Rochester Theatre Organ Society
1967

Originally The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. (Opus 1951, 1928)

Masonic Temple / Auditorium Theatre (1928-30)

885 East Main Street
Rochester, NY, US

23 Ranks - 1,619 Pipes
Instrument ID: 34608 ● Builder ID: 7660 ● Location ID: 30706
⬆️ These are database IDs that may change. Don't use as academic reference.EXPLORE IMAGESVIEW STOPLIST

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Plenum Organ Company

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IMAGES

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STOPLISTS

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CONSOLES

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Builder: Unknown
Position: Console on Lift
Design: Horseshoe
Pedalboard Type: Concave Radiating (Not Meeting AGO Standards)
Features:
4 Manuals (61 Notes)32 Note PedalElectrical Key ActionElectrical Stop Action✓ Crescendo✓ Combination Thumb Piston(s)✓ Sforzando Toe Piston(s)

Stop Layout: Stop Keys in Horseshoe Curves
Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Details Unknown)
Combination Action: Computerized/Digital
Control System: Unknown or N/A

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DETAILS

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Exhibited in the 2018 OHS convention(s)
This instrument is: Extant and Playable in this location

Jim Stettner on November 22nd, 2025:

Updated through online information from Kevin Scott [October 17, 2025]: I compared the existing stoplist with what I know to be accurate, and there are a number of corrections to make. It looks like the existing stoplist was before we added a 16' extension to the Horn Diapason, but there are several other errors. Here they are: Rank listing: Horn Diapason is now 85 pipes, 16'-4'. The new-to-it top 4' octave happens to be repurposed Clarion pipes, but I don't think that needs to be mentioned in the published info. Tuba Horn is now 73 pipes, 16'-8', having donated its top octave to the Horn Diapason. Pedal: delete the 32' Bourdon resultant add 16' Bass (oddly, this stop is located AFTER the 16' Tibia) add 8' Horn Diapason (in the standard position, after 8' Diaphonic Diapason) add the two 8' Tibias (after the 8' Horn Diapason) Great: rename 16' Horn Diapason to 16' Bass on 16' Minor Strings, change number of ranks to 4 Orchestral: there are stops here for both of the organ's Chrysoglotts - Solo Chrys is first, then Chrys Solo: add Unison Off (we have it on Solo; it's actually missing on Orchestral) Combination pistons: The manual pistons are arranged/numbered as 20 generals, plus 10 divisionals for each manual, and there are 5 Pedal toe studs. But these are all fully rangeable.


Database Manager on May 12th, 2008:

Updated through online information from Jonathan Ortloff.


Database Manager on May 11th, 2008:

Identified through online information from Jonathan Ortloff. -- The organ was originally installed in 1928 in the RKO Palace Theatre at 71 North Clinton Avenue. The theatre was razed in 1965, and RTOS was formed to rescue the organ and find a new home for it. The Wurlitzer then replaced Skinner Opus 711 in the then-Masonic Temple. The Skinner was moved to the Episcopal Church of the Ascension on Lake Avenue. The organ was originally installed with 21 ranks. RTOS added a second Wurlitzer Vox Humana to the Solo chamber, and a Moller English Post Horn. The Saxophone (brass), which was stolen before the organ was removed from the Palace, was replaced with a Bizik brass Saxophone in 2001.

Webpage Links: RTOS Home Page

Related Instrument Entries: The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. (Opus 1951, 1928)

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