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Loew's Victoria Theatre
233 West 125th Street near 7th Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10024
The Loew’s Victoria Theater opened in 1917 as a vaudeville and motion picture theatre. Designed by Thomas W. Lamb in the Adams style, the 2,394-seat theatre cost $250,000 to build and was hailed “as one of the largest and most beautiful theaters in greater N.Y.” Located on the north side of 125th Street in Harlem, the Victoria was the middle of three adjacent theatres. To the east was Hurtig & Seamon’s New (Burlesque) Theater, known today as the Apollo Theatre.
In 1977, the Victoria ceased being a Loew's house and was acquired by the Harlem Community Development Corporation. In 1987, five movie theaters were created from the auditorium, mezzanine and stage areas. The theater closed in 1989 and was sometimes used for church services for a time, but in recent years it has sat unused. Several proposals for redevelopment have been made. |
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Robert-Morton Organ Co.
Van Nuys, Calif.
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals
The second known organ in the Victoria Theatre was built the Robert-Morton Organ Co. of Van Nuys, Calif. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
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M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 2322 (1917)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 34 stops, 17 ranks
The original organ in the Loew's Victoria Theatre was built in 1917 by M.P. Möller of Hagerstown, Md. Möller's 3/17 theatre organ (with occasional modifications) was a standard model for the company.
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Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
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16 |
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Violin Diapason (TC) |
73 |
2 |
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Piccolo [Fl. Harm.] |
OR |
8 |
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Open Diapason |
85 |
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Mixture III ranks |
derived |
8 |
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Viol d'Orchestre |
73 |
16 |
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Bass Clarinet (TC) |
OR |
8 |
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Doppel Flute |
73 |
8 |
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French Horn |
73 |
4 |
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Octave [Op. Diap.] |
— |
4 |
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Octave Horn |
— |
4 |
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Zart Flute [Quintadena] |
OR |
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| Cathedral Chimes |
20 Notes |
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Orchestral Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
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8 |
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Violin Diapason |
GT |
16 |
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Fagotto (TC) |
— |
8 |
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Horn Diapason (syn) |
— |
8 |
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Orchestral Oboe |
73 |
8 |
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Viol d'Orchestre |
GT |
8 |
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Clarinet |
73 |
8 |
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Viol Celeste (TC) |
73 |
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| Orchestral Bells |
25 Notes |
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8 |
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Quintadena |
73 |
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4 |
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Flute Harmonic |
73 |
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Solo Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
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8 |
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Gross Flute |
85 |
4 |
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Gemshorn (TG) |
— |
8 |
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Concert Flute |
73 |
16 |
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Bass Tuba (TC) |
— |
8 |
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Gemshorn |
85 |
8 |
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Tuba |
73 |
8 |
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Violoncello |
73 |
8 |
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Vox Humana |
73 |
4 |
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Flute Overte (TG) [Gross Fl.] |
— |
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Pedal Organ – 32 notes
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16 |
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Open Diapason [ext. Gross Fl.] |
12 |
16 |
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Lieblich Gedeckt [lo-press.] |
— |
16 |
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Sub Bass |
32 |
8 |
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Violoncello |
SO |
16 |
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Gemshorn [ext.] |
12 |
8 |
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Flute |
SO |
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Couplers
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Great to Pedal 8', 4' |
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Orch. to Solo |
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Orch. to Pedal 8' |
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Solo to Orch. 8' 8' |
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Solo to Pedal 8' |
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Great 4' |
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Orch. to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Orch. 16', 4' |
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Solo. to Great 16', 8', 4' |
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Solo 16', 4' |
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Mechanicals
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Orchestral Tremulant |
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Crescendo Indicator |
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Solo Tremulant |
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Adjustable Combinations
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| Orchestral Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Great Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb) |
| Solo Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3-4 (thumb) |
| Pedal Organ |
Pistons 1-2-3 (thumb) |
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Piston Couplers
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Corresponding Orchestral and Solo Pistons to Great Pistons |
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Corresponding Pedal Pistons to Manual Pistons |
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Pedal Movements
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Balanced Solo Pedal |
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Great to Pedal Reversible |
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Balanced Orchestral Pedal |
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Orchestral to Pedal Reversible |
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Grand Crescendo Pedal |
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Thunder Pedal |
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Sources:
Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/560
Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vols. 1 and II. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
Lewis, James. Welte Organ Company Opus List.
Memorandum of Agreement (July 15, 1920) with Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller organ, Op. 3037 (1921), the firm's standard III/17 theatre organ. Courtesy Larry Trupiano.
Illustrations:
Architecture and Building (Vol. L, Jan. 1918): Plates 4 and 5. Exterior and interior. |
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