The Mighty Wurlitzer finds a home
Here's the news.
Photos: A model of the chamber that will house the pipes in the west end of Music Hall's Ballroom.
Some of the bells and whistles behind the scenes of a Wurlitzer theater organ.
Ronald Wehmeier, Cincinnati organ rebuilder, displaying the "Duo-Art" grand piano that will play along with the Mighty Wurlitzer theater organ, and playing his own Wurlitzer theater organ, from a 5,000-seat Chicago movie palace.
posted by Janelle Gelfand at 5:51 PM
4 Comments:
at 7/12/2007 08:02:00 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 7/12/2007 09:11:00 AM 
Radarman said...
-
-
at 7/12/2007 06:12:00 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 7/13/2007 06:13:00 PM 
Janelle Gelfand said...
-
-
Post a Comment*I read somewhere yesterday that The Mighty Wurlitzer was also at the RKO Paramount Theater (now demolished) at Peebles Corner in the 1950s. Is this the same one?
The real - and sad - story is the abandoning of the Emery where the organ had been. Here we have a hall the size and shape of Chicago and Boston's symphony halls which, if it had benefited from the money spent on the unpleasant Aronoff center, would be the answer to the CSO's current problems, and we continue to let it moulder. It's just so dumb
This is Joe Hollmann, President of the Ohio Valley Chapter, American Theatre Organ Society. The RKO Paramount was a different Wurlitzer than the Albee Wurlitzer. The Paramount organ is in a private residence here in Cincinnati. Concerning Emery, it is owned by U.C. and they closed it when the renovation of the OCAS school project next door began in 2000. We found it necessary to remove the Wurlitzer at that time, well knowing we would never get back in there. You are correct...the Emery is falling apart, slow but sure. It is a shame! Luckly, the Wurlitzer that was in Emery, the "Albee Wurlitzer", will enjoy it's new home in Music Hall's Ballroom. Hope this answers some questions.
Joe Hollmann
Michael Wolber corrected me on this item. The organ left the Albee in 68, but the theater was not torn down until 1977:
I thoroughly enjoyed your article on Thursday, 7/12, concerning the relocation of the Wurlitzer organ to Music Hall. I was the Assistant Manager of the Albee Theatre when we closed our doors for the last time on September 17th 1974. You can impress your fellow reporters with the trivia question of what was the last movie shown at "THE" Albee theater. It was the all-time cinema classic "BIG, BAD MAMA" starring Angie Dickinson and William Shatner. It was a low,low, low budget Bonnie and Clyde spin off. The past several years prior to it's closure, the Albee fell victim to showing Kung Fu and Black era movies. We did end up on a "High" note, pun intended, by hosting several wonderful concerts including Aerosmith and Bachman Turner Overdrive. I must correct the date of demolition in your article. You stated that it was torn down in 1968 but it made it to its' 50th birthday in 1977 prior to meeting its day with the wrecking ball.
Anytime I can fondly remember the Albee, it's a great day.
Thanks for making my day!!
Michael J. Wolber
Amelia
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site.
<< Home