1939-40 New York World's Fair Flushing Meadows (Queens), NY Organ Specifications: The Netherlands Building: ► II/17 Flentrop Orgelbouw (1939) Sun Valley Exhibit: ► III/12 "Style R20" Wurlitzer, Op. 2044 (1929) Temple of Religion Exhibit: ► III/55 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Co., Op. 986 (1938)             The Netherlands Pavilion The Netherlands exhibit presented a comprehensive survey of the cultural importance of the three parts of the empire – the Kingdom of Europe, the Dutch East Indies and the territories of Suriname and Curacao in South America. George P. Post & Sons, Associates designed the buildings. The main Netherlands pavilion, in the Government Zone, contained no private exhibits, while the one pictured here in the Hall of Nations included exhibits and products from 30 Netherlands firms, some of which were for sale to visitors.             Flentrop Orgelbouw B.V. Zaandam, The Netherlands (1939) Mechanical key and stop action 2 manuals, 12 stops, 17 ranks In 1941, after the fair ended, this organ was installed in the Kiefhoekskerk in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.   Manuaal I – 56 notes 8   Roerfluit 56 4   Prestant 56   Mixtuur III-IV ranks ? 8   Trompet 56         Manuaal II – 56 notes 8   Quintadeen 56 4   Blokfluit 56 2   Prestant 56   Scherp II-III ranks ?         Pedaal – 30 notes 16   Subbas 30 8   Prestant 30 8   Gedekt 30 4   Octaaf 30             Sun Valley Exhibit Located in the Amusement Zone, the architectural pastiche (of an Alpine village) known as "Sun Valley, Idaho" was a wonderful place to cool off on a hot New York summer day. For only 25 cents, visitors enjoyed real snow and ice, mountain scenery, toboggans, wandering minstrels, more than thirty shops and several restaurants.                                 Wurlitzer Organ Company North Tonawanda, N.Y. – Opus 2044 (1929) Electro-pneumatic action Style: "R20" 3 manuals, 12 ranks, straight console This Wurlitzer organ, dated February 5, 1929, was moved from the Wurlitzer Store to the Sun Valley Exhibit at the New York World's Fair in 1939. Following the fair, the organ was moved in 1940 to the Paul Filson residence in Englewood, NJ, and then in 1942 to the Municipal Auditorium in Long Beach, Calif. Specifications for this organ have not yet been located.             Temple of Religion The Temple of Religion was built to exhibit America's ideals of Freed of Religion. Above the entrance was carved, "FOR ALL WHO WORSHIP GOD AND PRIZE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM." An auditorium that seated 1,200 allowed groups, under church guidance, to present programs that expressed the values of things spiritual. No religious services were held, nor were the buildings or grounds consecrated. The firm of Poor, Stein & Regan designed the building.                                 Aeolian-Skinner Organ Company, Inc. Boston, Mass. – Opus 986 (1938) Electro-pneumatic key and stop action 3 manuals, 42 stops, 55 ranks, 2,937 pipes The organ in the Temple of Religion was built by the Aeolian-Skinner company in 1938. The name of John W. Haussermann, Jr., was on the contract, along with that of the World's Fair.  After the fair closed, Mr. Haussermann moved the organ to his home in Chappaqua, N.Y.  In 1947, the organ was moved to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Louisville, Ky.                 Great Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes 16   Quintade 61 2 2/3   Quint 61 8   Principal 61 2   Super Octave 61 8   Gedeckt 61   Fourniture III-IV ranks 232 4   Octave 61   Scharf III ranks 183 4   Gemshorn 61                     Positiv Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes 8   Quintaton 61 2   Octave 61 8   Salicional 61 1 3/5   Terz 61 4   Prestant 61 1 1/3   Larigot 61 4   Rohrflöte 61 1   Sifflöte 61 2 2/3   Nasat 61   Zimbel III ranks 183                 Swell Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Flute Harmonique 61 1 3/5   Tierce 61 8   Viole da Gambe 61   Plein Jeu IV ranks 244 8   Viole Celeste 61 16   Cromorne 61 4   Fugara 61 8   Trompette 61 4   Cor de Nuit 61 4   Hautbois Clarion 61 2 2/3   Nazard 61   Tremulant 2   Koppelflöte 61                     Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Principal 32 4   Nachthorn 32 16   Quintaton 32   Mixture IV ranks 128 8   Violoncello 32 16   Contra Fagotto 32 8   Rohrflöte 32 8   Posaune 32 5 1/3   Quint 32 4   Schalmei 32 4   Choralbass 32                 Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Flentrop Orgelbouw website: http://www.flentrop.nl      Junchen, David. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 2. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1989.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997. Photos:      Flentrop Orgelbouw website: New York World's Fair 1939 poster; organ pipes.             | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organ Project List |