Idle Hour Theatre

10-01 Jackson Avenue
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101


The 600-seat Idle Hour Theatre began in the auditorium of the Masonic Building on Jackson Avenue in Long Island City. By 1923, the operators were able to build a real theatre and adjoining stores directly across the street. The new Idle Hour operated into the 1950s and has since been demolished.
           
  Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra "Style 135" (courtesy Jeff Weiler)
Wurlitzer Style 135
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 671 (1923)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style 135A (included Automatic Player)
2 manuals, 4 ranks, 4 tuned percussions, 17 traps, piano console


This organ has a Wurlitzer factory date of July 31, 1923.
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
   Bourdon     Pedal 2nd Touch
8
   Flute     Bass Drum
8
   Cello     Kettle Drum
          Cymbal

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
8
   Trumpet     Piano (with Mandolin attachment)
8
   Salicional     Snare Drum
8
   Flute     Tambourine
8
   Salicet     Castanets
4
   Flute     Chinese Block

   

   
Solo (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
   Bourdon
4
   Salicet
8
   Trumpet
4
   Flute
8
   Salicional     Cathedral Chimes
8
   Flute     Xylophone
8
   Vox Humana     Glockenspiel

   

   
General
One Balanced Expression Pedal      
One General Tremulant      
One Vox Humana Tremulant      
           
Effects (operated by pistons)
Sleigh Bells Fire Gong (reiterating) Train
Horse Hoofs Siren Fire Gong
Bird Triangle Steamboat Whistle
Auto Horn Surf Effect Tom-Tom
     
operated by push button:  
Door Bell    
           
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/8708
     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.