I have a very interesting book I was able to get on amazon “The Radio City Music Hall” by Charles Francisco. It was from 1979. It has a history of the property, the ideas for the hall, the building of the hall etc. Also, it has a list of every movie that played there and when. The book is out of print but I found a few places that still have a few new ones in stock. I just wish that it had the story behind the Wurlitzer organ. I know it myself and it is a very interesting one. I hope you can get a copy.
Drove by yesterday and saw a construction fence all around the empty lot with big construction vehicles inside. No clue as to what will be built there.
To answer the question from MarkDHite from 2016. Yes, the organ is still there under the stage extension. Members of the New York Theatre Organ Society have in the past offered our services to bring the organ back to life but the Beacon wants no part of it. I’m just glad they haven’t thrown it into a dumpster.
The new date to start construction is November 1st. If they start then the construction supervisor states that they should be done around August 2019. Meanwhile, my crew and I will keep the organ in shape for the opening.
Did anyone read “An affectionate history of the world’s greatest theater” by Charles Fransisco Published in 1979. I found it at my local library. I found out that it had not been taken out in years so I asked if I could buy it from them. The rats kept putting me off until I found it new on amazon so I bought it new from them. It’s a very good book with lots of photos from the beginning to 1978. It also has a listing of every movie that played there and the year it was shown.
Last Thursday they had the ground-breaking ceremony. The huge scoreboard was lowered. I performed several selections on the Wurlitzer for the those in attendance. All contractors involved will make sure that no harm will come to the organ during the conversion.
The New York Theatre Society is planning an organ concert at the former Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, October 8th at 3 PM. This will be the last time the organ can be heard until after the renovation which is scheduled to start very soon. I’ll put up more details as they come in.
The first Christmas show I ever saw at RCMH was in 1958. I was taking accordion lessons for only 2 months. In the stage show presentation Santa came out on stage playing the accordion. I turned to my mother and said that someday I’d do that. It took 34 years but I did perform on stage on keyboards in a show there and mom was in the audience. I am now curator of the Wurlitzer Organ at the old Brooklyn Paramount and one thing I’d like to do is play the 4/58 Wurlitzer at RCMH.
There was a silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” done with the organ which went over very well except that it was the day before Sandy came and that kept people away but quite a few did show up. The last concert that was open to the public was I don’t even know how many years ago. It is hoped that a concert and 2 or 3 silent movies will be put on each year. Let’s see.
Do you want to hear the Mighty Wurlitzer at LIU Brooklyn, (The Brooklyn Paramount)? On Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. An evening of pops, show tues, and light classical will be performed by Theatre Organist Jelani Eddington. For more information go to
www.nytos.org
Maybe not anytime soon but you can still come and hear the mighty Wurlitzer roar. An organ concert is being planned for the middle of February. More details latter.
Here’s some news!! The New York Theatre Organ Society will present the 1925 Horror Movie Classic “The Phantom of the Opera” Starring Lon Chaney at the Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 3PM. The Brooklyn Paramount Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ will be played with the movie. General Admission will be $10.00. $8.00 for Seniors.
To Adam S, there is one photo some place on the internet which does show a small piece of the first mezzanine. It was in Life magazzine right after the first conversion. The photo shows a student jumping over a gym horse and you can just make out part of the mezz. You’ll have to do a web. search to find it. It’s the only photo I ever saw which has the mezz. in it.
To LuisV, There will be a One Credit Course/Conference at the old Brooklyn Paramount tomorrow, April 15 that is open and free to the public. We’ll see if there is any talk re: the above. For more info see the Brooklyn Paramount page.
For Hank.sykes, Many years ago I read an article that stated they were water. When I performed there I went down to the bottom of the pit and found it so clean that you could do surgery down there.
I remember going to see that show. Long lines around the block waiting to get in as usual. When I buy tickets for the Christmas show now I tell the people in the box office what the price was back then and they look at me as if I’m nuts!!
I have a very interesting book I was able to get on amazon “The Radio City Music Hall” by Charles Francisco. It was from 1979. It has a history of the property, the ideas for the hall, the building of the hall etc. Also, it has a list of every movie that played there and when. The book is out of print but I found a few places that still have a few new ones in stock. I just wish that it had the story behind the Wurlitzer organ. I know it myself and it is a very interesting one. I hope you can get a copy.
