Click on image to enlarge Ritz Theatre 251 Port Richmond Avenue Staten Island, N.Y. 10302   The Ritz Theatre in the Port Richmond area of Staten Island was built in 1924 by Sol Brill, who was also responsible for Staten Island's Liberty, New Dorp and St. George Theatres. According to the 1931 Film Daily Year Book, the spacious theatre had 2,126 seats. The theatre's marquee was destroyed during the Blizzard of 1947 and was never restored. The Ritz later became a popular venue for national acts, rock concerts, and roller skating. Since 1985 the building has been owned and operated as a tile showroom by the Pedulla family.               Skinner Organ Company Boston, Mass. – Opus 444 (1923) Electro-pneumatic key and stop action 4 manuals, 42 stops, 24 ranks, 1,573 pipes This organ included a drawknob console and cost $20,875. In the 1960s, the organ was moved to the College Avenue Methodist Church in Muncie, Ind., where it was rebuilt with tonal changes by the Toledo Organ Company. The organ was susequently replaced by a Zimmer organ, and dispersed.                 Great Organ (Manual I) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Diapason 73 8   Cornopean 73 8   Gedeckt 73 8   Corno d'Amour 73 8   Voix Celeste II ranks 146 8   Vox Humana 73 8   Flute Celeste II ranks 134   Tremolo 4   Flute 73   Harp 4   Unda Maris II ranks 122   Celesta 61 bars 2   Piccolo 61                     Swell Organ (Manual II) – 61 notes (interchangeable with Great) 16   Bourdon — 2   Piccolo — 8   Diapason — 8   Cornopean — 8   Gedeckt — 8   Corno d'Amour — 8   Voix Celeste II ranks — 8   Vox Humana — 8   Flute Celeste II ranks —   Tremolo — 4   Flute —   Harp — 4   Unda Maris II ranks —     Celesta —             Orchestral Organ (Manual III) – 61 notes, enclosed 8   Dopple Flute [sic] 73 8   French Horn 73 8   Cello 73 8   Clarinet 73 8   Gamba Celeste II ranks 146   Tremolo SW 4   Orchestral Flute 73   Cathedral Chimes 20 bells 8   Tuba 73                         Solo Organ (Manual IV) – 61 notes (interchangeable with Orchestral) 8   Dopple Flute — 8   French Horn — 8   Cello — 8   Clarinet — 8   Gamba Celeste II ranks —   Tremolo — 4   Orchestral Flute —   Cathedral Chimes — 8   Tuba —                   Pedal Organ – 32 notes 16   Diapason 32 8   Still Gedeckt SW 16   Bourdon 32 16   Trombone [ext. Cornopean] 12 16   Echo Bourdon SW 8   Tromba [Cornopean] SW 8   Gedeckt [ext.] 12                     Traps     Snare Drum       Chinese Block       Kettle and Bass Drums       Tom Tom       Xylophone                         Sources:      Aeolian-Skinner Archives: http://aeolian-skinner.110mb.com/      Cinema Treasures website: http://www.cinematreasures.org/      Junchen, David L. Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ, Vol. 2. Pasadena: Showcase Publications, 1985.      Kinzey, Allen, and Sand Lawn, comps. E.M. Skinner/Aeolian-Skinner Opus List. New Rev. Ed. Richmond: The Organ Historical Society, 1997. Photos:      Old Staten Island website: http://oldstatenisland.tripod.com               | NYC AGO Home Page | Back to NYC Organs List |