St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
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Church of St. Malachy – "The Actors' Chapel"
(Roman Catholic)

239 West 49th Street
New York, N.Y. 10036
http://www.actorschapel.org/



Organ Specifications:
II/40 Allen Organ Company electronic (1990s) – Upper Church
• III/20 Geo. Kilgen & Son, Op. 4118 (1928) – Actors' Chapel
II/8 Estey Organ Company, Op. 2047 (1922) – Actors' Chapel
• II/~15 W.W. Kimball Co. (1910) – Upper Church




Church of St. Malachy - New York City (photo: Wurts Bros., ca.1910)  
Interior (ca. 1910)
 
The Roman Catholic parish of St. Malachy was established in 1902 to serve residents of the western midtown area. On May 3, 1903, the cornerstone was laid for the basement church. Plans for the main church were filed in 1910 by Thomas J. Duff, who designed a Gothic structure of brick trimmed with limestone. For the first two decades, St. Malachy's service to its community was comparable to that of most other Catholic churches in New York City. Then, beginning around 1920, the Theatre District moved in. Suddenly, actors, dancers, musicians, craftsmen, and tourists were filling the seats, replacing the types of parishioners St. Malachy's had seen in previous years. Masses, confessions, missions were all rearranged to accommodate the rigors of theatre and nightclub schedules. And, finally, with the construction of the Actors' Chapel below the main church in 1920, St. Malachy's became famous as a haven of worship for the entertainment community.

  Rudolph Valentino's Funeral at St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City
  Rudolph Valentino's Funeral
St. Malachy's has been home to many notable actors: Douglas Fairbanks married Joan Crawford at St. Malachy's. Herb Shriner's children were baptized here. Thousands jammed West 49th Street outside the church in final tribute to Rudolph Valentino. George M. Cohan, Spencer Tracy, Perry Como, Irene Dunne, Hildegarde, Florence Henderson, Elaine Stritch, Lawrence Luckinbill, Rosiland Russell, Danny Thomas, Bob and Dolores Hope and Ricardo Montalban, all worshipped at St. Malachy's. Fred Allen, Don Ameche, Cyril Ritchard, Pat O'Brien and Jimmy Durante served many a mass.

As late as 1968, over 16,000 people attended St. Malachy's each month, and on opening nights many in show business came to light candles for the success of their shows. But sweeping changes to the area came again. Madison Square Garden moved away. The night clubs closed. Massage parlors, porn shops, prostitution and drugs moved in. The neighborhood became unstable. Theater people and tourists feared lingering in the area and stopped visiting St. Malachy's. Much of the parish's congregation moved away. Most who stayed were elderly and poor. Many were held virtually under siege in decaying single-room occupancy hotels and tenements with tubs in kitchens and shared bathrooms in hallways.

The church and its people were suffering, and vandalism and theft were weekly occurrences. But in 1976, Father George W. Moore was assigned to St. Malachy's and set in motion yet another wave of far-reaching change. A pastoral team concept was initiated, which included not only priests and sisters, but also a group of caring men and women of all faiths. Their mission was to renew the long tradition of St. Malachy's: ministering to people of the neighborhood and finding the answers to their needs. To this end, staff members actively participated in a variety of local and community organizations, including Community Boards 4 & 5, the Mayor's Midtown Citizens Committee, The Broadway Association, the League of American Theaters and Producers, the Theater Development Fund, Actor's Equity, 42nd Street Civic Association, 42nd Street Redevelopment Association and the Clinton Planning Council.

One of the outstanding accomplishments of their efforts was the 1977 establishment of Encore Community Services to serve the needs of senior citizens. Its simple purpose, to improve the quality of life of the elderly living in the Times Square/Clinton/Midtown communities, Encore provides seniors with healthy meals, shopping escorts and social events. St. Malachy's has become a well-known voice to our legislators not only on a local level, but city, state and federal levels as well. St. Malachy's commitment to the aging population has led to participation in the New York City Department of Aging, Council of Senior Centers and Services, the Clinton Advisory Council on the Aging, the Lower Westside Interagency Council on Aging, and the Boro-wide Interagency Council on the aging.

 St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)  
At the June 17, 1991 meeting of The Broadway Association it was announced that Father Michael C. Crimmins was named pastor to St. Malachy's. Through his efforts a sale of the air rights above the church was arranged, bringing in the funds to accomplish the still sorely needed reparations to the church. A new roof, renovation of the interior, the cleaning of the exterior and rebuilding of the heating and air conditioning systems have brought back the physical plant of the church, making it both a comfortable and beautiful place in which to pray.
           
  Allen electronic organ at St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City (photo: Steven E. Lawson)
Allen Organ Company
Macungie, Penn. (1990s)
Electronic tonal production
2 manuals, 40 stops


Sometime in the 1980s, an electronic Allen Organ was installed in the space to the left of the freestanding altar. The speakers, hidden by Gothic-style screens, are located on three shelves on the side wall of the expanded nave.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes
16
  Quintadena       Alterable 5  
16
  Gemshorn       Alterable 6  
8
  Prinzipal       Alterable 7  
8
  Dulciana       Alterable 8  
8
  Hohlflöte       Delay  
8
  Flute Dolce       Percussion  
4
  Oktav       Chorus Tuning  
4
  Spitzflöte       Tremulant  
2 2/3
  Quinte       Swell to Great  
2
  Doublette          
    Mixture IV ranks          
8
  Cor Anglais          

     

