Savoy Theatre - New York City


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Savoy Theatre

112 West 34th Street, near Broadway
New York, N.Y. 10001

Organ Specifications:
► III/14 M.P. Möller, Op. 3480 (1922)
► III/12 M.P. Möller, Op. 2592 (1919)
► II/6 M.P. Möller, Op. 1702 (1914)

Boxes in the Savoy Theatre - New York City (credit: Cinema Treasures)

The Savoy Theatre was built in 1900, but was originally named Schley's Music Hall. Designed by Michael Bernstein in late Victorian style, the theatre combined three former residences on 33rd and 34th Streets. The interior could seat about 840 on folding chairs, and there was a pair of small balconies and six sets of boxes on either side of the proscenium. After a few months, the music hall was under new management and the name was changed to the Savoy Theatre. The theatre enjoyed a busy location, as its entrance on 34th Street was across the street from Macy's Department Store in Herald Square.

Interior of the Savoy Theatre - New York City (credit: Cinema Treasures)

In 1910, the Savoy Theatre was leased to Walter Rosenberg, then 26 years old, who changed the bill from live theater and variety shows to motion pictures. Rosenberg's change of fare was financially successful and signaled the start of a theatrical empire for Rosenberg, who would later change his name to Reade.

The Savoy was razed in 1952, one of the last theatres to go in Herald Square.

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3480 (1922)
Electro-pneumatic key action
3 manuals, 40 stops, 14 ranks

In 1922, M.P. Möller rebuilt and enlarged their 1919 organ (Op. 2592). This work was assigned Op. 3480. The Agreement of Lease (Sep. 8, 1922) between Möller and Walter Reade states that the organ would be ready for use on or before December 1, 1922. The total rental was set at $8,000, payable by $800 cash upon signing the agreement, with the residue in monthly payments of $500 each.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed (7" wind pressure)

Diapason Phonon

Solo Flute [Doppel Fl.]

—

Doppel Flute

Traverse Flute

Concert Flute

Tuba

Solo Violin [unit]

Clarinet [TC]

Violin

—

Chimes

20 bells

2 2/3

String Twelfth

—

Tremulant

Fifteenth

—

Orchestral Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

Gross Flute

Clarinet

Concert Flute [unit]

Tuba

Violin

English Horn (Syn.)

—

Violin

Saxophone (Syn.)

—

Fifteenth

Tremulant

Flute Traverso [Con. Fl.]

—

Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed

Bourdon [unit]

Violin

Stopped Flute

—

Viole Celeste

Orchestral Flute

—

Fagotta [TC] [Oboe Horn]

—

2 2/3

Quint

—

Oboe Horn

Piccolo

—

Vox Humana

1 3/5

Tiercena

—

Harp

37 Notes

Claribel Flute

Orchestra Bells [ext. Harp]

25 Notes

Claribel Flute

—

Orchestral Oboe (Syn.)

—

Viole d'Orchestre

Tremulant

Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed

Bourdon [ext. OR Gross Fl.]

Violoncello

Lieblich Gedeckt

Thunder Sheet

Flute

Couplers

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Solo to Orchestral

Solo to Pedal

Orchestral to Solo

Orchestral to Pedal

Great 4'

Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'

Solo 4', 16'

Orchestral to Great 16', 8', 4'

Orchestral 4', 16'

Accessories

Orchestral Tremulant

Crescendo Indicator

Solo Tremulant

Adjustable Combinations

Solo & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Great & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Orchestral & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Full Organ	Pistons 1-2-3

Pedal Movements

Balanced Solo Pedal

Great to Pedal Reversible

Balanced Orchestral Pedal

Orchestral to Pedal Reversible

Grand Crescendo Pedal

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2592 (1919)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 26 stops, 12 ranks

In 1919, the M.P. Möller installed their Op. 2592 in the Savoy Theatre. The Memorandum of Agreement (July 18, 1918) between M.P. Möller and Walter Rosenberg states that Möller would build an organ for a consideration of $4,500 and the existing organ (Möller Op. 1702). The purchaser was to provide enclosed chambers, and the organ would be "ready for use, on or before the 1st day of Dec., 1918, or as soon thereafter as possible." A notation on the memoradum shows that the organ was shipped on Feb. 11, 1919. This organ was rebuilt and enlarged in 1922, as Op. 3480.

Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed

Open Diapason [unit]

Piccolo [Fl. Harm.]

Violin d'Orchestra [sic]

Mixture, 3 ranks *

derived

Doppel Flute

Bass Clarinet [TC]

Octave [ext.]

—

Cathedral Chimes

Zart Flute [Quintadena]

* from OR Quintadena, Viola Cel, Fl. Harm.

Orchestral Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

Horn Diapason (Syn.)

—

Orchestral Oboe

Quintadena

Fagotto [TC] [Orch. Oboe]

—

Violin d'Orchestra

Concert Harp

Viola Celeste [TC]

Tremulant

Flute Harmonic

Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed

Gross Flute [unit] (Big)

Tuba

Concert Flute

Bass Tuba [TC]

—

Violin Cello

Vox Humana

Flute Overte [TG] [Gross Fl.]

—

Tremulant

Pedal Organ – 32 notes, enclosed

Sub Bass [ext. SO Con. Fl.]

Violon Cello

Lieblich Gedeckt [lo-press.]

—

Flute [Con. Fl.]

Flute

Couplers

Great to Pedal 8', 4'

Solo to Orchestral

Solo to Pedal

Orchestral to Solo

Orchestral to Pedal

Great 4'

Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'

Solo 4', 16'

Orchestral to Great 16', 8', 4'

Orchestral 4', 16'

Mechanicals

Orchestral Tremulant

Wind Indicator

Solo Tremulant

Crescendo Indicator

Adjustable Combinations

Solo Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4
Great Ogan	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Orchestral Organ	Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6
Pedal Organ	Pistons 1-2-3

Piston Coupler	Corresponding Orchestral & Solo Pistons to Great Pistons
Piston Coupler	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

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 1702 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 14 stops, 6 ranks

A handwritten copy of the contract, dated December 17, 1913, shows that this organ cost $5,000. The theatre owners, Jerome and Walter Rosenberg, agreed to pay $150 upon completion of the organ, and the balance in weekly payments of $150. In lieu of paying interest, the owners also agreed to announce the maker of the organ on signs at the front of the house, on the screen, and on all printed matter.

Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed

French Horn

Clarinet

Viol d'Orchestre

Tuba

Viol Celeste [TC]

Chimes

20 bells

Flute

Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed

Bass Clarinet

Flute Harmonic [Fr. Horn]

Double Floete

Tuba [ext. Bass Clarinet?]

Viole d'Orchestre

Vox Humana

Viole Celeste [TC]

Pedal Organ – 30 notes, enclosed

Contre Bass [ext. Fr. Horn]

Additional Specialties

Concert Harp – 49 notes on Great

Xylophone – 31 notes on Swell

Sleigh Bells – 20 notes on Swell

Drums: Bass Drum, Snare Drum & Cymbals

Temple Bells 0n Galleries in Swell

Adjustable Combinations

Great & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3
Swell & Pedal	Pistons 1-2-3

Pedal Movements

Great to Pedal Reversible

Balanced Swell Pedal

Grand Crescendo Pedal

Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3387
     Trupiano, Larry. Agreement of Lease of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3480 (1922).
     Trupiano, Larry. Memoradum of Lease of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 2592 (1919).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Contract of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 1702 (1914).

Illustrations:
     Cinema Treasures website. Exterior; interior; boxes.

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