|
 |
|
Paramount Building facing Broadway; the Paramount Theatre was behind at left |
Paramount Theatre
West side of Broadway, between 43rd and 44th Streets
New York, N.Y. 10036
The Paramount Theatre and adjoining Paramount Building on Times Square were conceived by Adolph Zukor, President of Famous Players-Lasky Corporation, to be a fitting flagship theatre and home of his company, the Publix Theatres Corporation. Located on the site of the old Putnam and Westover Court buildings, the Paramount Building was on the west side of Broadway from 43rd and 44th Streets, behind which was the Paramount Theatre. The theatre cost $3,000,000, and the whole structure, including the land, was valued at $17,000,000.
Designed by the Chicago firm of Rapp & Rapp, the Paramount Building was twenty-nine stories tall and had eight setbacks to comply with zoning regulations. Surmounting its pyramidal top were a large clock and stylized globe that were illuminated at night. The time was indicated with flashes by white lights on the hour and red lights on the quarter hours.
The Paramount Theatre was in a separate building sandwiched between the Paramount Building and the headquarters of The New York Times, located at 229 West 43rd Street. The theatre entrance and marquis were on the Broadway side of the Paramount Building. After passing through a small lobby, patrons emerged into the Grand Hall, a sumptuous lobby modeled after the Paris Opera and located on the 43rd Street end of the theatre building. Measuring 150 feet long by 45 feet wide by 50 feet high, the Grand Hall had a gold domed ceiling that was supported by massive white marble columns; from the center of the dome hung a bronze and crystal chandelier. At the west end of the hall was an elegant marble staircase that widened as it ascended to the mezzanine landings; behind the stairs were elevators to all levels of the theatre. By day, the Grand Hall was flooded with sunlight from a tremendous glass window along the street side, while at night it was illuminated by hundreds of sparkling electric lights. For those waiting to enter the theatre, a special amplification system brought music of the stage, organ and orchestra into the Grand Hall. Overlooking the Grand Hall was the Music Room where patrons could be entertained with concerts by a string orchestra and artists. From the lobby, one could enter the Hall of Nations to view a collection of thirty-seven stones collected from various parts of the world, and a bronze bust of Thomas A. Edison, the inventor. In the basement was a lounge known and furnished as the Elizabethan Room; from this room one could enter the College Room (men's smoking), the Chinoiserie (ladies' smoking), and the Venetian Room (ladies' cosmetics). Other public rooms were the Peacock Alley, the Club Room, the Hunting Room, the Jade Room, the Powder Box, the Marie Antoinette Room, and the Colonial and Empire Rooms.
The Paramount Theatre auditorium was the first movie palace in New York City designed in the "Chicago style" with opulent French Renaissance interiors, as compared to the restrained neoclassical Adam and Empire styles employed by theatre architect Thomas W. Lamb for the nearby Strand, Capitol and Loew's State theatres. The auditorium was decorated with a color scheme of ivory, rose-red and turquoise blue. Indirect lighting in three colors was installed around the proscenium facia, organ grille frames, the soffit of the balcony, and the main ceiling, supplemented by bronze crystal fixtures that hung from the ceiling along the side walls. The orchestra pit, designed to hold 70 players, could be raised and lowered on an elevator, and its platform could be automatically rolled onto the stage. The organ console was on its own elevator at the left side of the orchestra pit.
Despite its 3,664 seats, the auditorium was quite narrow and had only four sections of seats on the main floor, with additional seating in the mezzanine boxes and balcony. The narrow stage opening proved to be problematic over the years: when the wide-screen era arrived, some of the proscenium had to be removed to accomodate the larger screen.
The Paramount Theatre opened on November 19, 1926, with laudatory speeches by the mayor and other dignitaries, followed by a program of music and stage shows, and featuring the film translation of Miss Dixie Willson's short story, "God Gave Me Twenty Cents," directed by Herbert Brenon. Attending the opening was Thomas A. Edison, who had invented the motion picture some thirty years earlier. Song writer Walter Donaldson composed the fox trot ballad, "It Made You Happy When You Made Me Cry," that was played by chief organist Jesse Crawford during the week of the grand opening.
Less than forty years after its opening, the Paramount Theatre closed on August 4, 1964, following that evening's last showing of "The Carpetbaggers." Despite some efforts to save the theatre, The New York Times Company purchased the property for demolition and conversion into office space.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Jesse Crawford at the Paramount Theatre |
Wurlitzer Organ Company
North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 1458 (1926)
Electro-pneumatic action
4 manuals, 36 ranks
The Wurlitzer Organ built in 1926 for the Paramount Theatre was considered to be the company's masterpiece. Installed in shallow chambers and speaking through virtually unobstructed grilles, the organ was tonally finished by Dan Papp under the direction of Jesse Crawford, noted theatre organist who had been lured from Chicago to be chief organist at the Paramount, a position he held from 1926-1933.
