The Lake Placid Palace Theatre in New York has a long history dating back to 1926. The original theatre organ had a beautiful sound that was eventually used very little over time until it was no longer used at all. Over the years, this beautiful sounding organ set idle and sometimes it was played, depending on who the owner of the theatre was at the time. The latest owner of the Palace Theatre intended to have the organ refurbished and the cut cables fixed so that the organ's beautiful sound could be heard during the silent film festivals.
With all the work and dedication that went into making the organ work again, it is now used to fill the theatre with beautiful music when the silent film festival is running. You can enjoy a silent film with background music from the Palace Robert-Morton Unit Orchestra. The reason it is call a unit orchestra is because underneath the organ deck are other instruments that are all controls by the organ.
There is a cymbal (crash and tap), tympani, bass drum, snare drum, tambourine, woodblock, tom tom and a castanet. One can only sit and listen to the beautiful sounds that flow through the room as the organ enchants the guests. Just seeing the organ console captivates the audience as they glaze at the beautiful monstrosity that is played by just one person. It is a true delight for festival guests to have the chance to listen to something so old but yet so beautiful sounding.
