Empire Theatre - Brooklyn, N.Y.
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Empire Theatre

10 Ralph Avenue at Broadway
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11221


The 1810-seat Empire Theatre, designed by architect Herbert Brewster, opened on Monday, August 24th, 1908. Herbert Brewster designed the theatre, which had a Spanish mission style exterior, and Rambusch & Company were responsible for the interior. The theatre featured shows from the Western Burlesque Wheel and offered "the best in vaudeville". In 1938, the Empire began showing movies and was later part of the Brandt Theatres Circuit. It closed as a movie theatre in 1953.
           
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1742 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style 190
2 manuals, 8 ranks, 4 tuned percussions, 18 traps, Curved Console


This organ was shipped on September 24, 1927 but was later repossessed. It was sold to WNAC Radio in Boston, Mass. on October 13, 1930, and in 1942 was moved to the Town Hall in Stoneham, Mass.
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
  Bass
8
  Flute
16
  Bourdon
8
  Cello
8
  Trumpet
  Bass Drum
8
  Open Diapason
  Kettle Drum
8
  Tibia Clausa
  Cymbal
8
  Clarinet
  Crash Cymbal

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
  Contra Viol [TC]
  Chrysoglott
16
  Vox Humana [TC]
  Snare Drum
8
  Trumpet
  Tambourine
8
  Open Diapason
  Castanets
8
  Tibia Clausa
  Chinese Block
8
  Clarinet
  Tom Tom
8
  Violin
  Sleigh Bells
8
  Violin Celeste [TC]
   
8
  Flute
  Accomp. 2nd Touch
8
  Vox Humana
8
  Trumpet
4
  Octave
8
  Tibia Clausa
4
  Piccolo
8
  Clarinet
4
  Octave Viol
  Chimes
4
  Viol Celeste
  Triangle
4
  Flute
   
4
  Vox Humana
  5 Adjustable Combination Pistons
2
  Piccolo
       (Accomp. & Pedal)

   

   
Solo (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Bass
4
  Flute
16
  Tibia Clausa [TC]
2 2/3
  Twelfth
16
  Bourdon
2
  Piccolo
16
  Vox Humana [TC]
1 3/5
  Tierce
8
  Trumpet
  Cathedral Chimes
8
  Open DIapason
  Xylophone
8
  Tibia Clausa
  Glockenspiel
8
  Clarinet
  Chrysoglott
8
  Violin
   
8
  Viol Celeste [TC]
  Solo 2nd Touch
8
  Flute
16
  Trumpet [TC]
8
  Vox Humana
8
  Tibia Clausa
4
  Octave
8
  Clarinet
4
  Piccolo
   
4
  Octave Viol
  5 Adjustable Combination Pistons
4
  Viol Celeste
       (Solo & Pedal)

   

   
Tremulants (3)
General      
Solo      
Vox Humana      
       
Effects (operated by pistons)
Horse Hoofs Siren Fire Gong [re-it]
Surf Auto Horn Steamboat Whistle
Bird Fire Gong Machine Gun
     
Door Bell (push button)  
           
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/7294
     Junchen, David L., comp. and ed. by Jeff Weiler. The WurliTzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History. Chicago: The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.
     Kaufmann, Preston J. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 3. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1995.

Illustration:
     Brooklyn Collection, Brooklyn Public Library. Exterior.