Although many enthusiasts referred to the Paramount organ as the "Crawford Special," due to the organist's close association with the instrument, Mr. Crawford insisted that he did not design the organ but "specified only that the organ was to include certain ranks: the three Tibia Clausa, certain of the string and diapason ranks and the four Vox Humana... Someone at the Wurlitzer factory made up the specifications." The Paramount organ was the first by Wurlitzer to include 2-2/3' and 2' Tibia pitches.
Regarding the Paramount organ, Edward Millington Stout III, the incomparable organ builder, curator and historian based in Hayward, Calif., posted this statement (June 26, 2004) on the Cinema Treasures web site:
"The thirty-six rank Wurlitzer in the Times Square Paramount was based on Wurlitzer's largest standard model, the 285, such as the magnificent example installed in the San Francsico Granada Theatre in 1921. The Style 285s were known as "two-pressure" organs, meaning the blowers supplied 15" & 25" pressures. The 285's "Brass" division, consisting of an English Horn (Post) on 15" pressure and a 25" Tuba Mirabilis, became the "Orchestral" division on the 4-manual specials. The Paramount was the first of the five instruments falling under that classification."
 |
|
1931 Christmas Production showing the
four-manual slave console on stage |
|
In 1929, a slave console was added and installed on the other side of the orchestra pit, allowing Helen Crawford to perform in duo with her husband. Two skeleton consoles for use on the stage were added in 1931, making it the only Wurlitzer organ that could be played simultaneously by four organists at four different consoles.
The Paramount organ was so successful that Fox Studios placed an order in 1928 for four identical organs to be installed in their theatres in Detroit (Op. 1894), Brooklyn (Op. 1904), St. Louis (Op. 1997) and San Francisco (Op. 2012). Known as the "Fox Special," each organ was equipped with two four-manual consoles (master and slave) and 36 ranks of pipes (except for the Brooklyn Fox organ which had 37 ranks due to the addition of a Concert Flute Celeste). In 1929, a fifth "Fox Special" organ was ordered for the Fox Theatre in Newark, N.J., but this theatre was never built and the organ contract was cancelled. In David L. Junchen's book, The Wurlitzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History, we read, "As a curious coincidence, the Wurlitzer ledgers disclose that in 1929 the company acquired $91,950 worth of stock in Fox Film Corporation. This amount is about the cost of a Fox Special organ; perhaps it was a payoff of the defaulted contract."
Prior to the demolition of the Paramount Theatre, the organ was acquired by Richard Simonton of Los Angeles. In the 1970s, the organ was moved to the Century II Convention Center in Wichita, Kansas, where it is extant today. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pedal – 32 notes
|
32 |
|
Diapahone |
|
|
|
Cymbal |
16 |
|
Bombarde |
|
|
|
Snare Drum (large) |
16 |
|
Diaphone |
|
|
|
Bass Drum |
16 |
|
Ophicleide |
|
|
|
Cymbal (jazz) |
16 |
|
Double English Horn |
|
|
|
Snare Drum |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Chinese Gong |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Tambourine |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Castanets |
16 |
|
Diaphonic Horn |
|
|
|
Chinese Block |
16 |
|
Clarinet |
|
|
|
Triangle |
16 |
|
Bass String |
|
|
|
Bombarde to Pedal |
16 |
|
Bourdon |
|
|
|
Great to Pedal |
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
|
|
|
Solo to Pedal |
8 |
|
Solo Trumpet |
|
|
|
Accomp. to Pedal |
8 |
|
Tuba Horn |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
English Horn |
|
|
|
Pedal 2nd Touch |
8 |
|
Octave |
|
16 |
|
Bombarde |
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
|
|
|
Tympani |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Bass Drum (large) |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Cymbal |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Snare Drum (large) |
8 |
|
Solo String |
|
|
|
Kettle Drum |
8 |
|
Gamba |
|
|
|
Chinese Gong |
8 |
|
Horn Diapason |
|
|
|
Snare Drum |
8 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
|
|
|
Triangle |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
Cello |
|
|
|
Pedal Pizzicato |
4 |
|
Flute |
|
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
4 |
|
Piccolo |
|
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
16 |
|
Piano |
|
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
