Colony Theatre - New York City
 
Click on images to enlarge
Colony Theater
(now the Broadway Theater)

1681 Broadway at 53rd Street
New York, N.Y. 10036





The Colony Theatre was designed by architect Eugene DeRosa and built for B.S. Moss. Opening on December 25, 1924, the 1,761-seat Colony was initially used as a movie palace, showing Universal Pictures productions and vaudeville. In 1930 Moss changed the name to Broadway Theatre and began staging plays. The Shubert Organization purchased the Broadway in 1939, and the next year saw the opening of Walt Disney's "Fantasia" and, in 1941, the world premiere of Disney's "Dumbo." In 1952, the world premiere of Cinerama and its inaugural film, "This is Cinerama" was at the Broadway, continuing for 35 weeks. After this run, the Broadway was returned to a "legit" theatre. The Schubert Organization commissioned Fox & Fowle to restore the Broadway in 1985-86.
             
  John Priest plays the Skinner Organ, Op. 485 (1924) at the Colony Theatre - New York City (Skinner Organ Co. publication "Stop, Open and Reed")
 
John Priest at the Colony Theatre
Skinner Organ Co.
Boston, Mass. – Opus 485 (1924)
Electro-pneumatic key and stop action
4 manuals, 58 stops, 32 ranks, 2,153 pipes



Skinner Organ, Op. 485 (1924) on stage at the Colony Theater - New York City (credit: AJWB Collection)  
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Diapason
61
8
  Corno d'Amour
61
8
  Gedeckt
61
8
  Vox Humana
61
8
  Voix Celeste II ranks
146
    Tremolo  
8
   Flute Celeste II ranks
134
    
Harp
61 bars
4
  Harmonic Flute
73
  Celesta  
4
  Unda Maris II ranks
122
    Piano Action
8
   Cornopean
73
        

 

     

 

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Bourdon
73
8
  Corno d'Amour
GT
8
  Diapason
GT
8
   Vox Humana
GT
8
  Gedeckt
GT
 
   Tremolo  
8
  Voix Celeste II ranks
GT
     Harp
GT
8
  Flute Celeste II ranks
GT
     Celesta
GT
8
  Harmonic Flute
GT
     Piano Action
GT
8
  Unda Maris II ranks
GT
        

     

     
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Geigen
73
8
  Clarinet
73
8
  Concert Flute
73
  Tremolo  
8
  Erzahler
73
 
Harp
61 bars
4
  Flute
73
  Celesta
PED
    Carillon III ranks
73
     
               
Orchestral Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Doppel Flute
73
16
   Bassoon
73
8
   Cello
73
8
   Tuba Mirabilis
73
8
   Gamba Celeste
73
8
   Physharmonica
73
4
   Orchestral Flute
73
8
   French Horn
73
2 2/3
  Nazard
61
8
   Musette
73
2
   Piccolo
61
8
   Clarinet
73
1 3/5
  Tierce
61
     Tremolo  
1 1/7
  Septieme
61
     Piano Action  
               
Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Doppel Flute
OR
16
  Bassoon
OR
8
  Cello
OR
8
  Tuba Mirabilis
OR
8
  Gamba Celeste
OR
8
   Physharmonica
OR
4
  Orchestral Flute
OR
8
   French Horn
OR
2 2/3
   Nazard
OR
8
   Musette
OR
2
   Piccolo
OR
8
   Clarinet
OR
1 3/5
   Tierce
OR
     Tremolo
OR
1 1/7
   Septieme
OR
     Piano Action
OR
               
Echo Organ – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Chimney Flute
73
     Tremolo  
8
   Vox Humana
73
    
Cathedral Chimes
20 tubes
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Diapason
32
8
  Still Gedeckt
SW
16
  Bourdon
32
16
  Trombone
32
16
  Echo Bourdon
SW
16
  Bassoon
OR
8
  Octave [ext.]
12
8
  Tromba
12
8
  Gedeckt [ext.]
12
     
               
Great Traps Orchestral Traps
    Chinese Block       Xylophone  
    Snare Drum       Bird Call  
               
Toe Studs Pedal Keys
    Tom Tom       Bass Drum – Double Touch
    Snare Drum       Tympani and Bass Drum
    Crash Cymbal       Cymbal  
    Bass Drum       Thunder Effect  
  Kettle Drum       Rain  
             
Sources:
     Aeolian-Skinner Archives web site: http://aeolianskinner.organsociety.org/Specs/Op00485.html. Stoplist of Skinner Organ Co. organ, Op. 485 (1924).
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theatres/2250
     The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting web site: www.nyc.gov/html/film/html/theatre
     Dolkart, Andrew S. and Matthew A. Postal. Guide to New York City Landmarks (Third Edition). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 2004.
     Holden, Dorothy. The Life and Work of Ernest M. Skinner. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1987.
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 2. Pasedena: Showcase Publications, 1989.
     Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List (New Rev. Ed.). Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.Photos:
     "Stop, Open and Reed," pub. by the Skinner Organ Co. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997.

Illustrations:
     The City of New York Mayor's Office of Film, Theatre and Broadcasting web site: interior.
     "Stop, Open and Reed," pub. by the Skinner Organ Co. John Priest at Skinner Organ, Op. 485 (1924).