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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

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. 

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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. Regular membership is $50 a year. Associate membership at only $35 a year 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 $5.00 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!