8 |
|
Piano |
|
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
Solo Harp |
|
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
Harp |
|
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
Tympani (tuned) |
|
|
|
Tibia Ensemble |
|
|
Bass Drum (large) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accompaniment (Manual I) – 61 notes
|
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
|
8 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
English Horn |
|
4 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
Tuba Horn |
|
|
|
Mandolin |
8 |
|
Solo Trumpet |
|
|
|
Solo Marimba |
8 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
|
|
|
Marimba |
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
|
|
|
Solo Harp |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Harp |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Xylophone |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott |
8 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott |
8 |
|
Horn Diapason |
|
|
|
Snare Drum (large) |
8 |
|
Gamba |
|
|
|
Snare Drum |
8 |
|
Gamba Celeste |
|
|
|
Tambourine |
8 |
|
Saxophone |
|
|
|
Castanets |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
|
|
|
Chinese Block |
8 |
|
Viole d'Orchestre |
|
|
|
Tom Tom |
8 |
|
Viole Celeste |
|
|
|
Sand Block |
8 |
|
Krumet |
|
|
|
Accomp. Octave |
8 |
|
French Horn |
|
|
|
Solo to Accomp. |
8 |
|
Oboe Horn |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
Salicional |
|
|
|
Accompaniment 2nd Touch |
8 |
|
Quintadena |
|
8 |
|
English Horn |
8 |
|
Concert Flute |
|
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
8 |
|
Lieblich Flute |
|
8 |
|
Tuba Horn |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Orch.) |
|
8 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Foun.) |
|
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Solo) |
|
8 |
|
Tiba Clausa (2 ranks) |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Main) |
|
8 |
|
Saxophone |
8 |
|
Dulciana |
|
8 |
|
Trumpet |
4 |
|
Horn Octave |
|
8 |
|
Clarinet |
4 |
|
Piccolo |
|
8 |
|
Solo String |
4 |
|
Piccolo |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
4 |
|
Gambette (2 ranks) |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo (2 ranks) |
4 |
|
Viole (2 ranks) |
|
2 |
|
Piccolo (2 ranks) |
4 |
|
Harmonic Flute |
|
|
|
Solo Chimes |
4 |
|
Flute |
|
|
|
Cathedral Chimes |
4 |
|
Lieblich Flute |
|
|
|
Solo Harp |
4 |
|
Vox Humana (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Glockenspiel |
4 |
|
Vox Humana (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Triangle |
4 |
|
Vox Humana (Solo) |
|
|
|
Birds |
4 |
|
Vox Humana (Main) |
|
|
|
Great Octave Accomp. |
2 2/3 |
|
Twelfth |
|
|
|
Solo to Accomp. |
2 |
|
Harmonic Piccolo |
|
|
|
Solo to Accomp. Pizz. (1st touch) |
2 |
|
Piccolo |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Great (Manual II) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Bombarde |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Solo Trumpet [TC] |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Ophicleide |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Diaphone |
|
4 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
16 |
|
Diaphonic Horn |
|
4 |
|
Gambette (2 ranks) |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
4 |
|
Viole (2 ranks) |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
4 |
|
Harmonic Flute |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
4 |
|
Concert Flute |
16 |
|
Clarinet |
|
4 |
|
Concert Flute Celeste |
16 |
|
Saxophone [TC] |
|
4 |
|
Lieblich Flute |
16 |
|
Solo String |
|
2 2/3 |
|
Twelfth |
16 |
|
String Ensemble [TC] |
|
2 2/3 |
|
Tibia Twelfth |
16 |
|
Vox Humana [TC] (Orch.) |
|
2 2/3 |
|
Tibia Twelfth |
16 |
|
Vox Humana [TC] (Foun.) |
|
2 |
|
Fifteenth |
16 |
|
Vox Humana [TC] (Solo) |
|
2 |
|
Tibia Piccolo |
16 |
|
Vox Humana [TC] (Main) |
|
2 |
|
Tibia Piccolo |
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
|
2 |
|
Harmonic Piccolo |
8 |
|
Solo Trumpet |
|
2 |
|
Piccolo |
8 |
|
Trumpet |
|
1 3/5 |
|
Tierce |
8 |
|
Tuba Horn |
|
16 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
|
8 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
|
4 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
Horn Diapason |
|
|
|
Solo Marimba |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Marimba |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Solo Harp |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Harp |
8 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
8 |