Drove by yesterday and saw a construction fence all around the empty lot with big construction vehicles inside. No clue as to what will be built there.
Just a update. So far, construction has NOT started.
To answer the question from MarkDHite from 2016. Yes, the organ is still there under the stage extension. Members of the New York Theatre Organ Society have in the past offered our services to bring the organ back to life but the Beacon wants no part of it. I’m just glad they haven’t thrown it into a dumpster.
The new date to start construction is November 1st. If they start then the construction supervisor states that they should be done around August 2019. Meanwhile, my crew and I will keep the organ in shape for the opening.
Did anyone read “An affectionate history of the world’s greatest theater” by Charles Fransisco Published in 1979. I found it at my local library. I found out that it had not been taken out in years so I asked if I could buy it from them. The rats kept putting me off until I found it new on amazon so I bought it new from them. It’s a very good book with lots of photos from the beginning to 1978. It also has a listing of every movie that played there and the year it was shown.
Last Thursday they had the ground-breaking ceremony. The huge scoreboard was lowered. I performed several selections on the Wurlitzer for the those in attendance. All contractors involved will make sure that no harm will come to the organ during the conversion.
Nothing going on yet. From time to time I run into the people involved but the start date keeps rolling back.
The New York Theatre Society is planning an organ concert at the former Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, October 8th at 3 PM. This will be the last time the organ can be heard until after the renovation which is scheduled to start very soon. I’ll put up more details as they come in.
The first Christmas show I ever saw at RCMH was in 1958. I was taking accordion lessons for only 2 months. In the stage show presentation Santa came out on stage playing the accordion. I turned to my mother and said that someday I’d do that. It took 34 years but I did perform on stage on keyboards in a show there and mom was in the audience. I am now curator of the Wurlitzer Organ at the old Brooklyn Paramount and one thing I’d like to do is play the 4/58 Wurlitzer at RCMH.
I’m not sure when the Park closed but I remember seeing “Old Yella” (Walt Disney)there about 1957.
It’s now just a hole in the ground.
Passed by yesterday. They are taking the building down.
You can now take a video tour of the 4/26 Wurlitzer Organ that is still there on UTube at: http://youtu.be/_PygQbt2ios
There was a silent film “The Phantom of the Opera” done with the organ which went over very well except that it was the day before Sandy came and that kept people away but quite a few did show up. The last concert that was open to the public was I don’t even know how many years ago. It is hoped that a concert and 2 or 3 silent movies will be put on each year. Let’s see.
Do you want to hear the Mighty Wurlitzer at LIU Brooklyn, (The Brooklyn Paramount)? On Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 7:00 P.M. An evening of pops, show tues, and light classical will be performed by Theatre Organist Jelani Eddington. For more information go to www.nytos.org
Not such a big deal but the organ for the Kings is a Robert Morton.
Maybe not anytime soon but you can still come and hear the mighty Wurlitzer roar. An organ concert is being planned for the middle of February. More details latter.
Here’s some news!! The New York Theatre Organ Society will present the 1925 Horror Movie Classic “The Phantom of the Opera” Starring Lon Chaney at the Brooklyn Paramount on Sunday, October 28th 2012 at 3PM. The Brooklyn Paramount Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ will be played with the movie. General Admission will be $10.00. $8.00 for Seniors.
There is now a fence around the place with a sign that says “Coming soon, Olive Garden Resturant.
Here is a link to a larger photo.
http://gothamist.com/2011/07/15/flashback_the_paramount_theater_in.php#photo-21
To Adam S, there is one photo some place on the internet which does show a small piece of the first mezzanine. It was in Life magazzine right after the first conversion. The photo shows a student jumping over a gym horse and you can just make out part of the mezz. You’ll have to do a web. search to find it. It’s the only photo I ever saw which has the mezz. in it.
To LuisV, There will be a One Credit Course/Conference at the old Brooklyn Paramount tomorrow, April 15 that is open and free to the public. We’ll see if there is any talk re: the above. For more info see the Brooklyn Paramount page.
For Hank.sykes, Many years ago I read an article that stated they were water. When I performed there I went down to the bottom of the pit and found it so clean that you could do surgery down there.
I remember going to see that show. Long lines around the block waiting to get in as usual. When I buy tickets for the Christmas show now I tell the people in the box office what the price was back then and they look at me as if I’m nuts!!