1928 - Building exterior (Photograph from an archival source: Library of Congress, via NYC AGO NYC Organ Project, submitted by Jeff Scofield/Jeff Scofield)
2007-11-22 - Identified from factory documents and publications courtesy of Stephen Schnurr. -Database Manager
2009-02-07 - Updated through on-line information from Jeff Scofield. -Database Manager
2023-05-02 - From the NYC AGO NYC Organ Project, Steven E. Walker: The Pythian Temple, located at 135 West Seventieth Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue, was built to serve as a clubhouse for the Order of Knights of Pythias, a fraternal organization founded in Washington during the Civil War. Radio station WNYC broadcast the dedication ceremonies that took place on January 25, 1928, when Franklin W. Moore, State Grand Chancellor of the order, presented the building to Mayor James J. Walker, who accepted on behalf of the city. The nine-story neo-Egyptian structure was designed by Thomas W. Lamb, who was renowned for his opulent movie palaces. Its exterior featured Sumerian, Assyrian, and Egyptian motifs, polychromed Doric columns, seated Pharaonic figures, and Babylonian crenellations. Capping the twin towers were reconstructions of the gilded basin set up by Solomon in the temple at Jerusalem. Lamb brought theatrical elements inside where the double-height lobby was decorated with black marble in the Egyptian style. A monumental staircase led to a mezzanine that extended across the length of the lobby and connected to the elevators on the opposite side. On the second floor was the 1,600-seat columnless auditorium. The upper floors contained meeting rooms and a series of thirteen lodge rooms that were decorated in a variety of period styles. In the 1950s, the building was sold and converted for use as a branch of Manhattan Community College. The building was sold again in the 1980s, and was converted into luxury condominiums in 1982. Many of the original terra cotta details are still present, although the exterior is now punctuated with windows. -Jeff Scofield
Source: Factory specifications, courtesy of the OHS Archives
New York, New York
Pythian Temple
Möller Op. 4862 1927 3/14
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GREAT CHOIR
16' Tibia Clausa 97 8' Tibia Clausa
8' Open Diapason 61 8' Violoncello
8' Tibia Clausa 8' Cello Celeste
8' Clarabel Flute 73 8' Claribel Flute
8' Violoncello 73 4' Violina
8' Cello Celeste 61 4' Concert Flute
4' Orchestral Flute 2 2/3' Tibia Quint
4' Conccert Flute 2' Piccolo
4' Violins II 16' Clarinet tc
2 2/3' Tibia Quint 8' Clarinet 73
2' Piccolo Tremulant
8' French Horn 73 Sub
8' Kinura 73 Unison Off
4' Octave Horn Super
4' Octave Kinura Castanets
Tremulant Indian Block
Sub Tom Tom
Unison Off Sleigh Bells
Super Triangle
Chimes 20 Snare Drum
Xylophone Single 37
Xylophone Repeating PEDAL
16' Tibia Clausa
SWELL 16' Bass Viol
16' Violin 97 16' Bourdon SW 12
8' Horn Diapason 8' Flute
8' Doppel Floete 73 8' Violoncello
8' Violin Bass Drum
8' Viol Celeste 61 Snare Drum
4' Violina Cymbal
4' Flute Harmonic 73 Tympani
2 2/3' Nazard (Violin) Tom Tom
2 2/3' Flute 12th Tambourine
2' String 15th
2' Flageolet TOE STUD EFFECTS
16' Vox Humana tc Song Birds (2)
8' Orchestral Oboe 73 Thunder Sheet
8' Vox Humana 73 Crash Cymbal
4' Octave Oboe Grand Crash
Tremulant Ford Horn
Sub
Unison Off
Super
Harp 49
Marimba 49
Marimbaphone
Orchestral Bells 37
(Single)
Orchestral Bells
(Repeating)
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