|
Orchestral Oboe |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
8 |
|
Kinura |
|
|
|
Xylophone |
8 |
|
Musette |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott |
8 |
|
Solo String |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott |
8 |
|
Gamba |
|
|
|
Snare Drum (large) |
8 |
|
Gamba Celeste |
|
|
|
Snare Drum |
8 |
|
Saxophone |
|
|
|
Tambourine |
8 |
|
Clarinet |
|
|
|
Castanets |
8 |
|
Viole d'Orchestre |
|
|
|
Chinese Block |
8 |
|
Viole Celeste |
|
|
|
Sand Block |
8 |
|
Krumet |
|
|
|
Great Sub Octave |
8 |
|
French Horn |
|
|
|
Accomp. Octave Great |
8 |
|
Oboe Horn |
|
|
|
Solo Sub Great |
8 |
|
Salicional |
|
|
|
Solo to Great |
8 |
|
Quintadena |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
Concert Flute |
|
|
|
Great 2nd Touch |
8 |
|
Lieblich Flute |
|
16 |
|
Double English Horn |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Orch.) |
|
16 |
|
Solo Trumpet [TC] |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Foun.) |
|
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Solo) |
|
8 |
|
Solo String |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Main) |
|
|
|
Bombarde to Great |
8 |
|
Dulciana |
|
|
|
Solo Sub Great |
4 |
|
Clarion |
|
|
|
Solo to Great |
4 |
|
Horn Octave |
|
|
|
Solo to Great Pizz. (1st touch) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bombarde (Manual III) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Bombarde |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Solo Trumpet [TC] |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Diaphone |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Double English Horn |
|
4 |
|
Harmonic Flute |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
2 2/3 |
|
Tibia Twelfth |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
2 |
|
Tibia Piccolo |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
8 |
|
Piano |
16 |
|
Double String |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
16 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) [TC] |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
16 |
|
Vox Humana [TC] (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Xylophone |
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
|
|
|
Glockenspiel |
8 |
|
Solo Trumpet |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott (2) |
8 |
|
English Horn |
|
|
|
Solo Chimes |
8 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
|
|
|
Cathedral Chimes |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Accomp. to Bombarde |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Great to Bombarde |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Solo Sub Bombarde |
8 |
|
Solo String |
|
|
|
Solo to Bombarde |
8 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
|
|
|
|
8 |
|
Gamba |
|
|
|
Bombarde 2nd Touch |
8 |
|
Gamba Celeste |
|
16 |
|
Bombarde |
8 |
|
Vox Humana (Orch.) |
|
16 |
|
Double English Horn |
4 |
|
Clarion Mirabilis |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo (Manual IV) – 61 notes
|
16 |
|
Solo Trumpet [TC] |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
4 |
|
Piccolo |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
2 |
|
Tibia Piccolo |
16 |
|
Saxophone [TC] |
|
2 |
|
Tibia Piccolo (2 ranks) |
8 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
|
8 |
|
Piano |
8 |
|
Trumpet |
|
|
|
Solo Chimes |
8 |
|
English Horn |
|
|
|
Cathedral Chimes |
8 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
|
|
|
Solo Marimba |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
|
Marimba |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
|
Solo Harp |
8 |
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
|
Harp |
8 |
|
String Ensemble |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
8 |
|
Orchestral Oboe |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone |
8 |
|
Kinura |
|
|
|
Xylophone |
8 |
|
Musette |
|
|
|
Glockenspiel |
8 |
|
Krumet |
|
|
|
Sleigh Bells |
8 |
|
Saxophone |
|
|
|
Chrysoglott (2) |
8 |
|
French Horn |
|
|
|
Bells |
8 |
|
Oboe Horn |
|
|
|
Solo Sub Octave |
8 |
|
Quintadena |
|
|
|
Accomp. to Solo |
8 |
|
Vox Humana Ensemble |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tremulants (13)
|
|
|
Orchestral |
|
|
Foundation |
|
|
Tuba Mirabilis (Orch.) |
|
|
Tibia Clausa (Foun.) |
|
|
Tibia Clausa (Orch.) |
|
|
Vox Humana (Foun.) |
|
|
Vox Humana (Orch.) |
|
|
Main |
|
|
Solo |
|
|
Tuba Horn (Main) |
|
|
Tibia Clausa (Solo) |
|
|
Vox Humana (Main) |
|
|
Vox Humana (Solo) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustable Combinations
