Loew's Lexington Theatre - New York City (photo: Cinema Treasures)
Loew's Lexington Theatre
Lexington Avenue Opera House

571 Lexington Avenue at 51st Street
New York, N.Y. 10022

Organ Specifications:
► III/16 "Style 260 Special" Wurlitzer, Op. 1555 (1927)
► III/28 M.P. Möller, Op. 3750 (1923)
► III/33 M.P. Möller, Op. 1815 (1914)


The Loew's Lexington Theatre, originally known as the Lexington Avenue Opera House, was built by Oscar Hammerstein (father of the song lyricist), with William H. McElfatrick as architect. Because of a dispute that he was having at the time with the Metropolitan Opera, Hammerstein was unable to produce operas there, so he opened it on August 14, 1914 with vaudeville and movies. About a year later, he was still battling with the Met and sold the theatre to his close friend, Marcus Loew, whose circuit ran the Lexington for the rest of its existence. The theatre originally had 3,100 seats, but Loew's reduced it to about 2,500 by closing the topmost of its three balconies. The auditorium was of Beaux Arts design and also had 40 boxes, arranged in four tiers on each side of the proscenium. After the opening of the flagship Loew's State in Times Square in 1921, the Lexington dropped vaudeville and switched to double features, though it continued to be one of the circuit's top Manhattan theatres. Loew's always kept the Lexington in top condition, never changing the decor except for modernizing the entrance, lobby and lounge areas. The Lexington was demolished in 1961 to make way for the Loew's Summit Hotel.
               
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1555 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style "260 Special"
3 manuals, 16 ranks, 7 tuned percussions, 14 traps


This Wurlitzer organ in Loew's Lexington Theatre was termed a "Style 260 Special" because it lacked the Style 260's usual 32' Diaphone and Piano but had a second Vox Humana. In 1930, the organ was moved to the RKO Proctor's 86th Street Theatre. Opus 1555 had a factory date of January 14, 1927.
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
   Ophicleide     Pedal 1st and 2nd Touch
16
   Diaphone     Bass Drum
16
   Tibia Clausa     Kettle Drum
16
   Bourdon     Snare Drum
8
   Tuba Horn     Crash Cymbal
8
   Diaphonic Diapason     Cymbals
8
   Tibia Clausa      
8
   Clarinet     Pedal Pizzicato
8
   Saxophone
16
   Ophicleide
8
   String      
8
   Cello     1st Touch & 2nd Touch Traps Switch
8
   Flute      
4
   Flute     3 Adjustable Combination Toe Pistons
8
   Great to Pedal      
8
   Solo to Pedal      

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
   Contra Viol [TC]     Mandolin
16
   Bourdon     Marimba [re-it]
16
   Vox Humana [TC]     Harp
16
   Vox Humana [TC] (Solo)     Crysoglott
8
   Tuba Horn     Snare Drum
8
   Diaphonic Diapason     Tambourine
8
   Tibia Clausa     Castanets
8
   Clarinet     Chinese Block
8
   Saxophone     Tom Tom
8
   String
4
   Octave
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
8
   Solo to Accomp.
8
   Viol Celeste      
8
   Oboe Horn     Accompaniment 2nd Touch
8
   Quintadena
8
   Tuba Horn
8
   Flute
8
   Tibia Clausa
8
   Vox Humana (Main)     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Vox Humana (Solo)     Xylophone
4
   Viol     Triangle
4
   Viol Celeste     Solo to Accomp.
4
   Flute      
2 2/3
   Twelfth     Accompaniment Pizzicato
2
   Piccolo
8
   Solo to Accomp.
16
   Piano      
8
   Piano     10 Double Touch Adjustable Pistons
4
   Piano     Suitable Bass and Release
           
