Kaufman-Astoria Studios - Astoria (Queens), NY
  Click on images to enlarge
Paramount Famous Lasky Corp.

34-12 36th Street
Astoria (Queens), N.Y. 11106


Organ Specifications:
► II/3 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2852 (1929)
► II/3 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2833 (1929)

The Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. began in 1912 as the Famous Players Film Company, and was founded by Adolph Zukor (1873-1976). Adolph Zukor was born in in Austria-Hungary and came to New York when he was 15 years old. He started in the fur business in Chicago where he entered the new film entertainment business by buying a nickelodeon in 1903. Two years later, Zukor had a business partner named Marcus Loew. Shortly thereafter, Zukor became the treasurer for Loew's growing chain of movie theaters.

With profits from a film distribution deal, Zukor branched out on his own to found the Famous Players studio. It was Zukor who then hired Famous Players' key to success, a young actress named Mary Pickford. During most of the 1920s, Paramount operated two studios: a Hollywood lot and and East Coast studio in the Astoria section of Queens, N.Y. Paramount had its corporate offices and back lot facilities in Hollywood, but retained the Astoria studio as it was ideal for films using New York locations. As sound began to be featured in the movies, the Astoria studio's proximity to Broadway stars became valuable in a search for actors who had pleasing voices. Eventually, the studio became a home for Paramount Pictures, and during the next 20 years, over 120 silent and sound films were produced at the studio.

At the start of WWII, the studio was taken over by the U.S. Signal Corps and became known as the Army Pictorial Center. The building eventually fell into disuse, until a non-profit foundation re-opened the big stage in 1977 for the production of "The Wiz." In 1980, New York City turned to real estate developer George S. Kaufman to renovate, expand and revive this national landmark. The Kaufman Astoria Studios is an ideal location for major motion pictures, independent film, television shows and commercials.
           
  Estey Organ Company "Grand Minuette" model
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2852 (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 23 stops, 3 ranks


The Estey Organ Company built two "Minuette" organs for Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. The "Minuette" had three unified ranks on 8" wind pressure, and all of its pipes were contained in a grand piano-type case that measured 8'4" long by 5'5" wide by 3'3" high. Estey's Op. 2852 was finished in gold and black, and included harp and chimes. A plastic plate on the console stated that it was built by "Estey for the National Theatre Service under license agreement with Magnet Organ Co. and Harry F. Waters."
               
Solo Melody (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bass Viol  
4
   Octave  
8
   Diapason  
4
   Flute d'Amour  
8
   Oboe (synthetic)  
4
   Violina  
8
   Clarinet (synthetic)  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
8
   Tibia Clausa  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Violin  
1 3/5
   Tierce  
8
   Saxophone (synthetic)        
               
Accompaniment Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Violone  
4
   Octave  
8
   Diapason  
4
   String  
8
   Viola  
4
   Flute  
8
   Gedeckt          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone  
8
   Flute  
8
   'Cello          
               
Accessories and Special Features
    Tremulant   Lights over and under music rack
    Balanced Swell Expression   4 spare contacts – Solo
    Crescendo Pedal   4 spare contacts – Accomp.
    37-note Harp enclosed under case   4 spare contacts – Pedal
    5-Note Chimes [E, F#, G#, A, B]    
               
Stop Analysis
4
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Stopped Flute
85
16
   Salicional
    85
   
Total
231
           
  Estey Organ Company "Grand Minuette" model
Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2833 (1929)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 23 stops, 3 ranks


The Estey Organ Company built two "Minuette" organs for Paramount Famous Lasky Corp. The "Minuette" had three unified ranks on 8" wind pressure, and all of its pipes were contained in a grand piano-type case that measured 8'4" long by 5'5" wide by 3'3" high. The case and piano-style bench of Op. 2833 were of birch.
               
Solo Melody (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Bass Viol  
4
   Octave  
8
   Diapason  
4
   Flute d'Amour  
8
   Oboe (synthetic)  
4
   Violina  
8
   Clarinet (synthetic)  
2 2/3
   Twelfth  
8
   Tibia Clausa  
2
   Piccolo  
8
   Violin  
1 3/5
   Tierce  
8
   Saxophone (synthetic)        
               
Accompaniment Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Contra Violone  
4
   Octave  
8
   Diapason  
4
   String  
8
   Viola  
4
   Flute  
8
   Gedeckt          
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Violone  
8
   Flute  
8
   'Cello          
               
Accessories and Special Features
    Tremulant   4 spare contacts – Solo
    Balanced Swell Expression   4 spare contacts – Accomp.
    Crescendo Pedal   4 spare contacts – Pedal
               
Stop Analysis
4
   Open Diapason
61
8
   Stopped Flute
85
16
   Salicional
    85
   
Total
231
           
Sources:
     Barrios, Richard. A Shot in the Dark: The Birth of the Musical Film. New York: Oxford University Press U.S., 1995.
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 2833 (1929).
     Carnahan, John. Factory Shop Order for Estey Organ, Op. 2852 (1929).
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site: www.esteyorgan.com
     Forgotten New York web site: www.forgotten-ny.com
     Kaufman-Astoria Studios web site: www.kaufmanastoria.com
     Trupiano, Larry. Specifications of Estey Organ, Op. 2852 (1929).

Illustrations:
     The Estey Pipe Organ web site. "Grand Minuette" model.
     Forgotten New York web site. Kaufman-Astoria Studio.