Loew's Broadway Theatre - Brooklyn, NY
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Loew's Bedford Theatre

1372 Bedford Avenue at Bergen Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11216



When it was opened in 1913, the 2008-seat Bedford Theatre was leased to William Fox. From 1924-1926 the Bedford was operated by Frank Keeney, after which it was acquired by the Loew’s chain, who operated the renamed Loew's Bedford as a premier movie palace.

Loew's Bedford closed on May 1, 1952, and it was subsequently converted for use by a church. The Washington Temple interior still includes the six box seats, projection booth, many sculptures, and the domed ceiling.
     
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2407 (1917)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 stops, 16 ranks


Loew's Bedford had an organ built in 1917 by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md., at a cost of $5,250. This instrument was one of Möller's standard theatre organs having three manuals and 16 ranks. The following specification is from the contract for Op. 2492 (1918), another 3/16 Möller installed in Loew's Bijou Theatre in Brooklyn.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Violin Diapason [TC]
73
2
  Piccolo [Fl. Harm.]
OR
8
  Open Diapason
85
    Mixture III ranks
derived
8
  Viol d'Orchestre
73
16
  Bass Clarinet [TC]
OR
8
  Doppel Flute
73
8
  French Horn
73
4
  Octave [Op. Diap.]
4
  Octave Horn
4
  Zart Flute [Quintadena]
OR
   
Cathedral Chimes
20 Notes
               
Orchestral Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Violin Diapason
GT
4
  Flute Harmonic
73
8
  Horn Diapason (syn)
16
  Fagotto [TC]
8
  Quintadena
73
8
  Orchestral Oboe
73
8
  Viol d'Orchestre
GT
8
 
Clarinet
73
8
  Viol Celeste [TC]
73
   
Concert Harp
37 Notes
               
Solo Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Gross Flute
85
4
  Gemshorn [TG]
8
  Concert Flute
73
16
  Bass Tuba [TC]
8
  Gemshorn
85
8
  Tuba
73
8
  Violoncello
73
8
  Vox Humana
73
4
  Flute Overte [TG] [Gross Fl.]
     
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Sub Bass [ext. Gross Fl.]
12
8
  Violoncello
SO
16
  Gemshorn [ext.]
12
8
  Flute
SO
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt [lo-press.]
       
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'       Orch. to Solo  
    Orch. to Pedal 8'       Solo to Orch. 8' 8'  
    Solo to Pedal 8'       Great 4'  
    Orch. to Great 16', 8', 4'       Orch. 16', 4'  
    Solo. to Great 16', 8', 4'       Solo 16', 4'  
               
Mechanicals
    Orchestral Tremulant   Crescendo Indicator
    Solo Tremulant    
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Orchestral Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Solo Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb)
               
Piston Couplers
    Corresponding Orchestral and Solo Pistons to Great Pistons
    Corresponding Pedal Pistons to Manual Pistons
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Solo Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Orchestral Pedal   Orchestral to Pedal Reversible
    Grand Crescendo Pedal   Thunder Pedal
     
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/2237
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
     M.P. Möller, Inc. Agreement (Apr. 1, 1918) of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 2492 (1918). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustration:
     Roe, Ken (via Cinema Treasures web site). Exterior (2006).