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Ophicleide
2 2/3
   Flute
16
   Diaphone
2
   Fifteenth
16
   Tibia Clausa
2
   Piccolo
16
   Clarinet [TC]
1 3/5
   Tierce
16
   Saxophone [TC]     Marimba
16
   Contra Viol [TC]     Harp
16
   Bourdon     Orchestral Bells
8
   Trumpet     Sleigh Bells
8
   Tuba Horn     Xylophone
8
   Diaphonic Diapason     Glockenspiel
8
   Tibia Clausa     Chrysoglott
8
   Orchestral Oboe     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Kinura
16
   Sub Octave
8
   Clarinet
4
   Octave
8
   Saxophone
8
   Solo to Great
8
   String      
8
   Viol d'Orchestre     Great 2nd Touch
8
   Viol Celeste
16
   Ophicleide
8
   Flute
8
   Tibia Clausa
8
   Vox Humana (Main)
8
   Solo to Great
8
   Vox Humana (Solo)      
4
   Clarion     Great Pizzicato
4
   Piccolo
8
   Solo to Great
4
   Viol      
4
   Viol Celeste     10 Double Touch Adjustable Pistons
4
   Flute     Suitable Bass and Release
           
Solo (Manual III) – 61 notes
16
   Ophicleide
8
   Quintadena
8
   Trumpet
4
   Clarion
8
   Tuba Horn
4
   Piccolo
8
   Diaphonic Diapason     Xylophone
8
   Tibia Clausa     Glockenspiel
8
   Orchestral Oboe     Orchestral Bells
8
   Kinura     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Clarinet      
8
   Saxophone     10 Double Touch Adjustable Pistons
8
   String     Suitable Bass and Release
8
   Oboe Horn      
           
Tremulants (6)
    Main     Vox Humana (Main)
    Solo     Vox Humana (Solo)
    Tibia     Tuba

   

   
General
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Main
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo
    Crescendo Pedal
    Thunder Pedal (Diaphone) – Piano Pedal
    Thunder Pedal (Reed) – Piano Pedal
    One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal
     • 1st Touch: Full stops (wind)
     • 2nd Touch: Full stops and Percussion
    One Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal
     • 1st Touch: Snare Drum
     • 2nd Touch: Bass Drum and Cymbal
           
Effects (operated by toe pistons)
    Auto Horn     Fire Gong
    Steamboat Whistle     Horse Hoofs
    Two Birds (one in each expression box)    
           
STOP & CHAMBER ANALYSIS
     
Main Chamber
16
   Tuba Horn
85 pipes
32
   Diaphonic Diapason
97 pipes
8
   Viol Celeste
73 pipes
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
85 pipes
16
   Bourdon-Concert Flute
97 pipes
8
   Clarinet
61 pipes
8
   Vox Humana
61 pipes
 
 
Solo Chamber
8
   Saxophone
61 pipes
8
   Brass Trumpet
61 pipes
8
   Solo String
61 pipes
16
   Tibia Clausa
85 pipes
8
   Orchestral Oboe
61 pipes
8
   Quintadena
61 pipes
8
   Oboe Horn
61 pipes
8
   Kinura
61 pipes
8
   Vox Humana
61 pipes
    Marimba/Harp
49 notes
    Cathedral Chimes
25 notes
    Xylophone
37 notes
    Glockenspiel
37 notes
    Sleigh Bells
25 notes
    All non-tonal traps & effects
               
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3750 (1923)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 93 stops, 28 ranks


In the factory contract dated June 19, 1923, the M.P. Möller company states that the organ for the Lexington Avenue Opera House would cost $17,500, and that it would be completed by October 1, 1923 "POSITIVE." Möller's three-manual mahagony console had colored stop keys and was detached and movable. Wind pressures for the organ were 7" and 12". Möller includes the following notation:

Organ to be constructed so that all string stops are playable on orchestral manual. Two stopkeys cancel all other stops from Orchestral department and all strings from Great and Solo and draw all strings on Orchestral. The purpose is that a solo on any stop (string excepted) can be played on either great or solo manual, and accompanied by all strings in chorus on orchestral manual.
               
