Society for the Preservation of Music Hall Presents Happy Holidays... 12/15

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) is pleased to announce the return of Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer to Cincinnati's Music Hall on Thursday, December 15 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. The popular holiday concert, being presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society, sold-out its two performances in December 2010.

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.ORG, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center and Music Hall Ticket Offices. For group discount tickets (ten or more), call (513) 977-4157.

There's nothing quite like the unique sound of the Albee Theater's Mighty Wurlitzer - an orchestra and more all in one organ! Acclaimed theater-organist Ken Double will perform holiday favorites with all of the bells, whistles, and special effects that only an instrument as grand as the Mighty Wurlitzer can create! Special guests will include the Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor and, direct from the North Pole, Santa Claus. This memorable holiday concert promises to be a fun and festive event for the entire family.

"The excitement, joy, and fun of last year's sold-out Mighty Wurlitzer holiday concert will definitely be repeated this season," said Don Siekmann, SPMH President. "Everyone in the audience - from young to old - loved the experience. The uplifting music of the Mighty Wurlitzer, festive decorations, fabulous children's choir, and special appearance by Santa will have everyone leaving Music Hall with a bounce in their step - smiling, singing, and truly happy they were with family and friends at Cincinnati's newest holiday treat!"

The Mighty Wurlitzer was installed in the ornate Albee Theater on Fountain Square in December 1927 - one of only 2,200 theatre-organs produced at that time to accompany silent feature films. When talkies took over in 1929, the theatre organ was mainly silenced. The Albee organ was donated to the Emery Theatre in 1969 (where it played for movies and other events) and was partially rebuilt by the Ohio Valley Organ Club. It was removed from the Emery in 1999, and put into storage.

 

The leadership at SPMH thought the historic Music Hall Ballroom would be an ideal location for the instrument, and in June 2007, Ronald F. Wehmeier, Inc., Pipe Organ Service in Cincinnati was contacted to completely rebuild and install the Wurlitzer. A donor foundation funded the entire project in the amount of $1,410,000.00. Only a small number of Wurlitzers of this size still exist, and Cincinnati (the home of The Wurlitzer Company) is one of the few cities in the country to have an instrument of this quality.

The Wurlitzer was expanded in tonal colors and effects, from 19 ranks of pipes to 31 ranks (a rank is made up of 61 pipes, and represents orchestral sounds, such as trumpets, flutes, tubas, strings, etc.). A full array of percussion effects is also present - xylophone, marimba, glockenspiel, chimes, and even a large Steinway grand piano - all playable from the giant three keyboard and pedal console, decorated in 22-karat gold leaf. Wind for the pipes is provided by a 15 HP high pressure turbine, the electrical switching is controlled by computer, and pipes range in size from 16 feet to the size of a pencil. In addition, the Wurlitzer is now fully computerized, so that it can be played without an organist through a digital input system.

Ken Double
For more than thirty years, Ken has been heard on radio and seen on television as a sportscaster, and since 1978, has been at the console of the great theatre pipe organs, indeed working hard to entertain his audiences. Born in Chicago the last of six boys, his love of sports was just a normal part of growing up. Ken parlayed that into a degree in Radio-TV from Butler University in Indianapolis, and enjoyed a career that has included play-by-play in the NHL, AHL, NBA, major college sports, the Indianapolis 500, and more.

But even after thirty-plus years of broadcasting, Ken is still better known in certain circles for his talents at the pipe organ. During his organ concert career, Ken has performed all over the world, including stops in Seattle, WA; Wilmington, DE; Tampa, FL; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; the famous Casa Loma in Toronto; and three six-week tours throughout Australia. In addition to his hundreds of concerts, he has recorded numerous CDs, including The Music of Casa Loma - the first-ever CD and first release in more than thirty years on the great Wurlitzer in the Great Hall of Toronto's historic castle.

For a full bio, visit Ken's website at http://kendoubleentertainment.com.

Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer is grateful for the generous support of The Walter and Olivia Kiebach Charitable Foundation (presenting sponsor) and WMKV-FM (media partner).

The Fairview-Clifton Kinderchor
A program of the Fairview-Clifton German Language School, the Kinderchor has become one of the most popular and talented children's choirs in the city. The members of this German-language youth ensemble audition to be included in the acclaimed choir, which has performed to appreciative audiences throughout the Greater Cincinnati area.
http://fairview.cps-k12.org/german_program.html

The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall
The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall (SPMH) is a non-profit organization that provides ongoing financial and volunteer support toward maintaining and improving Cincinnati's historic Music Hall. SPMH members are volunteers from all walks of life who are dedicated to the continuing preservation of Music Hall as a national historic monument and promoting it as one of the world's foremost performing arts, entertainment, and rental facilities. www.soc-pres-music-hall.com

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