The Pabst chandelier takes two days to clean. It is lowered by a crank up above the theater ceiling.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
The chandelier has a grapefruit-sized glass ball hanging from the bottom but it's hard to see unless you can get up close.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
It's fun to stick your head between the strands of crystals and get an inside look at the chandelier.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
When it's time for the chandelier to go back up about 70 feet to the ceiling, we head up to the attic.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
Up there, you get close to the roof ... inches beneath it, in fact.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
You can also see the brickwork close up when you're up on the catwalks in the low-ceilinged attic.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
While the chandelier is being raised, building engineer Samir Wahab guides the cable up through the hole in the center of the ceiling and coils it up next to the opening. During the process he checks the cable for damage or faults.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
Working with Wahab, Jason Millies cranks ... and cranks ... and cranks, taking a few breaks. All told it seems like it takes about 20-30 minutes of cranking to raise the chandelier.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)
While the chandelier work was wrapping up, Eugene Orlandini was in the lobby restoring the cherub that was a gift from Orlandini Studios to The Pabst in 1976. The cherub's leg is often broken off. Please respect the beauty of the theater and look with your eyes, Milwaukee, not your hands.
(PHOTO: Bobby Tanzilo)