Great Organ (Center Manual) – 61 notes, enclosed with Orchestral
8
   Open Diapason
73
2
   String Fifteenth *
—
4
   Octave Principal
—
8
   Violin d'Orchestre *
73
8
   Tibia Plena
73
8
   Viole Celeste [TC] *
61
8
   Doppel Flute
73
16
   Bass Tuba
85
8
   Clarabella
73
8
   Tuba
—
8
   Flute Celeste [TC]
61
4
   Clarion
—
8
   Rohr Flute
—
16
   Cor Anglais [TC]
—
4
   Solo Flute
—
8
   English Horn
73
4
   Claribel Flute
—
16
   Corno di Bassetto [TC]
—
4
   Flute d'Amour
—
8
   French Trumpet
73
    Mixture III ranks [derived]
—
    
Cathedral Chimes
20 notes
16
   Violin *
97
    
Xylophone
37 notes
8
   Solo Violin *
—
     Tremulant
4
   Violin *
—
     Orchestral String Tremulant
2 2/3
   String Twelfth *
—
        
 
      
 
      
Orchestral Organ (Bottom Manual) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
16
   Bourdon
97
4
   Horn Octave
—
8
   Stopped Diapason
—
16
   Sub Vox [TC]
—
4
   Flute d'Amour
—
8
   Vox Humana
73
2 2/3
   Octave Quint
—
8
  
Concert Harp
49 notes
2
   Flageolet
—
4
  
Octave Harp
37 notes
1 3/5
   Tiercena
—
    
Glockenspiel
8
   Orchestral Oboe
—
     Orchestral Bells  
8
   Saxophone (Syn.)
—
    
Orch. String Organ [draws * stops]
8
   Flute Traverso
73
    
Solo String Organ [draws + stops]
4
   Wald Flute
—
     Orchestral String Tremulant
8
   Solo Violin
—
     Solo String Tremulant  
4
   Violin
—
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   String Twelfth
—
     Snare Drum  
8
   Violin d'Orchestre
—
     Castanets  
8
   Viole Celeste [TC]
—
     Tambourine  
8
   Tuba
—
     Sleigh Bells  
8
   Clarinet
73
     Indian Block  
8
   English Horn
—
        
 
      
 
      
Solo Organ (Top Manual) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentorphone
73
8
   Viole Celeste [TC] +
61
8
   Gross Flute
73
4
   Violin +
—
16
   Tibia Clausa
97
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Stopped Flute
—
4
   Corno d'Amour
—
4
   Orchestral Flute
—
8
   French Horn
73
2 2/3
   Quint
—
16
   Fagotta
85
2
   Flautina
—
8
   Oboe
—
1 3/5
   Tiercena
—
4
   Oboe Clarion
—
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
4
   Flute Harmonic
73
4
   Vox Octave
—
4
   Fern Flute
—
    
Concert Marimba
49 notes
2
   Piccolo
—
     Marimba [single stroke]
—
8
   Gross Gamba +
73
     Solo String Tremulant  
8
   Gross Gamba Celeste [TC] +
61
     Tremulant  
8
   Violin d'Orchestre +
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
     Bass Drum  
16
   Open Diapason
12
     Snare Drum  
16
   Tibia
12
     Tympany Roll  
16
   Contra Tibia Clausa
—
     Triangle  
16
   Bourdon
—
     Cymbal  
16
   Violin
—
     Tom Tom  
16
   Tuba
—
     Castanets  
16
   Contra Fagotta
—
     Tambourine  
8
   Tibia Plena
—
     Sleigh Bells  
8
   Flute Dolce
—
        
8
   Cello
—
        
8
   Tuba
—
        
               
Affected by Toe Pistons
    Thunder Sheet       Indian Block  
    Cymbal Crash       Song Birds (2)  
    Grand Crash       Chinese Gong  
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 4'
    Orchestral to Pedal 8'   Solo 16', 4'
    Solo to Pedal 8'   Orchestral 16', 4'
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'   Great Unison Separation [in jambs]
    Orchestral to Great 16', 8', 4'   Orch. Unison Separation [in jambs]
    Solo to Orchestral 8'   Solo Unison Separation [in jambs]
    Orchestral to Solo 8'    
               
Mechanicals
    Great-Orchestral Tremulant   Solo String Tremulant
    Solo Tremulant      
    Great-Orchestral String Tremulant   Crescendo Indicator  
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible
    Orchestral to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Solo Pedal
    Balanced Great-Orchestral Pedal
    Grand Crescendo Pedal – Sub & Super Couplers Sforzando on Double Touch
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 Affecting Orchestral Stops
    Pistons 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 Affecting Great Stops
    Pistons 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 Affecting Solo Stops
    Pistons 1,2,3,4,5 & 6 Affecting Pedal Stops
    Pistons 1,2,3, & 4 Affecting Full Organ
               
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Op. 1815 (1914)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 44 stops, 33 ranks


This pipes of this organ were installed entirely in the ceiling, above the auditorium, while the movable electric console was located in the deep orchestra pit.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Bourdon
61
8
   Doppel Floete
61
8
   Open Diapason, No. 1
61
4
  Octave
61
8
   Open Diapason, No. 2
61
4
   Flute Harmonic
61
8
   Gamba
61
16
   Tuba Profunda [unit]
85
8
   Gemshorn
61
8
   Harmonic Tuba
—
8
   Melodia
61
4
   Harmonic Clarion
—
 
      
 
      
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Viole
73
4
   Violina
73
8
   Open Diapason
73
     Dolce Cornet, 3 ranks
183
8
   Salicional
73
16
   Contra Fagotto
73
8
   Viole Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Cornopean
73
8
   Viole d'Orchestre
73
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Aeoline
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Stopped Diapason
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Spitz Flute
73
     Vox Tremulant  
4
   Flauto Traverso
73
        
 
      
 
      
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Viol Dolce
73
2
   Flageolet
61
8
   Geigen Principal
73
8
   Clarinet
61
8
   Dulciana
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Concert Flute
73
     Cathedral Chimes  
4
   Flute d'Amour
73
        
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
   Harmonic Bass [resultant]
—
8
   Cello
CH
16
   Open Diapason [unit]
44
8
   Melodia
GT
16
   Bourdon
GT
16
   Contra Fagotta
SW
16
   Viol Dolce
CH
16
   Tuba Profunda
GT
8
   Octave
—
8
   Harmonic Tuba
GT
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'   Great 16', 4'
    Choir to Pedal 8', 4'   Swell 16', 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'   Choir 16', 4'
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'   Pedal 8'
    Great to Swell 16', 8', 4'   Swell Unison Cancel
    Choir to Swell 16', 8', 4'   Choir Unison Cancel
         
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Affecting Great stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 Affecting Swell stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 Affecting Choir stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5 Affecting Pedal stops
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal for Swell   Balanced Crescendo Pedal
    Balanced Swell Pedal for Great   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Pedal for Choir   Sforzando Pedal
    Balanced Swell Pedal moving all Swell Shades    
               
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: www.cinematreasures.org
     Jewish Virtual Library web site: http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org
     Cinema Treasures web site: www.cinematreasures.org
     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.
     "Lexington Avenue Opera House Organ," The Diapason (December, 1923). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     "Moller Organ For Hammerstein's New Opera House," Music Trade Review (July 25, 1914).
     "Moller Will Build for Hammerstein," The Diapason (August 1914). Courtesy Jonathan Bowen.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications for M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3750 (1923).
     WF Collection. Specifications of Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 1555 (1927).

Illustrations:
     Cinema Treasures web site. Undated photo of exterior.