Experience the majesty of the restored McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer as it is unveiled in the Grand Debut Concert performed by Internationally renowned ARCA favorite, Dave Wickerham, on Sunday, June 1 at 2 PM in Lincoln Hall.
After a year-long renovation project in the expert hands of ARCA’s superb organ technician Jason Wiles, Dave will pull out all the stops – and demonstrate some new stops, with the addition of bass pipes and a new saxophone rank in an afternoon of glorious theatre organ repertoire in myriad styles and genres.
Master of the console, Dave Wickerham was honored with the “Organist of the Year” award by the American Theatre Organ Society in 2011 and has toured the world to rave reviews performing his unique arrangements and peerless improvisations. Brought back annually by popular demand, Dave is a favorite of ARCA audiences – old and young alike.
Dave’s programs have something for everyone – from Great American Song Book standards, Disney and popular pieces, to waltzes, rags, marches, orchestral pieces, classical works, hymns and patriotic medleys. His arrangements are always fresh, employing his improvisatorial ingenuity to create delightful surprises, sometimes with multiple combinations of genres in a single arrangement.
Dave Wickerham’s voicings are rich, fully utilizing the multitudinous ranks of the instrument and demonstrating the full range of instrumentation and the magnificent glory of the theatre organ – as he turns the Wurlitzer into a cathedral pipe organ, jazz ensemble, rag time band, bagpipes, and steam locomotive.
And Dave always gives the piano and percussion shelf a complete work-out! No one can touch his outrageously genius improvisations based on audience requests given at concert intermissions – they are tour de force
His recordings are treasured, including his fourth CD “Sounds of Music” recorded on the famous 5 Manual, 80 Rank Theatre Organ at the Sanfilippo Residence in Barrington, IL. We all can only hope for MORE.
As one of the preeminent theatre organists acclaimed worldwide, no one makes Lincoln Hall’s McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre organ sound more glorious or entertains our appreciative audience better than Dave Wickerham! And does he make the McKissick Mighty Wulrtlizer percussion shelf ring – in Chattanooga Choo Choo from October 19, 2019.
Brought back annually by popular demand, Dave is a favorite of ARCA audiences – old and young alike – also having delighted local students and teachers from Allegheny-Clarion Valley Schools in theatre organ educational concerts as part of ARCA’s Educational ArtReach Program in 2022.
This is world class theatre organ artistry from one of the kindest, gentlest and most generous souls… evidenced by the glow you feel having experienced his inspired, genius performance. http://www.davewickerham.com
Join us for the celebration and Grand Debut Concert as Dave demonstrates the wonders of the newly restored McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer – more magnificent and mightier than ever.
Tickets are Adults $25, Members $20, Students $5. Call to Reserve at 724-659-3153 and pay by cash or check at the door. Doors open at 1:30 PM.
ARCA is grateful for the generous gift of Joyce Cranmer sponsoring Dave Wickerham’s performance in memory of her late husband Charles Cranmer who was long-time ARCA friend and supporter of the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer.
Post-Concert Reception @ Red Brick Gallery
After the concert, plan to continue the Grand Debut Concert celebration at the Red Brick Gallery from 4 to 6 PM, where you can Meet the Artists at a wine & cheese reception for the opening of the exhibit of poet and photographer, Greg Clary.
The Vandalia in Me is a collection of poems and photographs from someone who has lived in Appalachia for his entire life. First on his family’s homestead in southern West Virginia, then for the past 42 years in the northwestern Pennsylvania Wilds.
These poems and photographs are rooted in the author’s experiences and observations of the Appalachia he loves and the people and events he has encountered. These images and words share the common theme of seeking beauty among the ordinary and infusing them with respect and significance.
The Wurlitzer Restoration Project
Built in 1928, the Lincoln Hall McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer is one of twenty-four built in its size and style and is one of the best examples of this class of theater organ. ARCA’s remarkable instrument is one of only three hundred Wurlitzer theatre organs existing today in the United States, from the ten thousand built between 1910 and 1940.
Allegheny RiverStone Center for the Arts’ treasured McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer in Lincoln Hall has been needing significant repairs and rehabilitation. At Dave Wickerhams’ Sunday, May 5, 2024 concert the Wurlitzer Restoration Project was announced.
Dave Wickerham shared his rich perspective about ARCA’s Wurlitzer Restoration project:
“Theater pipe organs, like classic cars and other fine antiques need proper restoration at least once every century. The Mighty McKissick Wurlitzer organ here in Foxburg, PA is no exception… It’s tired and needs YOUR HELP… to insure the continued functionality of the Mighty Wurlitzer and the JOY of this AMAZING American form of music performance, for the NEXT hundred years!!”
Dave demonstrated some of the issues needing to be addressed to preserve the instrument.
ARCA is grateful for the expert professional services of its Wurlitzer technician, Jason Wiles, who for the past ten years has been maintaining the instrument that audiences have come to love. Jason tunes and prepares the organ in advance and is on hand during concerts to go into the organ chamber and correct an errant cipher – should there be a “stuck” tone.