     
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
16
  Flute Conique  
8
  Trompette  
8
  Salizional  
4
  Clarion  
8
  Gemshorn       Alterable 1  
8
  Gedeckt       Alterable 2  
4
  Spitzprinzipal       Alterable 3  
4
  Koppelflöte       Alterable 4  
2 2/3
  Nasat       Delay  
2
  Blockflöte       Percussion  
1 3/5
  Terz       Celeste  
1
  Sifflöte       Tremulant  
    Mixtur V ranks       Doubling Off  
16
  Contra Fagotto       Sub Octaver A  
8
  Hautbois       Sub Octaver B  
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
32
  Contra Bass  
4
  Flute Ouverte  
16
  Prinzipal       Mixtur III ranks  
16
  Violone  
16
  Bombarde  
16
  Bourdon  
8
  Trompete  
16
  Lieblich Gedeckt  
4
  Fagotto  
8
  Octave       Great to Pedal  
8
  Gedecktflöte       Swell to Pedal  
4
  Choral Bass          
               
General
    Mixtur Breaks   Chorus
    Chiff MF   Reverb
    Chiff F   Antiphonal Organ Off
    Random Motion Off   Main Organ Off
    Speech Artic. Off   Transposer (knob)
               
Adjustable Combinations
   
Swell Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Great Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (thumb)
Pedal Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6 (toe)
Full Organ Pistons 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 (thumb & toe)
               
Reversibles
    Swell to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Swell to Great (thumb & toe)
    Great to Pedal (thumb & toe)   Sforzando (thumb & toe)
               
Expression
    Swell Expression Pedal  
    Crescendo Pedal  
           
Organ installed in the Actors' Chapel, located below the main church:

Geo. Kilgen & Son
St. Louis, Mo. – Opus 4118 (1928)
Electro-pneumatic action
3 manuals, 20 stops


The organ in the Actors' Chapel was built in 1928 by the Geo. Kilgen & Son Company of St. Louis. Due to the large number of theatrical people who attended the actors' mass at 12:15 each Sunday, architect Robert J. Reiley designed a specially built concrete pit under the sidewalk and street that would contain the pipes and mechanism, and the organ was heard via tonal vents at the rear of the chapel. The walls and ceilings were covered with hard plaster treated acoustically.

On Sunday evening, May 5, 1929, the $12,800 organ was dedicated by Msgr. John P. Chidwick, pastor of St. Agnes Church, representing Cardinal Hayes. Following the blessing, a recital was given by Pietro Yon, organist of St. Patrick's Cathedral, who was joined by six soloists from the cathedral choir.

In 1977, the Actors' Chapel was remodeled as "Encore at St. Malachy's," a space decorated as a versatile clubroom for seniors. At this time, the organ loft was transformed into a library and reading room, and the under-sidewalk organ chests and pipes were eventually removed.

Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
         
Organ installed in the Actors' Chapel, located below the main church:

Estey Organ Company
Brattleboro, Vt. – Opus 2047 (1922)
Electro-pneumatic action
2 manuals, 8 stops, 8 ranks


The first organ in the Actors' Chapel was built in 1922 by the Estey Organ Company. This organ was enclosed in Estey's "Case Design AA" and had bronzed front pipes. All of the pipes were in one enclosure. When the larger Kilgen organ was installed in 1928, the Estey organ was moved to another church.
               
Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Open Diapason [leathered]
61
8
  Melodia
61
8
  Dulciana
61
       
               
Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes, enclosed
8
  Salicional
73
8
  Oboe [TC]
61
8
  Stopped Diapason
73
    Tremolo  
4
  Flute Harmonic
73
       
               
Pedal Organ – 32 notes
16
  Bourdon
32
       
               
Couplers
    Great to Pedal 8'       Great to Great 4', Unison
    Swell to Pedal 8', 4'       Swell to Swell 16', Unison, 4'
    Swell to Great 16', 8', 4'       Pedal Octaves  
               
Pedal Movements
    Balanced Swell Pedal   Great to Pedal Reversible
    Crescendo Pedal      
         
  W.W. Kimball organ (1910) in St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City (photo: Wurts Bros., 1910)
W. W. Kimball Company
Chicago, Ill. (1910)
Tubular-pneumatic action
2 manuals, about 15 stops


Console of W.W. Kimball Organ (1910) in St. Malachy's Catholic Church ("The Actors' Chapel") - New York City (photo: AJWB Collection)  
The original organ in St. Malachy's Church was built in 1910 by the W.W. Kimball Company and installed in the rear gallery.

Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.
           
Sources:
     "Actors' Chapel Dedicated as Club for Aged," The New York Times (Nov. 2, 1977).
     "Carillon to Add A Happy Note At Show Times," The New York Times (Nov. 20, 1979).
     The Diapason (June 1929). Article on Geo. Kilgen & Son Organ, Op. 4118 (1928). Courtesy Jeff Scofield.
     Dunlap, David. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press, 2004.
     Estey Organ Company Museum web site: http://www.esteyorgan.com/
     Lewis, James. Specifications of Estey Organ Company organ, Op. 2047 (1922).
     Nelson, George. Organs in the United States and Canada Database. Seattle, Wash.
     "The Remodeled Actors' Chapel," The New York Times (Dec. 7, 1930).
     St. Malachy Church web site: http://www.actorschapel.org/
     "St. Malachy's Church Dedicates New Organ," The New York Times (May 6, 1929).
     Shelley, Thomas J. The Bicentennial History of the Archdiocese of New York 1808-2008. Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007.

Illustrations:
     AJWB Collection. Console of W.W. Kimball Organ (1910).
     Lawson, Steven E. Exterior; interior; Allen Organ (1990s).
     Wurts Bros. (New York, N.Y.). ca.1910 photos of interior and rear gallery showing W.W. Kimball Organ (1910).