Howdy all -

Just to let the people on the East coast know, and sorry for the late
entry, but Hecht's Department store in Philadelphia, formerly
Wanamaker's, is having an organ day Saturday, July 6 starting when the
store opens.

There's a concert at 11:30 with other events planned all day.

They have a large (6/4?? - the string organ alone has over 7000 pipes)
hybrid that's played for the customer's every day.  Theres a major
article on the instrument in the recent Vol 40 Num 1 issue of The
Tracker.  It was originally built for the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair by
the Los Angeles Art Organ Company.  At the time, it was the worlds
largest organ.  After Wanamaker acquired it, they used to broadcast its
music from their own radio station (1922-28), W-O-O, using the tall
masts then on the roof.

I'm not sure who'd sponsoring this, but there's been a lot of
discussion on the PIPROG-L mailing list about the instrument and it's
rumored demise.  Organists and Organbuilders from around the world have
made special pilgrimages to see and hear this noble instrument.  Would
you?

- K a r l   B.   E l l i s o n
  Ashland, MA.  U.S.A.
  KBEllison@aol.com
  http://members.aol.com/kbellison/kbe.html