Republic Theatre - Brooklyn, N.Y. (www.brooklynpix.com)
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Republic Theatre

402 Keap Street at Grand Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11211




The Republic Theater was built by the S&S (Small & Stausberg) Circuit as a vaudeville and movie house. As designed by Eugene DeRosa, the Republic occupied an entire block with the 3,100-seat auditorium built on a diagonal to provide maximum possible capacity. When the Republic opened on October 27, 1921, the program included six vaudeville acts and the movie "Clay Dollars." In the 1930s, the theatre switched to all movies and the seating capacity was reduced to 2,625. In 1937, the Republic was "streamlined" and shifted to RKO management, but RKO divested this theatre in 1948 to comply with the federal anti-trust action. With the onset of television, the Republic struggled on for only a few more years before closing sometime in the 1950s. The building was demolished and replaced by a service station.
     
M.P. Möller, Inc.
Hagerstown, Md. – Opus 3167 (1921)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 35 stops, 17 ranks


The Agreement of Lease (March 23, 1921) between M.P. Möller and Small's Theatrical Enterprises, Inc., states that this organ was to be installed in "the theatre at Grand, Keap & Grand St. Extension" in Brooklyn. Möller provided a three-manual stop-key console, and voiced the organ on 6" wind pressure. The organ was to be ready for use on or before November 1, 1921, or by October 15th, 1921, if possible. The lease was for $10,000 with $1,000 due upon signing, $1,500 when the organ was delivered, and $1,000 when the organ was completed; the remainder would be paid in installments of $361.12 due on the first of each month.
               
Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
   Violin Diapason
73
2
   Piccolo [Fl. Harm.]
OR
8
   Open Diapason
85
  Mixture III ranks
derived
8
  Viol d'Orchestre
73
16
   Bass Clarinet [TC]
OR
8
  Doppel Flute
73
8
   French Horn
73
4
   Octave [Op. Diap.]
—
4
   Octave Horn
—
4
   Zart Flute [Quintadena]
OR
 
Cathedral Chimes
20 Bells

 

     

 

     
Orchestral Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Violin Diapason
GT
8
   Orchestral Oboe
73
8
   Horn Diapason [Syn.]
—
8
   Clarinet
73
8
   Quintadena
73
  Orchestral Bells
8
   Viol d'Orchestre
GT
  Concert Harp
8
   Viol Celeste [TC]
73
  Glockenspiel
4
   Flute Harmonic
73
  Tremulant
16
   Fagotto [TC] [Orch. Oboe]
—
   
               
Solo Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
   Gross Flute {"Big"]
85
16
   Bass Tuba [TC]
—
8
   Concert Flute
73
8
   Tuba
73
8
   Gemshorn
85
8
   Vox Humana
73
8
   Violoncello
73
  Xylophone
4
   Flute Ouverte [TG] [Gr. Fl.]
—
  Tremulant
4
   Gemshorn [TG]
—
   

 

     

 

     
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
   Open Diap. [ext. SO Gross Fl.]
12
16
   Lieblich Gedeckt [lo-press.]
—
16
   Sub Bass
32
8
   Violoncello
SO
16
   Gemshorn [ext. SO]
12
8
   Flute [Concert Fl.]
SO
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8', 4'       Solo to Orch. 8'  
    Solo to Pedal 8'       Orch. to Solo 8'  
    Orchestral to Pedal 8'       Great 4'  
    Solo to Great 16', 8', 4'       Orchestral 16', 4'  
    Orchestral to Great 16', 8', 4'   Solo 16', 4'  
               
Adjustable Combinations
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Great & Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4-5-6 affecting Orchestral & Pedal stops
    Pistons No. 1-2-3-4 affecting Solo & Pedal stops
    Corresponding Orchestral & Solo Pistons to Great Pistons
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Solo Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Balanced Orchestral Pedal   Orchestral to Pedal Reversible
    Grand Crescendo Pedal    
     
Sources:
     Cinema Treasures web site: http://www.cinematreasures.org
     Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 1. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.
     Trupiano, Larry. Agreement of Lease (Mar. 23, 1921) and Factory Specifications (Mar. 24, 1921) of M.P. Möller organ, Op.3167 (1921).

Photos:
     www.brooklynpix.com web site: exterior. Used by permission.