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A sound you won't forget: The "Unit Orchestra."

The theater organ or "unit orchestra" was created during the silent film era to provide musical accompaniment to movies before they had sound.  In addition to uniquely voiced pipes, they contain a wide array of tuned percussions and many sound effect devices.  After sound became part of the movie experience, the instruments' use included intermission performances.  The theater pipe organ developed into a concert instrument as the HI-Fi records released in the 1950s made their sound popular again.  

Hear theater organs using ATOS Radio


If you click on the image to the right, a new browser window will open to a link taking you to the ATOS Theatre Organ Radio streaming service.  This service plays theater organ music 24 hours a day and will provide you with many different organ and artist selections.

Full details about this streaming radio service can be found here: http://www.atos.org/atos-theatre-organ-radio


Another Web Hosted Theater Organ Source

Another source for theater organ programming is the HOT PIPES weekly broadcasts and bi-weekly podcasts.

The button to the right provides access to their home page, which includes links to their podcast playlist library.
For the very best in theatre organ
entertainment from around the world.
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The RTOS instrument, from the former RKO Palace theater, is now presented to the Rochester community in a series of concerts and silent movie events. 

About the RTOS Wurlitzer

This website contains a growing set of photos and documentary materials about the RTOS and their WurliTzer instruments.

To learn more, click here!

About RTOS Membership

RTOS membership is open to anyone over 18 years of age. A Regular membership is available on an annual basis.  An Associate membership is available to anyone who lives more than 50 airline miles from Rochester and to all students between the ages of 18 to 24. An additional fee for first-class mailings is recommended for all non-local members and is required by postal regulations for Canadian members.

To learn more about the benefits of membership, click here!

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