Castro Theater: Auditorium
429 Castro Street
San Francisco, CA
Note: Not extant. Not playable. (in this location)
Images
2021 - Lower right stop jamb (Photograph by R.A Colby, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2021 - Lower left stop jamb (Photograph by R.A Colby, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2021 - Stop tabs close-up (Photograph by R.A Colby, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2021 - Right stop jamb (Photograph by R.A Colby, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2021 - Left stop jamb (Photograph by R.A Colby, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2017-06-09 - Main Pedal 32' flues and 64' Gravissima stop tabs (Photograph by SFCODA, submitted by YouFoundSharpe/YouFoundSharpe)
2017 - Organ console by R.A, Colby courtesy CODA (Photograph by Castro Theater Organ Devotees Association (CODA), submitted by Ian Scheil/Ian Scheil)
2024 - Randall Walker and Stephen Regec looking at the console at Walker Technical (Stephen Regec - For Piping Up From Pedal To Pipe (screenshot from YouTube video)/Stephen Regec)
Consoles
Main
- Organ type: Horseshoe
- Console position: Console on Lift
- 7 manuals
- 400 registers
- Key action Type: Electrical
- Stop action Type: Electrical
- Stop layout Type: Tilting/Rocking Tablets on Angled Jambs
- Manual compass: 61 notes
- Pedal compass: 32 notes
- Pedal Type: Concave Radiating (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Expression Type: Balanced Expression Shoes/Pedals (Meeting AGO Standards)
- Has crescendo
- Combination action: Computerized/Digital
- Has sequencer
- Has combination thumb pistons
- Has combination toe pistons
- Has tutti thumb pistons
- Has tutti toe pistons
Notes
2021-01-28 - The Castro Symphonic Theater Organ is set to be the world's largest hybrid organ featuring pipe ranks and digital ranks for a total of 400 stops. These stops will be played over 7 manuals. The console has already been fully built by R.A. Colby and is now at the Walker Technical shops. It has successfully received its electronic internals and is now awaiting delivery arrangements to the theater.
Due to COVID-19, the full already begun installation has been met with a variety of hang-ups including some financial fundraising hang-ups. To solve this, the organization responsible for the creation of such a mammoth instrument unlike any other in the world has divided the installation into separate phases. Phase 1 will see the organ console and digital systems brought from Walker in Pennsylvania to San Francisco for the remaining portions of the installation process. From there Phase 2 will include the installation of the physical pipe ranks. This split approach will allow the Castro Theater to continue to host pre-screening organ performances utilizing the full digital ranks while the physical ones are completed and installed.
Famed Organ builder and pioneer of hybrid organ technology Allan Harrah was a driving force in the creation of this instrument. He volunteered his expertise and time at no charge to make the Castro instrument possible. Unfortunately Allan passed away on June 1, 2020. However, the instrument will carry a legacy beyond his years.
Resources:
[Castro Organ Devotees Association- CODA](https://www.castroorgan.org/CastroOrgan/Home.html)
-Ian Scheil
2021-01-29 - Walker Technical completed the digital voiced which will be installed nd made playable prior to the installation of the pipework. The console is by R.A. Colby. -Jim Stettner
Documents
Websites
Other Links
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