THE BARDAVON WURLITZER THEATRE ORGAN


THE BARDAVON WURLITZER THEATRE PIPE ORGAN - Is owned and maintained by volunteers of the New York Theatre Organ Society (NYTOS). The Bardavon and Radio City Music Hall share the distinction of each being home to one of the few surviving Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organs still playing in its original location.

LOST & FOUND – In April of 1928 The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, of Tonawanda NY, installed this pipe organ for live accompaniment to silent films. The organ found later use as a solo instrument and for support of stage shows. In the 1960s it was removed to a private home in Scarsdale NY where a decade later it was acquired by an entrepreneur who stored it in a barn in Poughkeepsie. Upon discovery in 1985, the New York Theatre Organ Society assessed its condition and found it badly in need of restoration. The then-struggling Bardavon wished to see the organ returned but had neither the funds nor the knowledge to affect this. An agreement was reached between NYTOS and the Bardavon allowing NYTOS to purchase the organ, retain title to it, renovate it, and return it to its original home.

RESTORED - Eight years later in September of 1993, after spending $35,000 and thousands of volunteer hours, the Bardavon's "Golden Voiced" Wurlitzer Organ sounded once again in the theatre for which it was designed. To date, the New York Theatre Organ Society has spent an additional $45,000 plus untold volunteer hours in the upkeep and improvement of this historic pipe organ. If it were possible to build it today, its cost would be well over $250,000.

A FIRST - Wurlitzer Theatre organs were dubbed the original "synthesizers" in that they were conceived to reproduce a full orchestra with a wide array of percussions and sound effects. Considered louder and brassier than their classical counterparts, they were designed to hold their own whether accompanying silent films, or playing popular tunes, as well as classical music. These pipe organs were built for entertainment of the masses.

MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE - It is officially known as a 2 manual 7 rank style "E" instrument. The keyboard console only hints at the size of the complete instrument. Two chambers of 1300 cubic feet each – one on House Left (Main) and one on House Right (Solo) - contain over 700 organ pipes, divided as follows: The Main houses Diapason, Flute, Strings and Celeste, as well the Chrysoglott (harp). The Solo contains the Tibia, Vox Humana and Trumpet, as well as traps, percussions and sound effects. Since 1993 NYTOS has added a Clarinet and an Orchestral Oboe. Final expansions included an English Post Horn, and a bass octave for the Tibia. Two more chambers house the tremulants and offset regulators. A five horsepower blower located above the proscenium supplies air pressure. All sounds - except the piano - are mechanically produced, just as they were in 1928. The electrical control system, however, has been computerized for easier maintenance, and the option of expansions. To find out more of the Wurlitzer technical specifications click here.

BE A FRIEND – A single note requires up to ten different moving parts, all working correctly together. There are thousands of connections between hundreds of wires. It needs to be played to stay in shape, and requires continuous care. Some new features are being prepared for eventual installation. While the New York Theatre Organ Society provides volunteer labor, funding is always a critical issue. As owners, NYTOS also assumes these financial responsibilities. The New York Theatre Organ Society is a registered not-for-profit 501-c-3 corporation, and encourages you to be a friend to our historic Wurlitzer Organ. For more information about how you can help call (845) 457-5393, or visit their website at www.nytos.org or contact NYTOS, 178 Dunn Drive, Montgomery, NY, 12549.

CONTRIBUTORS TO BE REMEMBERED:

Stephen and Julia McC. Dunwell
John Vanderlee, Sr.  

CURRENT CONTRIBUTORS:

Mr. & Mrs. John Vanderlee, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Strang
Thomas Stehle
David A. Kopp  

HOUSE ORGANISTS:

Juan Cardona, Jr.
John Baratta (first sub)

VOLUNTEER ORGAN CREW:

John Vanderlee, Jr., Curator
Robert Strang, Assistant Curator
Barb Penrose, Technical Advisor
Norman Andre
William Hayter
Fred Koverda
Daniel Lane
Lowell Sanders
Thomas Stehle
Betty Strang
Robert Welch  

NYTOS Officers:

John Valentino, Chairman
Thomas Stehle, Secretary
Brother Bob Lahey, Treasurer  

CORPORATE SUPPORTERS:

Dydacomp Development Corporation
IBM Corporation
The Bardavon 1869 Opera House, Inc.
The Poughkeepsie Masonic Temple
Bon Smith (Austin Organs)
Gordon Auchincloss (Austin Organs - retired)
Carl Hackert (Allen Organs)

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