Atlantic City

[stevetil]

No, you are correct, I have been a member of the
Atlantic City Convention Hall Organ Society for
several years now. Dues is only $20 /year.

They have done an analysis of several
divisions, but by no means all of them.

http://www.acchos.org/

This website now lists all 1235 stop tabs and
also has a list of all 320 voices (449 ranks).

The Wanamaker organ also has a fan club
and publishes a newletter. At least the
Wanamaker organ gets played regularly.

[KleinErzahler]

>>
The Wanamaker organ also has a fan club
and publishes a newletter. At least the
Wanamaker organ gets played regularly.
<<

Good Morning,

If there were only one thing that made me happy about the Midmer-Losh, it would be this: when the organ is restored, it will be very accessible to the public. Thanks to the new A.C. Convention Center, a lot of the pressure has been taken off of the hall, and so there would theoretically seem to be more time available to fit organ functions in. Not only that, one could almost give a tour of the whole instrument without disturbing anyone in such a large space!

Who wouldn't want to visit the World's Largest Organ; especially when faced with the prospect of blowing their last dollar at one of the casinos! (C:

- Nate

[wurlitzerman3]

I'll apologize here as I'm fairly new here and don't possess a great deal of organ training, etc... but am I correct in thinking that the fact that the 2nd touch capabilty on the ML organ is a fairly rare thing to find on a classical/symphonic organ?

[sesquialtera16]

Boardwalk Hall may not fall

County claims ownership, opposes replacing building with casino

By DONALD WITTKOWSKI Staff Writer, (609) 272-7258

Published: Thursday, November 23, 2006

ATLANTIC CITY — Legal impediments concerning the ownership of Boardwalk Hall could doom efforts by gaming moguls Donald Trump and Steve Wynn to demolish the historic building for a $3 billion megacasino.

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, who oversees the public agency that owns Boardwalk Hall, said he opposes any plan to raze the nearly 80-year-old structure.

“As far as I'm concerned, before anyone starts thinking about demolishing Boardwalk Hall, they have to talk to us first,” Levinson said of the Atlantic County Improvement Authority.

Gov. Jon S. Corzine, who met recently with Wynn to discuss the project, seems to be backing away from any talk of tearing down one of Atlantic City's most revered landmarks for casino development.

“Any discussion about efforts to move or alter Boardwalk Hall is premature,” Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley said in a statement. “The Administration understands that there must be a balance between the historic preservation needs of Atlantic City and the desire to complete its transformation into a globally competitive (tourist) destination. Any decision going forward will be made with that in mind.”


[http://ads.nandomedia.com/RealMedia/...ememorial.org]

Angered by press reports that Wynn was seeking Corzine's approval to demolish Boardwalk Hall, Levinson had his staff research the building's legal agreements and discovered that Atlantic County retains ownership.

“We own it,” he said. “That's where it stands right now.”

All along, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, a state agency controlled by the governor, has been claiming ownership of Boardwalk Hall. Levinson's research, however, indicates that the sports authority leases the building from the Atlantic County Improvement Authority.

Records show the improvement authority bought what was then known as Convention Hall in December 1983 from Atlantic City for $1.9 million. In 1992, the improvement authority approved two 35-year leases with the sports authority for the building's main East Hall and its 1970s-era annex, West Hall. Two years later, West Hall was sold to the sports authority for the nominal price of $1, but the improvement authority retained ownership of East Hall.

East Hall is the historically and architecturally significant portion of the Boardwalk Hall complex. Constructed without pillars or support columns, it claimed the title as the world's largest free-standing building when it opened in 1929 as a convention center. The building was transformed into the city's premier sports and entertainment venue following a $90 million facelift in 2001.

Boardwalk Hall hosted the Miss America Pageant for more than a half-century before the beauty contest left Atlantic City last year. Among the building's most notable historic events, it was the scene of the 1964 Democratic National Convention, when Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated for president.

“The building is a classic,” Levinson said. “This is part of our past. It's one of the finest venues for concerts in the world. I would seriously suggest that they try to work out something to preserve Boardwalk Hall. I would certainly like to see the hall preserved.”

Further complicating Boardwalk Hall's ownership is a reverter clause that could place the building back in Atlantic City's control if it is sold for redevelopment, according to Levinson.

“No. 1, the city is a major player here and must be at the table,” Levinson said of any negotiations. “But the bottom line is, the ACIA is still the owner of the hall.”

The Press of Atlantic City first reported last month that Boardwalk Hall could be demolished to make way for a $3 billion casino development under discussion by Trump and Wynn. The two gaming titans are talking about the possibility of razing Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino and neighboring Boardwalk Hall to create enough room for the gigantic project.

