Republic Theatre - Brooklyn, N.Y. (www.brooklynpix.com)
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Republic Theatre

402 Keap Street at Grand Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211




The Republic Theater was built by the S&S (Small & Stausberg) Circuit as a vaudeville and movie house. As designed by Eugene DeRosa, the Republic occupied an entire block with the 3,100-seat auditorium built on a diagonal to provide maximum possible capacity. When the Republic opened on October 27, 1921, the program included six vaudeville acts and the movie "Clay Dollars." In the 1930s, the theatre switched to all movies and the seating capacity was reduced to 2,625. In 1937, the Republic was "streamlined" and shifted to RKO management, but RKO divested this theatre in 1948 to comply with the federal anti-trust action. With the onset of television, the Republic struggled on for only a few more years before closing in 1965. The building was demolished and replaced by a service station.
     
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3167 (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 stops, 17 ranks


The Agreement of Lease (Mar. 23, 1921) between M.P. Möller and Small's Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., states that this organ was to be installed in "the theatre at Grand, Keap & Grand St. Extension" in Brooklyn. Möller provided a three-manual stop-key console, and voiced the organ on 6" wind pressure. The organ was to be ready for use on or before November 1, 1921, or by October 15th, 1921, if possible. The lease was for $10,000 with $1,000 due upon signing, $1,500 when the organ was delivered, and $1,000 when the organ was completed; the remainder would be paid in installments of $361.12 due on the first of each month.
               
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
16
   Fagotto [TC]
—
8
   Horn Diapason (syn)
—
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
GT
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]
73
    
Orchestral Bells
25 Notes
8
   Quintadena
73
    
Concert Harp
37 Notes
4
   Flute Harmonic
73
    
Glockenspiel
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.]
—
    
Xylophone
37 Notes
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diapason [ext. Gross Fl.]
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [lo-press.]
—
16
   Sub Bass
32
8
   Violoncello
SO
16
   Gemshorn [ext.]
12
8
   Flute
SO
               
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/3971
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
     M.P. Möller, Inc. Agreement of Lease (Mar. 23, 1921) and Factory Specifications (Mar. 24, 1921) of M.P. Möller organ, Op.3167 (1921). Courtesy Larry Trupiano.

Illustration:
     www.brooklynpix.com web site. Exterior. Used by permission.