|
|
|
Pedal |
10 pistons (thumb) – under Accompaniment manual |
Accompaniment |
15 Double-touch pistons (thumb) |
Great |
15 Double-touch pistons (thumb) |
Bombarde |
15 Double-touch pistons (thumb) |
Solo |
15 Double-touch pistons (thumb) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Toe Levers
|
|
|
Sforzorzdo – Stops |
|
Thunder Pedal – Traps |
|
|
Sforzando – Traps |
|
Thunder Pedal – Diaphone 32' |
|
|
|
|
Thunder Pedal – Tuba Mirabilis 16' |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Junk Board (Push Buttons)
|
|
|
Surf |
Soft Bell |
Horse Hoofs |
Fire Gong |
Birds (Main & Foun.) |
Boat Whistle |
Auto Horn |
Birds (Solo & Orch.) |
Locomotive Whistle |
Loud Bell |
Chinese Gong |
Wind Whistle (toggle) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General
|
|
|
Four Expression Pedals |
Great Sostenuto (toggle switch) |
|
|
General Expression Pedal |
Accomp. Sostenuto (toggle switch) |
|
|
Crescendo Pedal |
Door Bell (push button) |
|
|
Signal to operator's booth (toe piston) |
Piano Sustain (on general swell shoe) |
|
|
|
|
Swell Couplers (toggle switches)
|
|
|
Percussion Open |
Main |
|
|
Orchestral |
Percussion |
|
|
Solo |
General |
|
|
Foundation |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chamber Analysis
|
|
|
|
Main |
16 |
|
Tuba Horn |
85 pipes |
8 |
|
Open Diapason |
61 pipes |
16 |
|
Horn Diapason |
85 pipes |
8 |
|
Viol d'Orchestre |
85 pipes |
8 |
|
Viol Celeste |
73 pipes |
8 |
|
Salicional |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Dulciana |
61 pipes |
16 |
|
Concert Flute |
97 pipes |
8 |
|
Lieblich Flute |
73 pipes |
8 |
|
Krumet |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Vox Humana |
61 pipes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Snare Drum |
|
|
Tambourine |
|
|
Castanets |
|
|
Chinese Block |
|
|
Tom Tom |
|
Foundation |
8 |
|
Solo Trumpet |
61 pipes |
16 |
|
Diaphonic Diapason |
85 pipes |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa |
97 pipes |
8 |
|
Musette |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Gamba |
73 pipes |
8 |
|
Gamba Celeste |
73 pipes |
16 |
|
Clarinet |
73 pipes |
8 |
|
Vox Humana |
61 pipes |
4 |
|
Harmonic Flute |
73 pipes |
|
|
|
Solo |
8 |
|
Trumpet |
61 pipes |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa |
97 pipes |
8 |
|
Strings (2 ranks) |
146 pipes |
8 |
|
Orchestral Oboe |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Kinura |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Saxophone |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
French Horn |
85 pipes |
8 |
|
Oboe Horn |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Quintadena |
61 pipes |
8 |
|
Vox Humana |
61 pipes |
|
|
Solo Harp/Marimba |
49 notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone [1] |
37 notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orchestral |
16 |
|
English Horn |
73 pipes |
16 |
|
Tuba Mirabilis |
85 pipes |
16 |
|
Tibia Clausa |
97 pipes |
16 |
|
Solo String [25"] |
73 pipes |
8 |
|
Vox Humana |
61 pipes |
|
Percussion |
|
|
|
|
|
Cathedral Chimes |
25 notes |
|
|
|
Solo Xylophone [2] |
37 notes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Bass Drum |
|
|
Snare Drum (large) |
|
|
Cymbal |
|
|
Chinese Gong |
|
|
Triangle |
|
|
Sand Block |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sources:
"Brilliant Opening at New Paramount," The New York Times (Nov. 20, 1926): 3.
Cinema Treasures web site: http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/548
Hall, Ben M. The Best Remaining Seats. The Story of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace. New York: Bramhall House, 1961.
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.
"New Paramount Theatre," The New York Times (Nov. 14, 1926): X7.
Stern, Robert A.M., Gregory Gilmartin, and Thomas Mellins. New York 1930: Architecture and Urbanism Between the Two World Wars. New York City: Rizzoli International Publications, 1987.
"Walter Donaldson, a Song Writer Who Writes Successes Season after Season," The Music Trade Review (Vol.83, No.23; Dec. 4, 1926): 40.
Illustrations:
Cinema Treasures web site. Stage view of Paramount Theatre.
Junchen, David L., comp. and ed. by Jeff Weiler. The WurliTzer Pipe Organ – An Illustrated History. Console of Wurlitzer Organ, Op. 1458 (1926); Jesse Crawford at the Paramount Theatre organ.
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online. Entrance to Paramount Theatre.
Wittemann, A. Undated exterior of Paramount Building. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|