Pythian Temple - New York City
 
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Pythian Temple

135 West 70th Street
New York, N.Y. 10023


Organ Specifications:
► III/14 M.P. Möller, Op. 4862 (1927) – Auditorium
► II/4 M.P. Möller, Op. 4863–4675 (1927) – 13 Lodge Rooms


Pythian Temple - New York City  
The Pythian Temple, located at 135 West Seventieth Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue, was built to serve as a clubhouse for the Order of Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization founded in Washington during the Civil War. Radio station WNYC broadcast the dedication ceremonies that took place on January 25, 1928, when Franklin W. Moore, State Grand Chancellor of the order, presented the building to Mayor James J. Walker, who accepted on behalf of the city.

The nine-story neo-Egyptian structure was designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was renowned for his opulent movie palaces. Its exterior featured Sumerian, Assyrian, and Egyptian motifs, polychromed Doric columns, seated Pharaonic figures, and Babylonian crenellations. Capping the twin towers were reconstructions of the gilded basin set up by Solomon in the temple at Jerusalem. Lamb brought theatrical elements inside where the double-height lobby was decorated with black marble in the Egyptian style. A monumental staircase led to a mezzanine that extended across the length of the lobby and connected to the elevators on the opposite side. On the second floor was the 1,600-seat columnless auditorium. The upper floors contained meeting rooms and a series of thirteen lodge rooms that were decorated in a variety of period styles.

  Pythian Temple - New York City
Though the knights are nonsectarian, members are required to profess faith in a supreme being, and the Bible has long been the centerpiece of much of the group's ceremonial activity. In fact, the Pythian Temple, which the A.I.A. Guide to New York City has called an ''opium-smoker's dream,'' was built virtually without windows, the better to guard the privacy of the group's secret rites.

Pythian Temple - New York City  
In the 1950s, the building was sold and converted for use as a branch of Manhattan Community College. The building was sold again in the 1980s, and was converted into luxury condominiums in 1982. Many of the original terra cotta details are still present, although the exterior is now punctuated with windows.
           
Auditorium Organ

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4862 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 68 registers, 14 ranks


For their large 1,600-seat auditorium, the M.P. Möller firm built a three-manual organ with 68 registers and 14 ranks of pipes. The contract, dated November 15, 1926, states that the organ was controlled by a detached stop-key console and operated on 10" wind pressure.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed with Choir
16
   Tibia Clausa
97
2
   Piccolo [ext.]
—
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   French Horn
73
8
   Tibia Clausa [ext.]
—
8
   Kinura
73
8
   Claribel Flute
73
4
   Octave Horn [ext.]
—
8
   Violoncello
73
4
   Octave Kinura [ext.]
—
8
   Cello Celeste [TC]
61
    
Chimes
20 bells
4
   Orchestral Flute [Tibia]
—
    
Xylophone, Single
37 bars
4
   Concert Flute [Claribel]
—
    
Xylophone, Repeating
37 notes
4
   Violins II ranks [ext.]
—
     Tremulant  
2 2/3
  Tibia Quint [ext.]
—
        

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Violin
97
16
   Vox Humana [TC]
—
8
   Horn Diapason *
—
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Doppel Floete
73
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Violin [ext.]
—
4
   Octave Oboe [ext.]
—
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]
61
    
Orchestral Bells, Single
37 bars
4
   Violina [ext.]
—
    
Orchestral Bells, Repeating
37 notes
4
   Flute Harmonic
73
    
Marimba
49 bars
2 2/3
   Nazard [Violin]
—
    
Mirimbaphone
49 notes
2 2/3
   Flute Twelfth [Fl. Harm.]
—
    
Tremulant
2
   String Fifteenth [ext.]
—
     * 8' Doppel Floete + 4' Flute Harmonic
2
   Flageolet [ext.]
—
        
               
Choir Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Great
8
   Tibia Clausa
GT
     Castanets  
8
   Violoncello
GT
     Indiana Block  
8
   Cello Celeste
GT
     Tom Tom  
8
   Claribel Flute
GT
     Sleigh Bells  
4
   Violina
GT
     Triangle  
4
   Concert Flute
GT
     Snare Drum  
2 2/3
   Tibia Quint
GT
     Tremulant  
2
   Piccolo
GT
    
Harp
49 bars
16
   Clarinet [TC]
—
      
8
   Clarinet
73
       

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Tibia Clausa
GT
  Bass Drum  
16
  Bass Viol
GT
  Snare Drum  
16
  Bourdon [ext. Dop. Fl.]
12
  Cymbal  
8
   Flute
GT
     Tympani  
8
   Violoncello
GT
     Tom Tom  
            Tambourine  
               
By Pedal Studs
    Song Birds (2)       Crash Cymbal  
    Thunder Sheet       Ford Horn  
    Grand Crash          
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'       Choir to Swell 8', 4'  
    Swell to Pedal 8'       Swell to Choir 16', 8', 4'  
    Choir to Pedal 8'       Great 16', 4', Unison  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Swell 16', 4', Unison  
    Choir to Great 16', 8', 4'       Choir 16', 4', Unison  
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5   affecting Great Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4   affecting Swell Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4   affecting Choir Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4   affecting Pedal Organ
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4   affecting Full Organ
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Great and Choir Organs
    Balanced Expression Pedal – Swell Organ
    Grand Crescendo Pedal
           
13 Lodge Rooms

M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 4863 through Opus 4875 (1927)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 23 registers, 4 ranks


On November 16, 1926, the day after the contract for the Auditorium organ was signed, another contract was made with M.P. Möller, Inc., to build and install thirteen identical organs for the thirteen lodge rooms in the Pythian Temple. The Möller Factory Specifications indicate that the organs were on 5" wind pressure, had a detached stop-console, and would be completed by May 1, 1927.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed with Swell?
8
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Stopped Diapason
SW
8
   Dulciana
73
4
   Flute
SW

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Dulce
GT
4
   Flute [ext.]
—
8
   Stopped Diapason
85
8
   Vox Celeste [TC]
61

     

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Bourdon [ext. SW St. Diap.]
12
        
8
   Flute
SW
        
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'       Great 16', 4', Unison  
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'       Swell 16', 4', Unison  
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'          
               
Mechanicals
    Tremulant       Crescendo Indicator  
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Great Organ stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Swell Organ stops and couplers
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Pedal Organ stops and couplers
               
Pedal Movements
    Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Swell Pedal
    Grand Crescendo Pedal
           
Sources:
     Gray, Christopher. "Recalling the Days of Knights and Elks," The New York Times, August 24, 2003.
     "New Temple for Knights of Pythias," The New York Times, December 18, 1927.
     New York Architecture Image website: www.nyc-architecture.com/UWS/UWS009.htm
     "Pythians Dedicate Temple Tonight," The New York Times, January 25, 1928.
     "Pythians Lay Stone for $1,500,00 Temple," The New York Times, November 21, 1926.
     Schneider, Daniel B. "F.Y.I.," The New York Times, September 24, 2000.
     Stern, Robert A.M., Gregory Gilmartin, and Thomas Mellins. New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars. New York City: Rizzoli International Publications, 1987.
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 4862 (1927).
     Trupiano, Larry. Factory Specifications of M.P. Möller Organ, Op. 4865 (1927).

Photos:
     Library of Congress Digital Collection: b&w exterior, c.1928.
     New York Architecture Image website: color exterior shots.