Sunnyside Theatre

50-19 Roosevelt Avenue
Astoria (Queens), NY 11377


The 2046-seat Sunnyside Theatre opened on December 28, 1926, with vaudeville and the movie "Sweet Rosie O'Grady". Though technically in Woodside, the theatre was situated so close to the shopping district of adjacent Sunnyside that it was given that name. Soon after opening, the Sunnyside was taken over by William Fox. After Fox's bankruptcy, the Sunnyside landed under Skouras management and was later taken over by the Century circuit.

The Sunnyside was one of three Queens theatres built by the Grob & Knobel circuit with Herbert J. Krapp as architect (the others being the Jackson and Boulevard, both in Jackson Heights). The Sunnyside was the most luxurious of the three and took up an entire block, with the entrance on bustling Roosevelt Avenue, under the shadow of the elevated Manhattan-to-Flushing subway line. The auditorium was rather unique, with all 2,046 seats on the ground floor, which was 110 feet wide and 142 feet long from last row to stage, with a pitch of seven feet from rear to front. There were five sections of seats, divided by four aisles. The stage was 98 feet wide across the wings and 26 feet deep. The proscenium opening was 45 feet wide and 25 feet high. The highly ornamented ceiling, which rose to a height of 55 feet, had a cove-lighted dome in the center, hanging from which was a huge crystal chandelier with special lighting effects. Twelve smaller crystal chandeliers were hung along the two side walls and rear of the auditorium. The walls were decorated in ornamental plaster relief, interspersed with draped arches. Still more crystal chandeliers decorated the foyer and lobby.

Throughout its history, the Sunnyside was never successful, so in January, 1965, it was totally demolished and replaced by an A & P supermarket.
           
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1410 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
Style E
2 manuals, 7 ranks
           
Pedal – 32 notes
16
  Diaphone
  Pedal 2nd Touch
16
  Bourdon
  Bass Drum
8
  Trumpet
  Kettle Drum
8
  Diaphonic Diapason
  Crash Cymbal
8
   Tibia Clausa     Cymbal
8
   Flute      
8
   Cello      

   

   
Accompaniment (Manual I) –- 61 notes
16
  Contra Viole [TC]     Harp Chrysoglott
16
  Vox Humana [TC]     Snare Drum
8
  Trumpet     Tambourine
8
  Diaphonic Diapason     Castanets
8
  Tibia Clausa     Chinese Block
8
   Violin     Tom-Tom
8
   Violin Celeste [TC]
  Sleigh Bells
8
   Concert Flute      
8
   Vox Humana     Accompaniment 2nd Touch
4
   Octave     Trumpet
4
   Piccolo     Tibia Clausa
4
   Viole     Cathedral Chimes
4
   Octave Celeste     Triangle
4
   Flute      
4
   Vox Humana      
2
   Piccolo     Five Adjustable Combination Pistons

   

   
Solo (Manual II) – 61 notes
16
  Diaphone
4
  Flute
16
  Tibia Clausa [TC]
2 2/3
   Twelfth
16
  Bourdon
2
   Piccolo
16
  Vox Humana [TC]
1 3/5
  Tierce
8
  Trumpet
  Cathedral Chimes
8
   Diaphonic Diapason
  Xylophone
8
   Tibia Clausa
  Glockenspiel
8
   Violin
  Harp Chrysoglott
8
   Violin Celeste [TC]
   
8
   Concert Flute
  Solo 2nd Touch
8
   Vox Humana
16
   Trumpet [TC]
4
   Octave
8
   Tibia Clausa
4
   Piccolo
   
4
   Viole
   
4
   Viole Celeste
  Five Adjustable Combination Pistons

   

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