Loew's State Theatre and office building - New York City (photo: M.P. Möller, Inc. advert., ca.1925)
Loew's State Theatre

1540 Broadway at 45th Street
New York, N.Y. 10036




Loew's State Theatre - New York City (photo: M.P. Möller, Inc. advert., ca.1925)  
Loew's State Theatre was built on the site of the famous Bartholdi Inn, which was demolished to make way for the theatre and the adjoining office building that became the executive headquarters of Loew's, Inc., and had the address of 1540 Broadway. Loew's State, designed by Thomas Lamb in the Adams style, first opened on August 9th, 1921, presenting four complete shows per day of vaudeville and a feature movie. Black-face entertainer Frank Tinney and comedian Lew Cooper headed the first stage bill of nine acts, with Metro's "A Trip to Paradise" on screen.

In 1958, Loew's closed the State for a drastic modernization, reducing its seating capacity almost by half to 1,885. It re-opened on March 28, 1959 with the exclusive world premiere engagement of "Some Like It Hot" and went on to enjoy success in the 1960s with reserved-seat road shows like "Ben-Hur." In 1968, Loew's decided to twin the State top and bottom, and later sub-divided it even more before selling the theatre and office building in 1987 for demolition and redevelopment. A clause in the sales contract required that a replacement theatre for the State should be included in the new construction, but it was another nine years before that happened due to delays in constructing the office tower and finding tenants for it and the retail stores at its base.
               
M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 4111 (1925) at Loew's State Theatre - New York City (photo: The American Organist, courtesy Jeff Scofield)
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4111 (1925)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 126 stops, 41 ranks
               
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Orchestral
16
   Viola
97
2
   Viola Fifteenth
—
8
   Diapason Phonon
73
2
   Harmonic Flute
—
8
   Major Violin II ranks
134
16
   Ophicleide *
—
8
   Mezzo Violin
OR
16
   Clarinet
OR
8
   Voix Celeste
OR
8
   Ophicleide
73
8
   Viola
—
8
   Trombone *
73
8
   Tibia Plena *
73
8
   French Trumpet *
73
8
   Claribel Flute
73
8
   Cor Anglais
73
8
   Flute Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Kinura
73
8
   Bourdon
OR
8
   Major Vox Humana
73
4
   Diapason Phonon
—
4
   Trombone
—
4
   Viola
—
    
Chimes
25 notes
4
   Harmonic Flute
OR
     Xylophone *  
4
   Bourdon
OR
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Viola Twelfth
—
      
 
      
 
      
Swell (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Tibia Clausa
—
2
   Tibia Fifteenth
—
8
   Diapason
73
16
   Oboe
—
8
   Orchestral Violin
73
16
   Mezzo Vox Humana [TC]
—
8
   Viole Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Cornopean *
73
8
   Muted Violes II ranks
134
8
   French Horn *
73
8
   Tibia Clausa *
97
8
   Oboe
73
8
   Flute Major *
73
8
   Musette
73
8
   Doppelflöte
73
8
   Mezzo Vox Humana
73
8
   Concert Flute
73
4
   Cornopean
—
4
   Diapason
—
    
Marimba *
49 bars
4
   Orchestral Violin
—
    
Orchestral Bells [repeat]
37 notes
4
   Muted Violes II ranks
—
     Orchestral Bells [single]  
4
   Tibia Clausa
—
     Tympani Roll No. 1  
4
   Concert Flute
—
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
   Tibia Twelfth
—
      
 
      
 
      
Orchestral (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
16
   Bourdon
—
4
   Dolce Vox Humana
—
8
   Major Violin II ranks
GT
8
   Harp [TC]
—
8
   Mezzo Violin
73
4
  
Harp
61 bars
8
   Voix Celeste [TC]
61
     Glockenspiel  
8
   Viola
GT
     Bells  
8
   Claribel Flute
GT
     Snare Drum Tap  
8
   Flute Celeste
GT
     Snare Drum Roll  
8
   Bourdon
97
     Snare Drum Roll  
4
   Viola
GT
     Tympani Roll  
4
   Harmonic Flute
73
     Castanets  
4
   Bourdon
—
     Tambourine  
2 2/3
   Bourdon Twelfth
—
     Tom Tom  
2
   Bourdon Fifteenth
—
     Sleigh Bells  
16
   Cor Anglais [TC]
GT
     Indian Block  
8
   Clarinet
73
     Triangle  
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
     Tremulant  
8
   Dolce Vox Humana
73
        
               
Solo (Manual IV) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Stentorphone
61
4
   Suabe Flute
73
8
   Gross Gamba
73
16
   Tuba
85
8
   Gross Gamba Celeste [TC]
61
8
   Tuba
—
8
   Tibia Plena
85
4
   Tuba
—
4
   Gross Gamba
—
     Tremulant  
               
Pedal – 32 notes
32
   Resultant
—
4
   Tuba
SO
16
   Diapason
44
     Chimes
GT
16
   Viole
GT
     Bass Drum *  
16
   Tibia Plena
SO
     Snare Drum Roll No. 1  
16
   Tibia Clausa
SW
     Snare Drum Roll No. 2  
16
   Bourdon
OR
     Tympani Roll No. 1  
8
   Diapason
—
     Tympani Roll No. 2  
8
   Gross Gamba
SO
     Triangle  
8
   Mezzo Violin
OR
     Tom Tom  
8
   Tibia Plena
SO
     Small Cymbal  
8
   Bourdon
OR
     Crash Cymbal *  
16
   Tuba
SO
     Tympani No. 1 Crash **  
16
   Ophicleide
GT
     Tympani No. 2 Crash **  
16
   Oboe
SW
        
8
   Tuba
SO
    
* also playable by Double Touch
8
   Trombone
GT
    
** playable only by Double Touch
               
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2981 (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 56 registers


This organ was replaced in 1925 by Möller's Op. 4111. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
               
Sources:
     The American Organist (unknown date). Stoplist of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4111 (1925). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/557
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.

Illustrations:
     M. P. Möller, Inc. advertisement. Exterior and interior of Loew's State Theatre.
     Jeff Scofield. Console of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 4111 (1925).