Loew's Canal Street Theatre - New York City (photo: Percy Loomis Speer, 1935)
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Loew's Canal Street Theatre

31 Canal Street
New York, N.Y. 10002





Loew's Canal Street Theatre, located at the far eastern end of Canal Street, between Ludlow and Essex Streets, opened on September 8, 1927. Built as a neighborhood movie house, the 2,300-seat Loew’s Canal was one of the largest theaters on the Lower East Side, which at the time had not only the densest population in the United States, but also the highest concentration of movie theaters. The Loew's Canal was erected within the area's largest enclave of tenements that housed Russian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Lithuanian Jews.

Loew's Canal Street Theatre - New York City (photo: Percy Loomis Speer, 1935)  
   
As designed by Thomas W. Lamb, the Loew's Canal had a 22-foot-wide entrance onto Canal Street. Lamb's lavishly decorated façade was almost entirely clad in terra cotta and featured sea monsters, griffons, eagles, garland, foliate and other flamboyant ornament. The narrow lobby—which extended about 60 feet from the street—and the large auditorium were decorated in the Spanish Baroque style.

Loew's Canal Street Theatre shut its doors in the late 1950s, and the building was sold in 1960. The lobby was later converted to retail space, and the auditorium used as a warehouse.

In 2010, hope was raised for the possible renovation of the long shuttered Loew's Canal Theatre when the building's current owners supported an effort by the Committee to Revitalize and Enrich the Arts and Tomorrow's Economy (CREATE) to conduct a feasibility study for the conversion of the Canal Theatre into a multipurpose performance arts center. The group received $150,000 from the city for a feasibility study.

In September 2010, the lobby portion of the theatre was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.

     
  Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 1699 (1927) in Loew's Canal Street Theatre (NYC) and Loew's Triboro Theatre (Queens) (photo: B. Boyd)
  Console later in private residence
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y.– Opus 1699 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 13 ranks
Style 235 Special



Wurlitzer's Op. 1699 was built in 1927 for Loew's Canal Street Theatre. This organ was a known as a "235 Special" as it deviated from the usual "Style 235" specifications with the addition of a Brass Trumpet and did not include the standard piano. The factory date was August 13, 1927.

In 1931, this organ was moved to Loew's Triboro Theatre in Astoria, Queens.
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
   Tuba Profunda     Pedal 2nd Touch
16
  Diaphone     Bass Drum
16
  Bourdon     Kettle Drum
8
   Harmonic Tuba     Crash Cymbal
8
   Diaphonic Diapason     Cymbal
8
   Tibia Clausa      
8
   Clarinet     3 Combination Toe Pistons
8
   Cello      
8
   Flute      
4
   Octave      

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
  Bourdon
4
   Flute
16
  Contra Viol [TC]
4
   Vox Humana
8
  Trumpet
2 2/3
   Twelfth
8
  Harmonic Tuba
2
   Piccolo
8
  Diaphonic Diapason     Harp
8
   Horn Diapason     Chrysoglott
8
   Tibia Clausa     Snare Drum
8
   Clarinet     Tambourine
8
   Orchestral Oboe     Castanets
8
   Kinura     Chinese Block
8
   Viole d'Orchestre      
8
   Viole Celeste     Accompaniment 2nd Touch
8
   Salicional
8
   Harmonic Tuba
8
   Concert Flute
8
   Clarinet
8
   Vox Humana     Sleigh Bells
4
   Piccolo     Xylophone
4
   Viole     Triangle
4
   Octave Celeste      
4
   Salicet     10 Adjustable Combination Pistons
         
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Tuba Profunda
4
   Viole
16
  Diaphone
4
   Octave Celeste
16
  Bourdon
4
   Salicet
16
  Contra Viole [TC]
2
   Flute
8
   Trumpet
2 2/3
   Twelfth
8
   Harmonic Tuba
2
   Fifteenth
8
   Diaphonic Diapason
2
   Piccolo
8
   Horn Diapason
1 3/5
   Tierce
8
   Tibia Clausa     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Clarinet     Sleigh Bells
8
   Orchestral Oboe     Xylophone
8
   Kinura     Glockenspiel
8
   Viole d'Orchestre     Orchestral Bells
8
   Viole Celeste     Chrysoglott
8
   Salicional      
8
   Concert Flute     Great 2nd Touch
8
   Vox Humana
16
   Tuba Profunda
4
   Harmonic Clarion
8
   Tibia Clausa
4
   Octave      
4
   Piccolo     10 Adjustable Combination Pistons
           
Solo (Manual III) – 61 notes
16
   Tuba Profunda
4
   Harmonic Clarion
8
   Trumpet
4
   Piccolo
8
   Harmonic Tuba     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Tibia Clausa     Xylophone
8
   Clarinet     Glockenspiel
8
   Orchestral Oboe     Orchestral Bells
8
   Kinura      
          10 Adjustable Combination Pistons
           
Tremulants (3)
    Main      
    Solo      
    Vox Humana      
           
General
    Two Balanced Expression Pedals
    One Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal
     • 1st Touch: Full Stops (wind)
     • 2nd Touch: Full Stops & Percussion
    One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal - Piano Pedal
     • 1st Touch: Snare Drum
     • 2nd Touch: Bass Drum & Cymbal
           
Effects (operated by pistons)
    Auto Horn   Bird Effect
    Fire Gong   Surf Effect
    Steamboat Whistle   Airplane & Wind Effect (On/Off buttons)
    Horse Hoofs   Door Bell (operated by push button)
         
STOP & CHAMBER ANALYSIS
     
Main Chamber
16
   Diaphonic Diapason
85 pipes
8
   Horn Diapason
61 pipes
8
   Clarinet
61 pipes
8
   Salicional
73 pipes
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
85 pipes
8
   Viol Celeste
73 pipes
16
   Concert Flute
97 pipes
8
   Vox Humana
61 pipes
 
 
 
 
Solo Chamber
16
   Harmonic Tuba
85 pipes
8
   Trumpet
61 pipes
8
   Tibia Clausa
73 pipes
8
   Orchestral Oboe
61 pipes
8
   Kinura
61 pipes
    Marimba
49 notes
    Cathedral Chimes
25 notes
    Xylophone
37 notes
    Glockenspiel
37 notes
    Sleigh Bells
25 notes
    Chrysoglott
49 notes
     
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/521
     "Commission Designates Three Landmarks in Manhattan." Press Release, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (Sept. 14, 2010).
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
     "Loew's Canal Street Theatre." New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (Sept. 14, 2010), Designation List 433, LP-2368.
     Topousis, Tom. "Chinatown treasure," The New York Post (Jan. 11, 2010).

Illustrations:
     Lewis, James. Undated photo of interior.
     Speer, Percy Loomis. 1935 photo of exterior.