Ray Bohr, RCMH Christmas show organ intermission 1978 pt 1(audio)

[bige002000]

This is a wonderful recording.When I was young, my father worked with Mr Bohr's brother, and he got us in when the hall was closed, and doing repairs of some kind. We saw all backstage, but the organ is what impressed me the most. The curtains were opened, and I was that close to it. Becomming an organist myself, I wanted so much to hop on and give it a go. Probably would have been tossed out, but it would have been a memory of a life time.

[djf7]

@bige002000 Do you remember his brother's name? I met one of Ray's brothers, Jerry, a few times when I was a boy.

[DLLMWL]

This is so great. It was December '78 when I moved to NYC, and I was at this show. Can't remember the movie title (can anyone else remember it?), but I certainly remember the Christmas show and Ray's playing between shows. I've been an organ lover since a kid (both Classical and Theater), and I was in "hog heaven" in RCMH listening to the Mighty Wurlitzer. I recorded a couple shows myself. If I can find the old tapes and they're presentable, I'll post them.

[wmcoale]

Thanks for sharing these great recordings!!!

[djf7]

@wmcoale Your quite welcome.

[winningbyrd]

You're wc. I remember Ray saying the motor moving the console was low rpm(?) really powerful. Now the console has plug in capability and can be placed on the main stage and would therefore be able to move the total of 60' of the elevators. Did you know that during WWII RCMH was guarded by the US Armed Forces? I believe it was the hydroloc technology of the elevators they guarded since it was similar/exactly what was used on aircraft carriers.

[djf7]

@winningbyrd...yes, but not until recently during one of the backstage tours of the Hall, did I learn of it.

[winningbyrd]

Repairs - fortunately for us RCMH started using one of the extras to sit at the second console during the big production numbers when they brought out the 2 consoles. Since the south console was not used to play they started robbing parts to keep the north console working. BUT even at Jack Mahlmann's event, which was after the entire instrument was restored and updated the artists were still restricted in what they could do. Half the organ is a whole city block away from the other half.

[winningbyrd]

To get to the console the organist either had to walk out and slide behind the curtain OR open a trap door and crawl in over the pedals - not nice when the crescendo is on!!!

To those disappointed in the lack of variety of sound 1. theater organ stylings have changed drastically in these 33 years. I think Kimbal should have checked the Wurlitzer scaling since the organ does not fill the room well without amplification - it does seat almost 6K. AND this is about the time tt REALLY needed repairs

[3dwurli]

@winningbyrd Kimball should have checked wurlitzer scalings? Kimball were originally going to build the instrument, yes, but in the end it was wurlitzer who built it, with the spec based upon the atlantic city convention hall ballroom kimball. It was up to wurlitzer to decide what scalings to use.

[winningbyrd]

I remember Ray talking about being so nervous coming out of the singers' cubbyhole and the motor did not shut off when he pushed the button. He played that whole set fearing he might end up in the orchestra pit.

Then there were the times Leibert of Ward 'forgot' to bring the crescendo down. Why a problem? Well the console was NOT meant to go into those wall openings. In fact they did not fit into the wall openings When the curtain was closed it bulged around the console.

[djf7]

@winningbyrd...thank you for your comments. I have a radio interview with Ray on tape and he mentions the trap door and crawling across the bass pedals to get to the console. He also mentions the time he jumped off the console when the organ stop wasnt working and that there were big chains on the back of it to prevent it from going forward. I'll post it soon.

[manga12]

sounds nice, but too much of the same voicing, there are other insterments on the thing that can be used to really bring out the organs abillities it is the largest wurlitzer in the world of its type. there are bigger organs but this is the largest of its type, sounds nice and flowy too bad there are lack of organists that can play a good theater organ today.

[GeeTeeLLC]

Went to a ATOS concert in the 70's, Ray did not do the concert, but played for 20 min. or so to 'open the house' for the first stage show that day. Ray's playing was the best part of the entire morning concert!

[orpedal]

Ray was my favourite player.I played aboard a cruise ship in 1970 and when docked I made a dash to RCMH to see him.The most inventive player since Sydney Torch.

[Larsky1010]

What a pleasure to hear Bohr's playing after all these years!

[521wurlitzer]

2nd song is "Wedding of The Painted Dolls"

[chem100]

I was there. This is priceless. Thank you. I remember Bohr's style very well. Sends chills down my spine. It did then. It does now.

[djf7]

Thanks for the comment! I have a few more tapes of Ray that I will be uploading in the next few days.