They don't make them like they used to, as the saying goes, but in the case of Pittsburg's massive, historic theater organ, that's a solvable problem.

About $120,000 is needed to refurbish and reinstall a Robert Morton organ in the California Theater, itself a landmark of Pittsburg history. A local nonprofit called Pacific Community Services is fundraising that money, spearheaded by an organ aficionado named Tom LaFleur, who says his vision is a smaller-scale version of what the massive Fox Theater project did for Oakland.

"The California (Theater) is a very important project to downtown Pittsburg," he said. "Much like in Oakland, where (then-mayor) Jerry Brown wanted to bring in housing and support the arts and night life and entertainment, Pittsburg is focused on more housing, high-density units, opening restaurants, book stores and services to make it a destination, an art and entertainment center for the whole region."

The organ was actually in the California in 1928, but removed in the 1950s, LaFleur said. It's replacement was serviceable but no comparison, he added.

"Robert Morton organs are known to be more powerful and have a lot more flexibility," he said. "There are a wider range of instruments attached to it. You could mimic an entire symphony orchestra with the thing. They're very impressive."

An example of just how impressive it is in a video on the website YouTube under the title, "Westminster's Pipe Organ Turns Into a Train." In it, Dave Moreno -- who is signed on to refurbish the Pittsburg organ -- plays along with a silent Buster Keaton movie, using the organ to perform a spot on impression of a train disaster.

Once the money is raised, the restoration of Pittsburg's organ should take less than a year, Moreno said.

"It's going to need total restoration, plus we're going to employ a computer that allows the organ to also play by itself. If we play a concert there, it'll play the actual pipes just as if there were somebody there at the keys," Moreno said.

Perhaps the most time-consuming aspect will be re-leathering, he added. Leather pieces inside the organ act almost like balloons inside the wind shafts, he said, helping the organ play notes.

The city of Pittsburg bought the organ back about a year ago for $15,000, but another $120,000 will be needed to repair, refurbish and install it along with some new infrastructure to the building, LaFleur said, and the next step for that is a fundraiser with a similar "everything old is new again" theme.

Louis Prima Jr., whose father voiced King Louie in the Disney movie "The Jungle Book" and sang classic swing hits like "Just a Gigolo/I Ain't Got Nobody" and "Buona Sera," is playing a fundraiser show March 23 at El Campanil Theatre in Antioch. Proceeds will benefit the Pittsburg Historical Society Museum and The California Historical Theatre Foundation.

"He brings his famous father's music to life, with an energetic performance and the unique, firsthand perspective of being the son of a music legend," according to the theater's website. "It is an exciting stage show, in which you will fall in love all over again with the amazing music, as well as discover some gems that you may not have heard before."

LaFleur says the hope is to raise $3,000 or $4,000 to begin the campaign.

Tickets are available online via www.elcampaniltheatre.com or by calling 925- 757-9500.

Contact Sean Maher at 925-779-7189. Follow him on Twitter at @OneSeanMaher.