Mayfair Theatre 3/4 Kilgen

Experience the sound of the Theatre Pipe Organ

Mayfair Theatre
West New York, NJ


3/4 Kilgen Console

This instrument was originally installed in 1926 as a 2 manual, 4 rank organ in the Rivoli Theatre, Hastings, Nebraska. Kilgen Opus 3677 style UG11.

The Rivoli Theatre in Hastings opened March 25, 1927 and seated 1100. After movies with sound came to the theatre in 1929 the organ was used in short concerts during the 1930s and 1940s before the featured movie. The Rivoli closed in 1984, and reopened in 1995 with two additional auditoriums added where a hotel had been next door. The original theatre remains virtually unchanged.

The Kilgen was the first theatre pipe organ owned (not just maintained) by GSTOS in its 27 year history. It was purchased from a family, the Oschmanns, who had it playing in their private residence in White House Station, N.J.

A previous owner had added a third manual, but the stoprail had not been completely rearranged to match. The unconventional stop locations on the rail still have not been addressed.

Installation Updates


Ralph Ringstad, Jr.

1998: All four original ranks were installed and playing. On Sunday, August 9, 1998 Jinny Vanore played the Kilgen for the first time to the public to the surprise of the movie audience.

1999: The first concert (a miniconcert) was played by Ralph Ringstad, Jr. on March 21, 1999. The Kilgen was also featured in a several concerts and open console around that time. Pictures of Ralph Ringstad and Ashley Miller at the console are shown here.


Ashley Miller

2013: Operation of the new electronic relay which we purchased for this organ has been problematic. The relay was acquired to enable playing of the tuned percussions (which the Kilgen relay could not do).

The fate of the venue is now uncertain since the theatre closed several years ago. However, the owner of the building was the theatre operator, and lives in an upstairs apartment, so the organ is safe for the time being.

Chamber Photos

Ranks

Vox Humana, Viol D’ Orchestre, Flute, Tuba

Console Layout

Pedal

32 Resultant
16 Bourdon
8 Tuba
8 Cello
8 Bass Flute
4 Clarion
Bass Drum
Cymbal
Tympani
Accomp to Pedal

Accomp

16 Bourdon
8 Tuba
8 Viol D’ Orchestre
8 Quint
8 Flute
8 Vox Humana
4 Clarion
4 Salicet
4 Flute
4 Vox Humana
2 Piccolo
Xylophone
Snare Drum
Tambourine
Castanets
Accomp to Accomp 4
Solo to Accomp 8

Great

16 Tuba (TC)
16 Contra Viol (TC)
16 Bourdon
16 Vox Humana (TC)
8 Tuba
8 Oboe
8 Viol D’ Orchestre
8 Quint
8 Flute
8 Vox Humana
4 Clarion
4 Salicet
4 Vox Humana
2 Piccolo
Xylophone
Great to Great 16
Great to Great 4
Solo to Great 8
Solo to Great 4

Solo

16 Bourdon
8 Tuba
8 Viol D’ Orchestre
8 Quint
8 Flute
8 Vox Humana
4 Clarion
4 Flute
2 Piccolo
Harp
Chimes
Solo to Solo 16
Unison off
Solo to Solo 4

Tremolo

Tibia Tremolo
Main Tremolo

2nd Touch

8 Tuba
4 Clarion

Console

3 61 note manuals
1 32 note pedal board
5 Combination Pistons on Solo
5 Combination Pistons on Great
5 Combination Pistons on Accomp
10 General Combination Pistons
1 Balanced Expression Pedal
1 Balanced Crescendo Pedal

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