What a lovely sound those pistons make and from my memory (having last played a Wurlitzer with its original electro-pneumatic action some 50 years ago) there were incredibly fast and reliable. Beautiful, beautiful organs.
I studied and played classical for thirty-five years. Then I started studying theatre organ and fell in love! I still can play Bach in my sleep---but Hoagy Charmicheal has captured my heart and mind as well---and The Mighty Wurlitzer and all the great theatre organs are to be treasured...and I am privilidged to benefit from the wisdom and work of those who have preserved her.
OMG what a fabulous Tour , Ya dont get a tour like this sitting in the theater .THANKYOU VERY MUCH. What a fabulous instrument , I'am well gobsmack at the intriksies of the instrument Just the R&D to make that work WOW. especiallt in the blower room those are the old motors heavy made to last. I'll bet that organ could Lump the building with its power . the organ is the KING of instruments.Pls Make a video and make it ROAR! All the best gurkirpal singh
Great. Here on the East Coast, Atlantic City, NJ. Whelan Boardwalk Hall features a 1928 Midmer - Losh organ , with over 33, 000 pipes , 450 ranks and thousands of effects.
Thank you! I've been "inside" a Wurlitzer at the Old Town Music Hall - what an incredible experience. Whoever shot the video while the organ was playing was probably still having ringing in their ears for a week. But was worth it - terrific video!
This must be THE best demo of a theatre organ ever each & every note crystal clear reckon the recording engineer deserves full Mark's Gordon Exmouth UK
Very nice organ and video presentation. The Berkeley Community Theatre practically sits on the Hayward fault; has the building been improved from its WWII design? One can only wonder how safe this treasure is.
@ TheBaritoneCrooner, The version of "That's Entertainment" you hear near the end is myself playing my arrangement on the Berkeley organ for one of our concert programs. I also produced the video.
I have a CD entitled "Farewell to the Fox" by Tiny James and Everett Nourse recorded when the Fox closed. Tiny James was my best friends' father and the inspiration to become an organist. LOVE my CD!!
Anyone working in the chambers while the blowers are running must wear heavy ear protectors (not just ear plugs). It is routine for maintenance and tuning work.
We have both consoles and occasionally bring out the Toledo french style console for special concerts and a couple of artists have alternated playing from one or the other console in their programs, as a novelty. I actually prefer the Toledo console, since everything is within easy reach and I can see the music on the rack! We didn't have the other one made, it was restored from the Center Theatre in Rockefeller Center and is a clone of the one still used at Radio City Music Hall.
This is one of the best videos ever made to demonstrate the organ, showing what takes place in the chambers. Could you make another one showing the difference between the reeds, strings etc and show the diffrence in the sound they make. Well done.
@jonasclark I have only heard it described as a French style, but in any case, there is a pretty good photo of it (and more) on our website, NorCalTOS [.] org, just click on "Our Photo & Video Galleries", then on "History of Our Organ in Words and Pictures" [evidently TH-cam won't let me post a URL here].
Nicely done on the overview of this 42-rank One-Man Orchestra. Got me wondering whether Allen Organ Company has any order(s) pending for a four-manual, ~2kW Renaissance Quantum Unit Orchestra derived from this Wurlitzer opus....
As far as I know (if someone knows better, please correct me), the building has not been retrofitted, but it's about as solid a structure as I've seen. Not being a civil engineer, I won't even attempt to judge its ability to withstand seismic shocks, but to all appearances it is at least as sturdy as any theater construction I've seen.
Curious to know if the person who filmed inside the pipe chambers while the organ was being played was able to hear anything for a month after taking that footage...
The music at the end is from the auditorium. Filming inside the chambers while being played is very dangeroud to the hearing, plus you wouldn't hear any discernable tune as everything is all one volume, and there are no reverb or accoustics in there.
are there any 32ft stops on this console.. and are they resultants or actual 32s. One thing that makes me very happy is they have kept the console WINDED... for the combination action . i love this. i hope to one day visit this instrument. Beautiful console.
What a lovely sound those pistons make and from my memory (having last played a Wurlitzer with its original electro-pneumatic action some 50 years ago) there were incredibly fast and reliable. Beautiful, beautiful organs.
One of the grandest Wurlitzers out there.
I studied and played classical for thirty-five years. Then I started studying theatre organ and fell in love! I still can play Bach in my sleep---but Hoagy Charmicheal has captured my heart and mind as well---and The Mighty Wurlitzer and all the great theatre organs are to be treasured...and I am privilidged to benefit from the wisdom and work of those who have preserved her.
I seldom see such extensive looks into the chambers of a theatre organ just from the internet. Thank you for sharing.
Everything is in tip top shape! Amazing job of maintenance!
OMG, what a wonderful video!!! So much rich and didatic! Thank tooy so so much!
OMG what a fabulous Tour , Ya dont get a tour like this sitting in the theater .THANKYOU VERY MUCH. What a fabulous instrument , I'am well gobsmack at the intriksies of the instrument Just the R&D to make that work WOW. especiallt in the blower room those are the old motors heavy made to last. I'll bet that organ could Lump the building with its power . the organ is the KING of instruments.Pls Make a video and make it ROAR! All the best gurkirpal singh
What a marvel of engineering,everything that God has created is for His Glory.