“Steve and I are talking about something very exciting and very interesting,” Trump said in an Oct. 25 interview, while declining to reveal details of the project.

Wynn has not publicly commented, but he has met with the governor at least twice in recent weeks to discuss his desire to develop a new casino. Among the possibilities that are being kicked around, Wynn and Trump could build a replacement for Boardwalk Hall or somehow incorporate the building into a new casino if they can't knock it down.

To e-mail Donald Wittkowski at The Press:

DWittkowski@pressofac.com

[NYCFarmboy]

very interesting news, thanks for that post!

[KleinErzahler]

A while back I wrote this letter to the committee in charge of the restoration. I never got a reply so I guess they never got it, but here it is:


Re: The Historical Integrity and Practicality of the Midmer-Losh Electro-Pneumatic Relays - An open letter

Dear Honorable Members of the Historic Organ Restoration Committee,

I am writing this letter to you in support of the reinstallation, restoration, and maintenance of the existing electro-pneumatic switching a relay system for the Midmer-Losh Organ.

While an organ control system has likely never made the front page of even an organ-related publication, that is probably because no such system has ever been realized in such a complete, awe-inspiring, and accessible way like that of the Midmer-Losh organ. The Midmer-Losh organ presents a unique opportunity to reach out to those who may not be familiar with the pipe organ. Through its title as the "World's Largest", its immense size and scope, its complexity, its unique and powerful sound, the craftsmanship exhibited in its construction, and the fact that nothing like it exists anywhere else on the planet; this instrument is able to transcend the boundaries of the pipe organ context in order to serve virtually all people and all interests - as you are well aware.

The historic electro-pneumatic relays are an important part of the "Midmer-Losh Experience", and they have the potential to open up a unique facet of the instrument to be experienced by those who will visit it. Below I will touch on several reasons in support of the restoration and maintenance of this equipment as part of the planned restoration of the instrument.


Practical Attributes

The restoration and maintenance of these relays is not only a realization of preservation of the highest order, but also represents a practical exercise. Several unique traits of this equipment can be cited to support this assertion; these relays:

1. Can be infinitely renewed to their original condition and performance using simple, inexpensive materials such as leather and glue. Doing so is not simply patching, but actually resetting the clock for the service life of these machines.

2. Provide one-to-one correspondence between the closing of a circuit and its result, which prevents the possibility of a complete or catastrophic failure of the switching system.

3. Are virtually inert to the kind of static electricity or power quality issues which cause damage to or malfunctions of electronic equipment.

Musical Preservation

As you are well aware, the very musical character of both instruments comes from the flexibility that their generous unification provides. In the case of the Midmer-Losh, which is said to have been respecified with some frequency or even constancy during its construction and installation, the existing relays may bear the only clues as to which unifications and derivations comprised the ultimate realization of Senator Richards' completed instrument as heard by his own ears. Therefore, preserving and restoring these machines would present the least risk of electrically compromising the tonal integrity of the instrument.

Serviceability and Ease

From a service point of view, the construction of electro-pneumatic relays such as those found in both Boardwalk Hall instruments is advantageous because it falls within the realm of being "low-tech". Understandably, there is a perception of these devices being complex. While this is certainly true, the kind of complexity is more a result of the redundant construction of the relays, having like functions duplicated over say 61 keys and hundreds (or thousands) of stops. So, even though there is a definite repetitive nature to restoring and maintaining these machines, each function when considered individually still represents a rather simple circuit. Moreover, the proper operation of these devices can be discerned, diagnosed, and regulated using the human senses.

For these reasons when compared to solid-state, electro-pneumatic technology puts the restoration and maintenance of these existing switching systems within reach of a wider base of volunteers because they are intuitive and easily understood. Simple pneumatic motors control all of the keying and stop-control functions, which are easily removed and re-leathered using skills which are widely held within the organ-building and maintenance professions.

Sharing a Unique Interest

Most importantly, the tangible nature of this equipment affords the visitor the means by which to establish a connection between the brain of the organ and its musical result. While musical sound issues from the pipes and chambers of the organ, these relays too perform their own song and dance; allowing the observer insight into how the organ "thinks". There are so few opportunities to observe such beautifully-crafted machines in action and performing an actual purpose anywhere, which speaks to the value that these relays would have as living museum pieces.

Even at rest, the relays offer a unique context to view many other facets of the Midmer-Losh, as they speak to the size and scope of the instrument, the ingenuity and complexity of its design, and the craftsmanship of the hands that built it - all in one location. But above all, these relays give the organ something that it has very few of inside the visible chambers - moving parts.

