RKO Proctor's 125th Street Theatre

316 W. 125th Street at 7th Avenue
New York, N.Y. 10027


The 598-seat RKO Proctor's 125th Street Theatre was designed by John B. McElfatrick and built as a playhouse by Oscar Hammerstein. The theatre, once one of Harlem's finest, opened on October 11, 1890 with a production of Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet." In 1899, the theatre was sold to F.F. Proctor, who switched the policy to vaudeville, adding films to the programs in 1908. The 125th Street eventually became an RKO movie house, and closed ca. 1960. It later became a church, with most of the original auditorium still intact. In 1985, a fire broke out in the 125th Street facade and severely damaged the entire building. It was finally declared a safety hazard and demolished in 1987.
           
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1456 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style HNP
2 manuals, 10 ranks, 5 Tuned Percussions, 14 Traps, Curved Console


This organ is dated September 21, 1926.
               
Pedal – 32 notes
16
  Tuba Profunda  
8
   Cello  
16
  Bass Diaphone  
8
   Flute  
16
  Bourdon  
4
   Octave  
8
   Harmonic Tuba       Bass Drum  
8
   Diaphone Diapason       Kettle Drum  
8
   Tibia Clausa       Crash Cymbal  
8
   Clarinet       Cymbal  
               
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
  Contra Viol [TC]  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
16
  Vox Humana [TC]  
2
   Piccolo  
8
  Harmonic Tuba
85
     Chrysoglott  
8
  Diaphonic Diapason
85
     Snare Drum  
8
  Tibia Clausa
73
     Tambourine  
8
   Clarinet
61
     Castanets  
8
   Kinura
61
     Chinese Block  
8
   Orchestral Oboe
61
     Tom Tom  
8
   Viol
85
        
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]
61
     Second Touch  
8
   Flute
97
8
   Harmonic Tuba  
8
   Vox Humana
61
8
   Diaphonic Diapason  
4
   Piccolo  
8
   Clarinet  
4
   Viol       Cathedral Chimes  
4
   Viol Celeste       Xylophone  
4
   Flute       Triangle  
4
   Vox Humana          
               
Solo (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Tuba Profunda  
4
  Violo  
16
  Bass  
4
  Viol Celeste  
16
  Tibia Clausa [TC]  
4
   Flute  
16
  Bourdon  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
16
   Contra Viol [TC]  
2
   Fifteenth  
8
   Harmonic Tuba  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Diaphonic Diapason  
1 3/5
   Tierce  
8
   Tibia Clausa      
Cathedral Chimes
25 notes
8
   Clarinet      
Sleigh Bells
25 notes
8
   Kinura      
Xylophone
37 notes
8
   Orchestral Oboe      
Glockenspiel
37 notes
8
   Viol      
Orchestra Bells [re-it]
—
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]      
Chrysoglott
49 notes
8
   Flute          
8
   Vox Humana       Second Touch  
4
   Harmonic Clarion  
16
   Tuba  
4
   Octave  
8
   Tibia Clausa  
4
   Piccolo  
8
   Clarinet  
               
Tremulants (4)
    Main       Vox Humana  
    Solo       Tuba  
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Pedal 3 Adjustable Combination Pistons (toe)
Accompaniment 10 Adjustable Combination Pistons (thumb)
Solo 10 Adjustable Combination Pistons (thumb)
               
General
    Two Expression Pedals          
               
Effects
   
Surf Auto Horn Train Whistle
Fire Gong Bird Horse Hoofs
           
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/1298
     Junchen, David L., comp. and ed. by Jeff Weiler. The WurliTzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History. Chicago: The American Theatre Organ Society, 2005.
     Kaufmann, Preston J. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 3. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1995.