Great. Here on the East Coast, Atlantic City, NJ. Whelan Boardwalk Hall features a 1928 Midmer - Losh organ , with over 33, 000 pipes , 450 ranks and thousands of effects.
Thank you! I've been "inside" a Wurlitzer at the Old Town Music Hall - what an incredible experience. Whoever shot the video while the organ was playing was probably still having ringing in their ears for a week. But was worth it - terrific video!
This must be THE best demo of a theatre organ ever each & every note crystal clear reckon the recording engineer deserves full Mark's
Gordon Exmouth UK
Very nice organ and video presentation.
The Berkeley Community Theatre practically sits on the Hayward fault; has the building been improved from its WWII design? One can only wonder how safe this treasure is.
@ TheBaritoneCrooner, The version of "That's Entertainment" you hear near the end is myself playing my arrangement on the Berkeley organ for one of our concert programs. I also produced the video.
Impressive! One day I'll come over for a visit. Thanks.
I have a CD entitled "Farewell to the Fox" by Tiny James and Everett Nourse recorded when the Fox closed. Tiny James was my best friends' father and the inspiration to become an organist. LOVE my CD!!
That thing is awesome!
I like those teeny tiny metal pipes. They must be such HIGH notes!
Anyone working in the chambers while the blowers are running must wear heavy ear protectors (not just ear plugs). It is routine for maintenance and tuning work.
We have both consoles and occasionally bring out the Toledo french style console for special concerts and a couple of artists have alternated playing from one or the other console in their programs, as a novelty. I actually prefer the Toledo console, since everything is within easy reach and I can see the music on the rack!
We didn't have the other one made, it was restored from the Center Theatre in Rockefeller Center and is a clone of the one still used at Radio City Music Hall.
Amazing creation!
absolutely fantastic. You guys/gals did a fine job.
This is awesome! Thank you for sharing!
This is one of the best videos ever made to demonstrate the organ, showing what takes place in the chambers. Could you make another one showing the difference between the reeds, strings etc and show the diffrence in the sound they make. Well done.
Excellent video btw...
WOW - fantastic! Thanks, very much, for sharing this one! As curator of another big pipe organ installation, I'm jealous... LOL
MARVELOUS vid, explains this beast to all in a easy way. Excellent, keep her going!
This is a very comprehensive video of this fine organ. I wouldn't mind seeing a video of the big Diaphones back stage with their "trapdoors".
Terrific video. Thank you for posting it.
Delightful! Thank you!
All of this in a bunch of organ chambers? I can only say wow.
@jonasclark I have only heard it described as a French style, but in any case, there is a pretty good photo of it (and more) on our website, NorCalTOS [.] org, just click on "Our Photo & Video Galleries", then on "History of Our Organ in Words and Pictures" [evidently TH-cam won't let me post a URL here].
Nicely done on the overview of this 42-rank One-Man Orchestra. Got me wondering whether Allen Organ Company has any order(s) pending for a four-manual, ~2kW Renaissance Quantum Unit Orchestra derived from this Wurlitzer opus....
Excellent! T'hanks for the upload.
As far as I know (if someone knows better, please correct me), the building has not been retrofitted, but it's about as solid a structure as I've seen. Not being a civil engineer, I won't even attempt to judge its ability to withstand seismic shocks, but to all appearances it is at least as sturdy as any theater construction I've seen.
Fantastic!!
OMG what a massive musical instrument, and the turbines look like a pulse jet engine from WW2. Love the beautiful sound !
The Toledo console is actually a Roman-style, correct? Is there a good, clear photo of it anywhere online? I can't find one.
I am told that they haven't contacted us with any proposed interest in our instrument.
@jaredini: "That's Entertainment"
Did i read that right 40 TONS of instrument????
Schitterend Excellent
10:52 what is the title of the music please 😊 ?
That's Entertaiment
Question. Why is the master xylophone smaller than the normal xyophone?
Curious to know if the person who filmed inside the pipe chambers while the organ was being played was able to hear anything for a month after taking that footage...
The music at the end is from the auditorium. Filming inside the chambers while being played is very dangeroud to the hearing, plus you wouldn't hear any discernable tune as everything is all one volume, and there are no reverb or accoustics in there.
Bravo !!
Who's version of That's Entertainment did you use?
are there any 32ft stops on this console.. and are they resultants or actual 32s. One thing that makes me very happy is they have kept the console WINDED... for the combination action . i love this. i hope to one day visit this instrument. Beautiful console.
32' "Trap Door" Diaphone (6 pipes for 12 notes) + Resultants on Flutes & Tibias.
screw MIDI.... I want one of these !
I'd recommend getting a digital one, unless you want to spend enough money to buy a house, and a house big enough for one.
yoyoo50: Where would you put it??
Some people dedicate whole rooms in their houses to have pipe organs. Just look up a video of one.
polikwaptiwa che a good place for one is your local theater.
miditzer.org/ Fantastic Free-Programm
Why are there hardly any public performances of this organ??
Nor-Cal ATOS Phone 510-644-2707
What does the little dots above each piston tab mean
Where exactly is it located?
a great big organ 4 manuals and 32 note pedals how many stops and ranks
Also a 32-foot Diaphone rank! Total of 42 ranks, some 300+ stops.
great stuff a diaphone adds umf
What is the name of that track? Can't think of it for the lifr of me.
That’s Entertainment
I have played a theter organ befor
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