2. The Theater is Home to One of the City’s Only Remaining Wonder Morton Organs
An estimated 12,000 theatre organs, used to soundtrack silent films, were once spread out across the United States in the 1930s. According to the United Palace, Robert-Morton – the second largest theatre organ company at the time – built five identical “Wonder” organs to place in each of Loew’s five flagship theaters. Of this collection, the one inside the United Palace is the last one that’s still in its original home and “completely unaltered.”
To restore the organ, the New York Theatre Organ Society (NYTOS) and the United Palace of Cultural Arts partnered together to raise $1,000,000 over the course of five years. The ultimate goal is to make it playable again after years of water and fire damage.