The Middletown Paramount
Wurlitzer Style H enlarged to 12 Ranks
with 3-manual French Console
Owned by NYTOS
South Street, Middletown, New York
The Middletown Paramount is a 1931 small town movie house that is now
operating as a city-owned performing arts center. Although the original
3/12 Wurlitzer was removed in the late 1950's, the New York Theatre
Organ Society has installed a nearly identical instrument that is
played at many of the theatre's shows. For information on current
features and schedules call 845-346-4195.
History:
The Original Organ: The original Wurlitzer at the Paramount was a late
model 3/11 (Balaban 1A). One of two identical instruments (the
other was in the Paramount in Peekskill, New York), this instrument was
removed in the late 1950''s by Leroy Lewis. The console eventually
found its way to the west coast on John Ledwon's home organ, and was
subsequently sold to the Valley of the Sun chapter of ATOS for use on
their 3/31 instrument in the Phoenix Orpheum theatre.
The Present Organ: The Clairidge Theatre in Montclair, New
Jersey, was built in 1922 and a 2/10 Style H Wurlitzer was
installed. In the early 1980's, the owners decided to donate the
instrument to the New York Theatre Organ Society. NYTOS restored it and
installed it in the recently renovated Middletown Paramount, adding a
Wurlitzer salicional and Wurlitzer-copy English post horn rank. They
also replaced the badly damaged original 2-manual console with the
3-manual Wurlitzer French console from the Shea's Bailey theatre in
Buffalo, New York. This console was previously installed in the Oak
Park Roller Rink in Chicago. A new solid state relay was installed as
well.