Audubon Theatre
3950 Broadway at 165th Street
New York, N.Y. 10032
The Audubon Theatre and Ballroom were built in 1912 for William Fox's fledgling film company. Thomas W. Lamb designed the building in association with the Rambush Studios, which designed the interior of the theatre. Lamb combined mythological, iconography and theatrical references for the Audubon. During construction, the building was known as the Washington Heights Hippodrome, but prior to opening, the name was changed to Audubon Theatre and Ballroom in honor of naturalist John James Audubon, who had lived in the neighborhood.
The 2,368-seat theater was first known as the William Fox Audubon, and then became the Beverly Hills, and finally the San Juan. For many years, the Audubon was a center of culture and entertaiment in Washington Heights, but it is perhaps best known as the site where Malcolm X was assasinated in 1965 while giving a speech.
During the 1970s and 80s the building fell into disuse and disrepair, until it was acquired by Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in the mid-1990s. Rather than completely raze the historic landmark, the facade along West 165th Street was preserved, while a new structure erected behind it, known today as the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Education & Research Center. Inside the Center is a memorial to Malcolm X. The ornate terra-cotta facade was meticulously restored and brought back to its 1910s appearance. |
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M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3800 (1923)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 registers, 15 ranks
An Agreement of Lease, dated July 17, 1923, shows that Möller would install a new three-manual organ for $7,500 in exchange for the previous Möller organ (Op. 2015) installed in 1915. The new organ included a detached stop-key console and was to be ready for use by November 17, 1923. |
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Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed (7" wind pressure)
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8 |
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Horn Diapason |
73 |
16 |
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Bass Clarinet (TC) |
— |
8 |
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Tibia Clausa (10" w.p.) |
85 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
61 |
8 |
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French Horn |
85 |
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4 |
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Octave Horn |
— |
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8 |
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Cello Solo |
73 |
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Glockenspiel (Harp) |
— |
8 |
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Oboe Horn |
73 |
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8 |
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Kinura |
73 |
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4 |
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Flute |
— |
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8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (7" wind pressure)
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16 |
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Tuba Profunda (TC) (10" w.p.) |
73 |
4 |
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Octave |
— |
16 |
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Contra Bass Bourdon |
97 |
4 |
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Flute |
— |
16 |
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Double Open Diapason |
85 |
4 |
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Violin I |
— |
8 |
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Tuba Mirabilis |
— |
4 |
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Violin Celeste |
— |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
— |
4 |
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Violins II |
— |
8 |
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Flute |
— |
2 2/3 |
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Quint |
— |
8 |
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Violin I |
85 |
2 2/3 |
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Twelfth |
— |
8 |
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Celeste |
73 |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
— |
8 |
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Violin II |
73 |
2 |
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Piccolo |
— |
4 |
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Clarion (Tuba) |
— |
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Accompaniment Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Bourdon |
— |
2 2/3 |
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Twelfth |
— |
8 |
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Open Diapason No. 1 |
— |
2 |
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Piccolo |
— |
8 |
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Solo String |
— |
2 |
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Fifteenth |
— |
8 |
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Viole d'Orchestre |
— |
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Snare Drum, roll |
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8 |
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Vox Celeste |
— |
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Triangle, tap |
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8 |
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Flute |
— |
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Tom Tom, tap |
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4 |
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Flute |
— |
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Chinese Block, tap |
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4 |
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Solo String |
— |
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Tambourine |
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4 |
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Vox Celeste |
— |
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Castanets |
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4 |
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Viole d'Orchestre |
— |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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32 |
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Resultant |
— |
8 |
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Flute |
— |
16 |
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Diaphonic Diapason (ext. GT) |
12 |
16 |
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Trombone (ext. GT) (10" w.p.) |
12 |
16 |
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Sub Bass (ext. SO) |
12 |
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Second Touch |
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16 |
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Bourdon |
32 |
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Bass Drum |
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8 |
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Tuba |
— |
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Tympani |
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8 |
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Diapason |
— |
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Snare Drum |
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16 |
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Solo String |
— |
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Crash Cymbal |
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8 |
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Vox Celeste |
— |
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Small Cymbal |
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8 |
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Viole d'Orchestre |
— |
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Triangle |
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Couplers
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Great to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Accomp. to Solo 16', 8', 4' |
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Solo to Pedal 8' |
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Great 16', 4' |
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Accomp. to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Solo 16', 4' |
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Solo to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Accomp. 16', 4' |
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Accomp. to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Pedal Octave |
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Solo to Accomp. 16', 8', 4' |
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Tremulants
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Solo Organ |
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Tibia |
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Tuba |
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1 Tremulant, 2 tablets, for Great and Accomp. |
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Toe Pistons
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Song BIrds (1) |
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Thunder Sheet |
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Song Birds (2) |
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Crash Cymbal |
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Pedal Movements
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Two Swell pedals |
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Sforzando Pedal |
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Crescendo Pedal |
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Adjustable Combinations
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Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
affecting Solo Organ |
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Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
affecting Great Organ |
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Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
affecting Accomp. Organ |
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Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 |
affecting Pedal Organ |
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Piston Couplers
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Manuals to Great |
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Pedal to Manuals |
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M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2015 (1915)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 24 registers
Specifications for this organ have not yet been located. |
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Sources:
Cinema Treasures website: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/3069
Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
Junchen, David L. The WurliTzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History. Compiled and edited by Jeff Weiler. Chicago: The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.
Kaufmann, Preston J. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 3. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1995.
Renner, James. "Audubon Ballroom," Washington Heights & Inwood Online (May 2003). http://www.washington-heights.us/history/archives/audubon_ballroom_73.html.
Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3800 (1923).
Illustrations:
Renner, James. "Audubon Ballroom," Washington Heights & Inwood Online (May 2003). Exterior. |
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