Click on images to enlarge RKO Madison Theatre 54-30 Myrtle Avenue Ridgewood (Queens), NY 11385 The Madison Theatre was built by B.S. Moss, an affiliate of Keith-Albee, and eventually became part of the RKO Circuit. As originally planned, the theatre was to be called the Beacon, but Moss was convinced to name it the Madison, in honor of the fourth American President and nearby Madison Street. Architect Eugene DeRosa, who previously designed Moss' Colony Theatre in Manhattan, designed the Madison in an Italian Renaissance style, employing a classical Greek façade of white marble and an interior with some Adamesque features. With 2,760 seats, the Madison was much larger and more sumptuous than the Colony. The Grand Foyer was two stories high and had a vaulted ceiling with crystal chandeliers; its walls were of colored marble with bronze borders. Leading to the mezzanine promenade was a white marble staircase that brought patrons to a lounge area with restrooms and other facilities. The large auditorium included a huge balcony with a loge section at the front. From the deep dome in the center the ceiling was hung a three-tiered crystal chandelier, and the colored lights in the dome's cove allowed changing effects. In front of the large stage was an orchestra pit with three separate elevators—one each for the orchestra, piano and Wurlitzer organ—which was an unusual extravagence for a neighborhood theatre. Much of the Madison's opulence was due to Moss' determination to beat the competion of the nearby Fox Ridgewood, which had been the dominant area theatre since 1913. The Madison opened on November 24, 1927, presenting Keith-Albee vaudeville with a feature movie. Vaudeville continued until 1932, when the by-then RKO Madison switched to double features that were always first-run for the Ridgewood area, which is on the Brooklyn-Queens border and draws clientele from both boroughs. The Madison closed sometime in early 1978 and the building was refitted for retail use.             Wurlitzer Organ Company North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1752 (1927) Electro-pneumatic action Style 260 Special 3 manuals, 15 ranks, 7 tuned percussions, 14 traps This Style 260 was a "Special" because it lacked the usual 32' Diaphone; it also had a second Vox Humana that replaced the usual Trumpet and an extra string (Cello) that replaced the usual Saxophone. Opus 1752 has a factory date of September 30, 1927.                 Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Ophicleide       Bass Drum   16   Diaphone     Kettle Drum   16   Tibia Clausa     Snare Drum   16   Bourdon     Crash Cymbal   8   Tuba Horn     Cymbal   8   Octave     Great to Pedal   8   Tibia Clausa     Solo to Pedal   8   Clarinet         8   Vox Humana     Pedal 2nd Touch   8   String   16   Diaphone   8   Cello   16   Ophicleide – Pizzicato 8   Flute       4   Flute     1st Touch & 2nd Touch Traps Switch 16   Piano     3 Adjustable Comb. Toe Pistons             Accompaniment Organ (Manual I) –- 61 notes 16   Contra Viol (TC)     Chrysoglott   16   Bourdon     Snare Drum   16   Vox Humana (TC)       Tambourine   8   Tuba Horn     Castanets   8   Diaphonic Diapason     Chinese Block   8   Tibia Clausa     Tom Tom   8   Clarinet     Sand Block   8   String     Accomp. Octave   8   Viol d'Orchestre     Solo to Accomp.   8   Viol Celeste       8   Oboe Horn     Accompaniment 2nd Touch 8   Quintadena   8   Tuba Horn   8   Flute   8   Tibia Clausa   8   Vox Humana     Cathedral Chimes   4   Viol     Sleigh Bells   4   Viol Celeste     Xylophone   4   Flute     Triangle   4   Vox Humana     Solo to Accomp.   2 2/3   Flute     Solo to Accomp. – Pizzicato 2   Piccolo         16   Piano       10 Double Touch Adj. Comb. Pistons 8   Piano       Suitable Bass & Release 4   Piano           Mandolin       Auto Horn – key cheek button     Marimba       Bell - key cheek button     Harp       Sostenuto – key cheek tablet               Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Ophicleide   16   Piano   16   Diaphone   8   Piano   16   Tibia Clausa   4   Piano   16   Clarinet (TC)     Marimba [re-it]   16   Contra Viol (TC)     Harp   16   Vox Humana (TC)     Bells   16   Bourdon     Sleigh Bells   8   Vox Humana       Xylophone   8   Tuba Horn     Glockenspiel   8   Diaphonic Diapason     Chrysoglott   8   Tibia Clausa     Cathedral Chimes   8   Orchestral Oboe       Sub Octave   8   Kinura       Octave   8   Clarinet     Solo to Great   8   Cello           8   String     Great 2nd Touch   8   Viol d'Orchestre   16   Ophicleide   8   Viol Celeste   8   Tibia Clausa   8   Flute     Octave   8   Vox Humana     Solo to Great   4   Clarion     Solo to Great – Pizzicato 4   Piccolo         4   Viol     10 Double Touch Adj. Comb. Pistons 4   Octave Celeste         4   Flute     Suitable Bass & Release 2 2/3   Twelfth         2   Fifteenth       Sostenuto – rocker tablet, left key cheek 2   Piccolo       Surf – key cheek button 1 3/5   Tierce       Bird #1 – key cheek button                 Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes 16   Ophicleide   8   Vox Humana   16   Bourdon   4   Clarion   8   Tuba Horn   4   Piccolo   8   Diaphonic Diapason     Xylophone   8   Tibia Clausa     Glockenspiel   8   Orchestral Oboe     Orchestral Bells [re-it]   8   Kinura     Cathedral Chimes   8   Clarinet         8   String     10 Double Touch Adj. Comb. Pistons 8   Cello       8   Oboe Horn     Suitable Bass & Release 8   Quintadena                         Tremulants (5)     Main       Vox Humana       Solo       Tuba       Tibia Clausa                           General     Balanced Expression Pedal – Main – with indicator key     Balanced Expression Pedal – Solo – with indicator key     General Expression Pedal (Piano Sustain Button)     Crescendo Pedal     Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal      • 1st Touch: Full stops (wind)      • 2nd Touch: Everything     Double Touch Sforzando Pedal – Piano Pedal      • 1st Touch: Snare Drum      • 2nd Touch: Bass Drum and Cymbal                 Effects (operated by toe pistons)     Steamboat Whistle   Fire Gong     Bird #2   Horse Hoofs           STOP & CHAMBER ANALYSIS       Main Chamber 16   Diaphonic Diapason 85 pipes 16   Tuba Horn 85 pipes 8   Clarinet 61 pipes 16   Concert Flute 97 pipes 8   Viole d'Orchestre 85 pipes 8   Viole Celeste 73 pipes 8   Vox Humana 61 pipes     Chrysoglott 49 notes     Piano 85 notes         Solo Chamber 8   Saxophone 61 pipes 8   Brass Trumpet 61 pipes 8   Solo String 61 pipes 16   Tibia Clausa 85 pipes 8   Orchestral Oboe 61 pipes 8   Quintadena 61 pipes 8   Oboe Horn 61 pipes 8   Kinura 61 pipes     Marimba 49 notes     Cathedral Chimes 25 notes     Xylophone 37 notes     Glockenspiel 37 notes     Sleigh Bells 25 notes             Sources:       Cinema Treasures website: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/4621      Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.      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.      WF Collection. Specifications of Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 1752 (1927). Illustrations:      AJWB Collection. Grand Lobby; Interior.      Brooklyn Public Library, Brooklyn Collection. Exterior (c.1966).      WF Collection. Console of Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 1752 (1927).             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |