Lew Williams - Radio City Music Hall Concert

[carterdriggs]

Dear Lew, I think you're truly amazing in every way!

[tinseltrolley]

You might want to try checking the Atlantic City Convention Hall's 4m/55r Kimball organ in the Ballroom. It's thought to have been the true prototype of the Music Hall organ, since both are so similar. Also, the New York City AGO chapter has interesting information on the Music Hall and Center Theatre organs. Just look for the NYC Organ Project pages.

[Gaygarious]

Why don't the officials have this beauty repaired????

[EstateManor]

And this is one of the MOST DIFFICULT instruments to play. Like the great tracker organs of the baroque era, the organ exacts much physical exertion from the player. In the case of Radio City, the long distance between the chamber locations poses a great challenge to the fine organists that perform there. Mr. Moelmann is a great master as was Dick Leibert.

[521wurlitzer]

Herd a story from the late Dick Loderhose that when George Wright was playing at the New York Paramount in the 1940s' he was asked by the Rockefellers to try out the RCMH organ. He played it for a very short time and told them in no uncertain terms that he wanted no more to do with it. Never herd this story form him, but wouldn't doubt it.

[ziggyboi1995]

Wasn't he a student of Eddie Weaver?

[TrjnMgnms10]

I agree with you 100% StuartLou!

[StuartLou]

Sorry- this is a theater organ.. let's hear THEATER ORGAN. I grew up listening to Dick Leibert at the Music Hall. Guess i'm spoiled.

[3dwurli]

@StuartLou its a concert organ. Its not entirely designed as a theatre organ. As I understand it, its based upon the Atlantic City 55 rank Kimball.

[allegheny48]

@3dwurli

The RCMH Wurlitzer organ is supposedly an expanded version of the 34 rank Kimball in the Roxy Theatre. Since Roxy was opening Radio City he wanted to duplicate & expand the Roxy Kimball. The original spec was drawn up by Kimball but wound up going to Wurlitzer. I can understand why George Wright wanted nothing to do with it. The 34 rank Wurlitzer that resided in the RKO (later Center) Theatre was a true late model Wurlitzer. Its console is now in the Berkeley Center.

[edonmusic]

This is the best live recording I've heard of this organ in a very long time. A difficult organ to play indeed for the conventional artists of today. This due to it's being coupled differently from other Wurlitzers and most other popular theatre pipe organs. My understandng is that currently there are many notes 'out', so congrats to Lew for upholding the dignity of this beautiful instrument. A note of graditude to Jack also for this concert.

[DickLiebert]

This guy is good (but possibly a little fast) Anyway, I LIKE it!

[ReneeNme]

I have a Casio keyboard that I bought for $161 dollars that can do everything you hear here and more. It even has a metal detection device built onboard than can detect gold deposits over 5,000 miles away.

Excuse me I must go, I can see the men in the funny white coats coming down the hall. Time for my medication.

[irkibby]

@ReneeNme

Who needs the real thing when you can have a shit approximation?

[bmhall100]

@ReneeNme u cant do all these things on you casio keyboard like its being done here. Nor will the casio have the same sound, or power, depth, and versitility

[ReneeNme]

@bmhall100 It was meant as a joke. A Casio with a gold detector ? 5,000 miles ?

[bmhall100]

@ReneeNme of course, i have one of those too :p

[MR87IROCZ]

@ReneeNme you can get rich off of the gold. that is a money finder.

[bombarde1701]

I hear they dont play the big Wurlitzer at Radio City much these days and that the organ isnt in good condition..

[LittleItalianGal33]

bombarde1701,

What happened with the Wurlitzer organ at Radio City Music Hall? Is it broken? Please reply. :))))

[tregnier279]

@LittleItalianGal33 From what I understand, the organ is in poor (read, in need of quite a bit of restoration and repair work) but playable condition.

[LittleItalianGal33]

@tregnier279 When was it that Lew Williams played songs from Oklahoma(the musical) on the Radio City Music Hall pipe organ? :))))

[tregnier279]

@LittleItalianGal33 I can't say I know about that. :/ I'm sure someone else (like the video uploader) could tell you when this performance was given.

[32Diaph]

@LittleItalianGal33

A couple of years ago, Jack Mollman indulged himself by renting out RMCH for the evening. Jack invited all his "friends" to come and hear what he had lined up talent wise (after paying $50 ahead). Walt Strony and a fellow from Great Britain who played the score from Oliver, were also on the talent roster(as well as Jack of course. The organ was amped into the auditorium as it had been in the 60's and 60' giving the organ a lot more presence.

[Organsk8er]

Wow...that is one big, beautiful console!

[HAHalo3SargeXX]

Does anyone know where I can get a copy

of Christmas songs played on this Organ?I believe Dik Liebert did a double sided Album

awile back...

[raybohr]

Try ebray. They're listed from time to time as well as others done on the Music Hall's Grand WurliTzer.

[KE5RHD]

Bring grad of O.U. it was delightful to see the opening bars of Boola Boola which was borrowed for Boomer Sooner. Then he goes right into, "Oklahoma!" The first performance I heard on the Radio City organ was E. Power Biggs. Biggs had a vendetta against Virgil Fox. My brother found my Biggs tapes and told me that Biggs thought we were unsophisticated. Lew sits in a state of poetic irony as Biggs sat at this console and lobbed subtle insults at Fox. "It's a 'Real' pipe organ!" he said.

[theatreorganbuilder]

Lew, you were wonderful! Thanks! Jack, thank you for the best night ever. I'm so glad I was there.

[DickLiebert]

GREAT job Lew!! Although I couldn't be there in person I was with ALL of you in spirit. The Grand WurliTzer never sounded better!

DL

[theatreorganman]

Lew, Rosa and I are very proud of you. As usual you know how to play around dead notes, non-speaking stops and the like, and still you make grand music! Thanks for sharing a little music history with us...John McCall

[chem100]

Lew is great, but I don't understand. I thought the organ was restored in 1999?

[m4dan]

Yeah but theatre pipe organs need CONSTANT maintainence.

[SyrPipeOrg]

Not necessarily. If properly rebuilt and regularly maintained, you shouldn't have dead notes or stops with any frequency. The only way I can see this happening is if you're still relying on the original Wurlitzer relays and wiring, which do have intermittent contact issues that can sometimes go unresolved less replacing the entire system. The action design and construction are nearly flawless.

[Organgrinder010]

I wish I could have been there. It is such an inspiration.

[earlph]

Lew told me it was a success for all players involved and they enjoyed it for at least a 1.000 % !!

Let's keep the Theatre Organ ALIVE !!!!!!

[ny1news]

Too late.

[W4KSR]

I wonder if you sold DVD copies of the concert, it might help you recoup some of the money you spent on your dream of playing the Radio City Music Hall Wurlitzer. My dream is to play one of the Fox Specials. Maybe someday!

[shnewsman]

If you know anything about theatre pipe organ; $50 a ticket was a bargain to see that show with those players. Sorry I couldn't be there. I hope Jack made some money back. It was a daring move to rent out RCMH for a day--but I probably would've done the same thing. As Victor Kiam once said; "I liked it so much--I bought the company!"