By Steffen Klenk
Atlantic City’s Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall is one of the most historic arenas in North America. The venue, formerly known as Convention Hall, became the world’s first all-purpose indoor entertainment and convention venue. Some of the most well-known names in music have performed in the main arena, from The Beatles and Bruce Springsteen to Bon Jovi and the Rolling Stones. It has hosted the Miss America Pageant, countless sporting events, boxing matches, and the 1964 Democratic National Convention. At one point, the building had a seating capacity of 41,000 people.
As you arrive up the escalator, onto the concourse and along the arena floor, you get a tiny glimpse of its architectural grandeur and marvelous ceiling draped in colorful lights. But there is much more to Boardwalk Hall than you may imagine. It is also home to the largest pipe organ in the world.
In 1929, construction began on what would become the world’s largest musical instrument. Designed by New Jersey state Sen. Emerson Lewis Richards, the organ was built by the former Midmer-Losh Organ Company, based in Merrick, Long Island, N.Y. The company made more than 40 theater organs in the 1920s in the age of silent films when organs were standard in most arenas.
Scott Banks is the membership and events coordinator of the Historic Organ Restoration Committee. Banks said that one of the initial challenges was building an organ to fill more than 5.5 million cubic feet of enclosed space in the arena. “Human bodies absorb a lot of sound,” he said. “The instrument was built in the size and scale to accommodate the original capacity.”
What makes this incredible organ unique is its vast size. The organ itself is situated in eight chambers, two of which are placed on each side of the proscenium arch at the stage. About half of the organ’s pipes rest along each side of the arena. There are also two chambers that sit along the first arch closest to the stage. All 33,132 pipes are controlled by a seven-manual (seven-keyboard) console which sits on the right side of the stage. It has a total of 1,235 stop tabs which control the 449 ranks, or voices, of the organ.
If you ever heard the organ, whether at a recital, concert, or sporting event, you can’t help but stop and listen to the beautiful sounds emanating throughout the building. While it takes a quarter of a second for the sound to travel from one end of the arena to another, the organist has the worst seat in the house.
“The sounds from the front right stage chamber are instantaneous, but it’s nearly a third of a second before you hear what the left chamber has voiced,” Banks explained.
Throughout its lifetime, some of the most well-known bands and musicians have toured this iconic musical instrument, including the band Phish and their keyboardist, Page McConnell. Celine Dion’s musical director, Scott Price, performed a rendition of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Even Beyonce was photographed sitting at the console prior to her sold-out show in 2013.
Did you know that Boardwalk Hall houses two pipe organs? The Adrian Philips Theater comes equipped with a magnificent W.W. Kimball Organ. Completed in 1930, the organ was officially dedicated on May 25 of that year and was originally designed to provide the soundtrack to silent movies. It has 55 ranks of pipes controlled from a four-manual console which sits atop the main entrance.
Upon hearing these beautiful instruments for the first time, you would think you were hearing an entire symphony orchestra perform at once. Both organs provide a wide range of musical styles and genres with an immersive sound that can only be described as breathtaking. Hearing the instruments played live is a treat not just for enthusiasts, but anyone who enjoys the raw power and emotion of music.
The Historic Organ Restoration Committee has been working diligently to restore the massive Medmir-Losh organ to its former glory. Right now the organ is 37 percent fully restored and 64 percent playable. Banks says most of the upkeep has been done on the right stage chamber surrounding the organ’s core tone.
“The work in that chamber goes as needed while we do the hard work around the rest of the instrument,” he said.
Nathan Bryson is the curator of organs at Boardwalk Hall. A native of Brevard, N.C., Bryson began studying piano at a young age and previously volunteered on the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia. Through his work on that instrument, he became familiar with the Midmer-Losh, and began working as curator nine years ago. Bryson says work is now underway to restore both side chambers, which have not been played in several decades. “Most of the two main chambers are completely functioning; we have enough sound in the front, so we’re starting to work on the sound above the auditorium,” Bryson said.
Restoring the world’s largest pipe organ is no easy task. The entire project is being done by fewer than a dozen volunteers, who graciously provide their skills and services to the organization. Each of the individuals, from the assistants to technicians, is skilled in their field of expertise and is dedicated to bringing this piece of musical history back to life.
Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the Historic Organ Restoration Committee hosts a free daily recital and tours at noon. Their weekly Curator’s Tour takes you on a guided tour inside the massive pipe organ on Wednesdays at 10 a.m. between April and December. You can learn more about the committee’s upcoming initiatives, purchase tour tickets or donate via the website, boardwalkorgans.org. You can also keep track of their progress on social media at www.facebook.com/BoardwalkOrgans.
On Friday, April 5, the Historic Organ Restoration Committee will host a one-of-its-kind concert featuring multi-talented organist and rising social media star Anna Lapwood. At the age of 28, she has quickly ascended into music history, becoming the youngest director of music for the Cambridge University Choir. Her performances at the Royal Albert Hall in London and New York’s St. Thomas Church have attracted audiences far and wide, with more than 21 million views on TikTok. Lapwood has recently been appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to music.
Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster, http://boardwalkhall.com or by calling the Box Office at 609-348-7512.
Steffen Klenk is a photographer and multimedia journalist who enjoys capturing the eclectic moments of shore life. You may contact Steffen at shorelocalsteffen@gmail.com.
