There once was a small Kimball theatre organ in this theatre. I looked at it once, back in the early 70’s while I still lived on Long Island. The console was intact and the cables still connected to the windchests in the chambers. The blower also still could be started. Unfortunately almost all of the pipe work had been removed. Everything relatively small, from Tenor C up had been removed by someone. The manager, whose name I have forgotten, was surprised to learn this from me. She had no explaination. Systematic vandalism, I suppose.
This theatre is now open and looks grand. My wife and I were there on the opening night to see a screening of The General, accompanied by a pianist. A former Rockland newspaper editor once told me that he believed that the Robert Morton theatre organ had been removed and stored for a time at the Rockland Recreation Center but no one else ever verified this. I have never spoken with anyone around here who knew anything about it for certain.
The State has a 2/8 Wurlitzer theatre organ, which is one of the few original installations remaining. I knew the manager back in the late 60’s to early 1970’s and used to enjoy playing there at times when the theatre was closed, usually early in the morning. The theatre was showing only pornography then and opened at 10 AM most days. The organ is still playable, although I understand that the console lift no longer works. The organ is almost never heard today and is never serviced. The last time I saw it was about 1976.
I worked on the 2/6 Midmer Losh organ for the owner in 1976. His name was Brandt if I recall correctly. He had no interest in the instrument other than to sell it, which he did about a year later. It went into a private home, I believe. The main chamber to the right of the proscenium contained all six ranks. The opposite chamber had only a tubular chime set. The main chest had a Diapason, Stopped Diapason, Dulciana and Salicional, all at 8' pitch. A Bourdon 16' and Vox Humana 8' stood on offset chests. The console was a typical Midmer Losh with an extended 73 note lower manual and a pre-wired, synthetic oboe stop tab. While working there, I noticed lots of stage equipment still in place, including scenery and curtains hanging way up in the fly. There was also an early Vitaphone sound system, erected on a scaffold behind the screen. It was still in use at the time, I believe, although I never saw a film in this theatre. It was a depressing place to work late at night. I can still smell the popcorn and carbon tetrachloride.
There once was a small Kimball theatre organ in this theatre. I looked at it once, back in the early 70’s while I still lived on Long Island. The console was intact and the cables still connected to the windchests in the chambers. The blower also still could be started. Unfortunately almost all of the pipe work had been removed. Everything relatively small, from Tenor C up had been removed by someone. The manager, whose name I have forgotten, was surprised to learn this from me. She had no explaination. Systematic vandalism, I suppose.
This theatre is now open and looks grand. My wife and I were there on the opening night to see a screening of The General, accompanied by a pianist. A former Rockland newspaper editor once told me that he believed that the Robert Morton theatre organ had been removed and stored for a time at the Rockland Recreation Center but no one else ever verified this. I have never spoken with anyone around here who knew anything about it for certain.
The State has a 2/8 Wurlitzer theatre organ, which is one of the few original installations remaining. I knew the manager back in the late 60’s to early 1970’s and used to enjoy playing there at times when the theatre was closed, usually early in the morning. The theatre was showing only pornography then and opened at 10 AM most days. The organ is still playable, although I understand that the console lift no longer works. The organ is almost never heard today and is never serviced. The last time I saw it was about 1976.
I worked on the 2/6 Midmer Losh organ for the owner in 1976. His name was Brandt if I recall correctly. He had no interest in the instrument other than to sell it, which he did about a year later. It went into a private home, I believe. The main chamber to the right of the proscenium contained all six ranks. The opposite chamber had only a tubular chime set. The main chest had a Diapason, Stopped Diapason, Dulciana and Salicional, all at 8' pitch. A Bourdon 16' and Vox Humana 8' stood on offset chests. The console was a typical Midmer Losh with an extended 73 note lower manual and a pre-wired, synthetic oboe stop tab. While working there, I noticed lots of stage equipment still in place, including scenery and curtains hanging way up in the fly. There was also an early Vitaphone sound system, erected on a scaffold behind the screen. It was still in use at the time, I believe, although I never saw a film in this theatre. It was a depressing place to work late at night. I can still smell the popcorn and carbon tetrachloride.