the theater. He says, “I really enjoy meeting prospective renters to show them the place and describe some of its history. I can make it look and sound great; and even show off the organ a little!”

He also loves to talk to individual patrons about the Senate, especially when he sees new people looking around. “When you see people coming in you can see their amazement. I’ll say, “Is this your first time at the Senate?” Frequently, they will say yes, and I’ll give them some quick tips about the theater, and the Wurlitzer to pique their interest. I want them to come back again and again!”.