| |
 |
| |
Click on image to enlarge |
RKO Fordham Theatre
215 East Fordham Road at Valentine Avenue
The Bronx, N.Y. 10458
Keith's Fordham Theatre, as it was originally named, opened on April 14, 1921. Designed by William McElfatrick, the 2,446-seat theatre was built by Keith-Albee as a vaudeville house.
In 1929, following the merger of the Keith theatres into the RKO circuit, the name was changed to RKO Fordham Theatre. That same year, a rivalry began with the opening of the $4 million Loew’s Paradise Theatre on the Grand Concourse. For the next several decades, the two theatres were the top choices for movie patrons.
The RKO Fordham was triplexed in 1976, and a fourth screen was added in 1980. Unfortunately, the once-bustling shopping district declined due to an alarming rise in street crime and the Fordham was finally forced to close. It was demolished in March 1987, and replaced by retail buildings. |
|
|
|
Robert Morton Organ Co.
Van Nuys, Calif. – Opus 2303 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 13 ranks
In 1926, a new organ built by the Robert Morton Co. was installed in the theatre. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
|
|
|
|
|
|
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2946 (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 registers, 17 stops, 17 ranks
The original organ in Keith's Fordham Theatre was built in 1921 by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. With three manuals and 17 ranks, this was one of Möller's standard theatre organ models. This organ for Keith's Fordham cost $8,000.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
|
|
4 |
|
Flute Harmonic |
73 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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 |
|
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 website: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/6253
Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3037 (1921), one of the firm's standard III/17 theatre organs built for Keith's 81st Street Theatre, Manhattan.
Illustration:
Mann, George. 1931 photo of exterior. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|