Welcome to the New York Theatre Organ Society
The New York Theatre Organ Society is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization furthering the appreciation, preservation and use of the Theatre Pipe Organs of yesteryear. NYTOS serves New York City and its five boroughs as well as Long Island and Lower NY State. NYTOS owns and maintains 4 organs in their region and maintains 3 organs such as the Brooklyn Paramount (LIU) Wurlitzer
Latest News!
The Queens, Nassau, and Suffolk chapters of the American Guild of Organists are presenting a Mini-Convention on Monday, January 16, 2012 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) at the Community Church of Douglaston. Click here for more info
March 11th, 2011 at 2pm
NYTOS Showcase Concert
with featured guest organist, ATOS President, Ken Double
also the 2011 ATOS Student of the Year, Andrew VanVarick,
with House Organist, John Baratta 
and silent film accompanist and theatre organist, Bernie Anderson, Jr.
Ken Double, president of the American Theatre Organ Society, will present an afternoon of music on the Paramount's Wurlitzer Theatre Organ along with cameos by the 2011 ATOS Student of the Year, Andrew VanVarick. This young artist is a rising star in the theatre organ community and shouldn't be missed. House organist, John Baratta and organist, Bernie Anderson, Jr, will round out the afternoon with a short mini concert and short silent film comedy. There will be a Q&A session with Ken Double about the American Theatre Organ Society. Bring a friend!
Click here for directions to the Paramount
March 31st at 7:30pm
at Chaminade Highs School
with live accompaniment on the Austin Morton Theatre Organ by
Bernie Anderson, Jr
Just announced!...
VAN DER MOLEN'S DONATE WHEATON FOX TO NYTOS!!
for Brooklyn Loews' Kings Theatre Restoration Project
Read all about it in this month's Horseshoe Newsletter
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Click play or double click video screen to watch through YouTube
Click on the YouTube link to watch all videos
What's a Theatre Organ?
A Theatre Pipe Organ differs from a traditional church or classical organ in that its special sound effects and orchestral voices were designed specifically to accompany silent movies of the 1920's.
During the heyday of silent movies, most theatres of any size boasted a theatre pipe organ. The pipes were located in chambers high up in the front of the theatre, usually found on either side of the stage and covered with decorative screens. An immense blower produced the massive amounts of air required to cause the many pipes to "speak," and it was this large quantity of moving air that made listening to the booming theatre pipe organ in a large cavernous theatre an experience unmatched by
even the most sophisticated speaker systems of today. As movies changed to "talkies" in 1929, the organs soon became unnecessary. Many were lost to fire, flood, vandalism, and neglect. Just a very few today remain in their original homes-The Brooklyn Paramount Wurlitzer is one of those, and as such, has genuine historical significance. For the past 43 years, it has been lovingly maintained by members of the New York Theatre Organ Society.
Join New York Theatre Organ Society!
*Help to preserve Theatre Pipe Organs of yesteryear!
*Stay abreast of upcoming Theatre Pipe Organ concerts & Silent Movies.
*Participate in organ crawls, socials, picnics, tours and other events.
*Receive "The Horseshoe" - a bi-monthly newsletter.
*Get discounted admission to theatre pipe organ concerts and events.
*You're invited to join New York Theatre Organ Society. A regular membership is just $20 per year. You will receive membership card, the latest NYTOS Horseshoe newsletter, and immediately begin enjoying all the benefits of membership! Click here to Join