Precedent for Preservation

The Newberry Memorial Organ in Woolsey Hall at Yale University is one of the greatest American symphonic organs ever built and remains tonally and technologically unaltered from its 1931 state when the last planned additions were made to it by the famous Skinner Organ Company of Boston, Massachusetts. The organ is also one of the largest in the world, perhaps within the top twenty, with 12,617 pipes. This fine instrument serves an active teaching department for organ in addition to a busy recital schedule which when combined keep the instrument in operation for forty hours per week on average with a peak much higher during the busy degree recital season in the late Winter/early Spring.

The Newberry Organ features four full-compass 73-note relays; one for each manual division, and one 32-note relay controlling the pedal division. These relays utilize similar electro-pneumatic technology to that of the Midmer-Losh. They are of course much smaller than those of the Midmer-Losh, and are fit onto the manual wind chests and concealed behind panels that must be removed in order to service them. The Solo, Choir, and Great relays, all installed in 1915, have not been opened for service since their restorations in 1973, 1979, and 1981 respectively. Likewise, the 1915 Pedal relay has not been opened since a 1975 re-leathering. The Swell relay has not been opened or serviced since its installation in 1928, and has worked flawlessly to this very day with its original perishable materials, despite the near-constant duty that this organ serves. What is most remarkable is that none of the phosphor-bronze contacts in any of the relays have been treated with silver; yet have not experienced failure.

The electro-pneumatic mechanisms in the Newberry, such as the preserved and functioning 1928 combination action, always turn out to be the stars of the show when various large tours of the instrument are conducted every year.

Historic Fabric

The relays have been a part of the instrument since the beginning of its life. Every note that has ever played has been controlled by these very switching systems. Many man hours were spent designing and building this equipment for a specific purpose to suit very stringent standards set forth by Senator Richards. By all of the accounts I have understood, including that of Douglass Hunt, the relays more than meet the Senator's standards for speed, and are of a very-high quality. If they are retained, the complete historic integrity of the instrument is maintained. There is only one Boardwalk-Hall Midmer-Losh. There are no other relays like these in existence anywhere in the world.


Conclusion

If these machines are removed, the results of that action will stand forever. These machines can be rebuilt and repaired to serve for many many years, but they cannot be replaced after many many years of absence. I encourage you to weigh the real, inevitable loss that would be experienced by removing these against the theoretical advantages of a solid-state system over a well-maintained existing system; particularly in light of what the organ will realistically be asked to do in its new life.

The pipe organ as an instrument serves no practical purpose, thereby making the Midmer-Losh the ultimate statement of impracticality by virtue of its size. Nevertheless there is tremendous value to be found in this instrument, which has been realized in your efforts towards bringing about its restoration. Even if solid-state equipment were to realize its full promise and potential in place of the current system, what is achieved? It's still only a pipe organ. To remove this equipment is to guarantee loss. To save this equipment is to take the only action which will fulfill the true spirit of complete preservation.

Ada Louise Huxtable, former architectural critic for the New York Times, once suggested that society could be judged not only for what it had created, but for what it had allowed to remain. I appeal to you to give these relays a new chance to be a part of the new life for this instrument.

Thank you very much for your time.

[Orgrinder010]

The original relays in that organ are an awe-inspireing sight in themselves. I fully agree that favoring a solid-state system over them would be a travesty. Many might argue that they will never be seen by the public eye, and they will never know the difference. Well, isn't that what they said in the 1960's when the organ started to lose its voice? "Enough of the organ played that the public wouldn't know the difference".

I feel that modernizing this organ is an insult to its history.

[kcbooboo]

I thought that part of the combination machine got damaged and/or lost some time ago. If a major portion is missing, and whatever is left is in sad condition, it unfortunately comes down to a matter of quick economics: replace it with a solid-state system. Of course, that decision never takes into account what will happen 20 years from now, when parts are no longer available. While trees, horses, and sheep will most likely still be here, what about silicon integrated circuits?

I support your effort, but if the committee received your first letter and chose to push it aside, there's probably very little that can be done about it now.

Bob M.

[FrenchHorn8]

In the case of Atlantic City, I would have to agree. Keeping the relays original is what needs to be done. Solid State is not going to make the organ any more "playable" than it would be with the original relays fully recovered.
Seeing these relays in "The Senator's Masterpiece" is something no one should miss. Wow.

Anyone know what the plans are for the combination action?

[FrenchHorn8]

P.S. If Donald Trump touches that organ, I will strangle him! arrgh