Monthly Archives: November 2014

CINCINNATI, OH – 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 11 at 10:30 AM and 7:00 PM. Now in its fifth year, the popular holiday concert is being presented in cooperation with the Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Organ Society

Tickets are on sale now at www.CincinnatiArts.org, (513) 621-ARTS [2787], and the Aronoff Center or Music Hall Ticket Office. For groups of 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 Mark Herman 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 guest dancers from the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy will perform three of the most popular dances from The Nutcracker – “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Trepak” (the Russian dance), and “Waltz Of The Flowers.” Relive your memories of yesterday as you create new memories of tomorrow with your friends and family!

“The holidays are always the most joyous time of the year,” said Don Siekmann, President of The Society for the Preservation of Music Hall.  “This season, the talented young dancers from Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy, who will perform some of the world’s most beautiful holiday dances in such an exquisite manner, accompanied by an outstanding theater organist, will certainly add to your holiday spirit!”

The Mighty Wurlitzer
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 Theater 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 $1.41 million.  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 – 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.

Mark Herman
Born in 1987, Mark Herman is one of America’s busiest young theatre organists, performing over 30 concerts and silent film presentations each year across the US and abroad. In July of 2012, he was named the American Theatre Organ Society’s Organist of the Year and is the youngest person ever to receive the prestigious honor.

He studied theatre organ with John Ferguson of Indianapolis, who is recognized worldwide for his skills as a teacher. His classical piano studies were with Christine Freeman of Fort Wayne, Indiana. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theatre Arts/Management from DePaul University in Chicago. Mark currently resides in Los Angeles, where he is President and Tonal Director of the Los Angeles Organ Company, the Allen Organ dealer for the Greater Los Angeles Area. He is in demand as a voicing specialist and tonal consultant for Allen Organs and is proud to be an Allen Artist, showcasing new Allen Organs in the US and beyond.

For more information, visit Mark’s website at www.markhermanproductions.com.

Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy
Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy, the region’s only pre-professional ballet training program, combines superior instruction, unparalleled performance opportunities, and a strong connection to Cincinnati Ballet.  The talented young dancers from the Academy are in great demand and are performing their interpretation of highlights from the The Nutcracker throughout the Cincinnati area this holiday season.  During Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer, they will be performing three of the most popular dances in The Nutcracker –“Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy,” “Trepak” (the Russian dance) and “Waltz Of The Flowers.”

Happy Holidays with the Mighty Wurlitzer Radio Partner: WMKV-FM