3/15 Griffith Beach Theatre
Pipe Organ
Newark
Symphony Hall ™
1030 Broad St. Newark, NJ 07012 (map)
|
Inside the
Sarah Vaughan
Concert Hall
at Newark Symphony Hall™ |
Marr and
Colton
console
connected
to the Griffith Beach organ Photo: Tony Rustako - August, 2005 |
Newark Symphony Hall Griffith Beach Theatre Organ
The rededication concert for this organ was held on Saturday November 10, 2001 with 200 people in attendance. Organist Ralph Ringstad, Jr. accompanied the silent film, Steamboat Bill Jr., and presented a 1 hour concert. This theatre pipe organ currently continues to be maintained by a volunteer group of GSTOS members.
Other pictures and tour of organ work:
- Organ Work and History 7/20/01
- Griffith Beach Theatre Organ "Graduates" at Newark Symphony Hall™ 6/28/01
- Relay Wiring Part 3 6/26/00
- Relay Wiring Part 2 6/26/00
- Relay Wiring Pictures 4/18/2000
- New organ console being moved into the theatre Pictures 3/13/2000
- Building a platform for the console Pictures 3/2/2000
- Back to the Main Newark Griffith Beach Page
History
Newark Symphony Hall ™ was formerly the Mosque Theatre. This large beautiful building was built in 1925 by the Ancient Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (known as the Shriners). It is listed on the National Register of Historic places. The interior of the Sarah Vaughan Concert Hall is very impressive, it contains 2,880 seats and a 3 manual 15 rank Griffith Beach Theatre Pipe Organ. Through the years, the theatre has been an art center and some of the greatest musicians, singers and dancers have and still are performing there. Acoustically, the building is considered to be one of the finest concert halls in the east coast.
Unfortunately some years ago,
the 4 manual console cable was cut and the console removed. The pipes
were left in the chambers. A picture of the original console appears on
pg. 154 of Junchen's Encyclopedia of the American Theatre Organ Vol. 1
In the picture someone wrote "Save Me" with their finger in the dust on
the console. The pipes were left in the chambers. We now have the
privilege of restoring this instrument and installing a Marr and Colton
console.
|
New Organ
Console (March, 2000)
|
Griffith
Beach Relay
(Original)
Photo: Tony Rustako - August, 2005 |
The Organ
The Griffith Beach Organ Company built 10 Theatre Organs in theatres in North Eastern NJ between 1921 and 1925. Earl Beach had worked with Robert Hope-Jones at his factory in Elmira, NY. In the early 1920s Beach formed a partnership with the Griffith Piano Company of Newark NJ. The organ in Newark Symphony Hall ™ was installed in 1925. The Harmonic Tuba has H.J. (Hope-Jones) stamped on it.
|
Main
Chamber / pipes Blower: Kinetic,
style 3JYSPEC (plus spare), 1750 rpm, 1700cpm at 8",
300cfm at 15"
|
Solo
Chamber |
|
Solo chamber A similar
picture
showing more of the chamber |
Main chamber |
Console Layout
| Pedal | Accomp | Great | Solo |
|
32' Bourdon Resultant |
16' Viole d' Orchestre Tom Tom |
16' Trumpet (prepared) |
16' Harmonic Tuba 8' Metal Harp |
|
Tremulants |
Toe
Studs Bird Boat Horn Cow Bell Triangle Bass Drum Crash Cymbal Siren Auto Horn Great Sustain Great Sostenuto Sforzando Tutti Zymbelstern |
"Newark Symphony Hall" is a trademark of Newark Performing Arts Corporation, 1030 Broad Street Newark, NJ 07102