Jason and Dave Wickerham have worked together closely prior and during performances. Jason knows the Lincoln Hall Wurlitzer intimately and has been responsible for delivering to ARCA’s guest organists an instrument that allows them to express themselves and delight audiences, without revealing the instrument’s age or “wrinkles’.
Jason has been able to keep us blissfully unaware of hidden defects and his skillful ‘bandaid’ patches which always have allowed the show to go on.
During the renovation, Jason is removing the ‘bandaids’ and performing the major tasks necessary to return mechanical and electrical components to pristine condition. At the same time, a new, additional set of bass pipes donated by ARCA’s late president and founder, Dr. Arthur Steffee, will be installed to provide those body-shaking vibrations we love in the lowest register.
Jason Wiles described the renovation project he has undertaken.
“It has been my honor to have maintained the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ for the past 10 years. Because of his creative nature, Paul McKissick was able to fit a large pipe organ into a small space. For this very reason, however, it has become difficult to service certain portions of the instrument. The wind chests (components of the organ that physically hold and control the pipes) need to be removed in order to do thorough maintenance and restoration of the organ. This will ensure that all 1,170 pipes function properly.
I also look forward to adding a 16′ low note extension (12 bass pipes) to the Tibia rank. At the same time, upgrades also will be made to the keyboards, pedalboard and organ’s electronic control system.”
ARCA is grateful to those who have already made leadership gifts and contributed to the Restoration Project – purchasing a “Key, Pedal, Stop, Pipe or Rank”. The public is invited to join this effort to bring our Wurlitzer back to its full “Might” and guarantee that it will be playing music beyond our lifetimes – so future audiences of all ages may be inspired by the glorious sounds of an ‘orchestra of pipes’ – of winds and brass and strings – and snare drum, cymbals and chimes.
Donations to the Wurlitzer Restoration Fund may be made online here – with benefits at every level of giving, including an invitation to a preview “Informance” and reception in Lincoln Hall on Saturday, May 31.
Together we will ensure that this treasured American form of musical performance will continue to enchant listeners with timeless melodies from the Great American Songbook, movies and Broadway musicals in generations to come.
Yours will be an investment in posterity that helps us make our “Pipe Dreams” come true.
Experience Spring in Foxburg
Before or after Dave Wickerham’s 2 PM concert enjoy Foxburg – take a brisk walk in the refreshing Spring air along the Allegheny River trail or rent bicycles with Foxburg Tours in the morning or early afternoon!
Have lunch at the Allegheny Grille with seating overlooking the Allegheny River.
Or for more casual fare, at Foxburg Pizza with salads, sandwiches and pizza.
Save time to enjoy wine tasting or enjoy a bottle of wine on the outdoor patio at the elegantly remodeled Foxburg Wine Cellars
Make a weekend of it and spend Saturday night in Foxburg in rustically elegant and newly renovated Foxburg Inn where every room has a river view. Reserve early to get the room with the fireplace.
About the Artist
Master of the console, Dave Wickerham was honored with the “Organist of the Year” award by American Theatre Organ Society in 2011 and has toured the world performing his unique arrangements and peerless improvisations.
He was born in Encino, California in 1962. He began playing the electronic organ at the age of four and had his first pipe organ experience at age10. His musical education started at age 7.
When he moved to Arizona in 1976, he became Associate Organist at the famous Organ Stop Pizza Restaurants in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson. While in, he continued his musical studies with Roseamond Crowley, one of the few remaining descendants of the Louis Vierne line of organists. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson on a full scholarship, pursuing classical organ studies for six years with Dr. Roy Johnson.
In 1984, Dave moved to the Chicago area to become Staff Organist at Pipes and Pizza in Lansing, Illinois. In addition to his performance there, he concertized frequently, as well as ministering musically and serving at various churches.
August of 1990 found the Wickerham family – Dave, his wife and two young children – moving to Wisconsin, where he was one of the featured Staff Organists at the Piper Music Palace in Greenfield, a position he held for 10 years.
In the spring of 2000, Dave ushered in the new millennium with a limited special engagement, as a featured organist at “Roxy’s Pipe Organ Pizzeria”, part of a $26,000,000 expansion phase at the FIESTA Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wickerham’s, now three great kids, spent a year and a half there before returning back home to Wisconsin in August of 2001… For the next three years, Dave resumed his position at the Piper Music Palace and was also the Principal Organist at Williams Bay Lutheran Church in Lake Geneva, WI.
He enjoys concertizing frequently to many audiences including various chapters of the American Theatre Organ Society. In April of 1999, he took great pleasure being a feature artist in Melbourne, Australia for the convention of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia for which he received rave reviews. He returned “Down Under” for a six-week concert tour in Australia and New Zealand during the summer of 2003 and completed similar tours in November of 2012 and October/November of 2015.
Dave also enjoys recording and has recently “sold out” his fourth CD “Sounds of Music” recorded on the famous 5 Manual, 80 Rank Theatre Organ at the Sanfilippo Residence in Barrington, IL. There are two NEW recording projects that are soon to be completed and released as well as additional video concerts.
After seven years as Organist – Curator with the legendary Milhous Collection in South Florida, Dave and his youngest daughter currently enjoy living in Upper Michigan in the historic town of Crystal Falls. Dave has three grown kids, two married with children of their own. So, with six grandchildren and concertizing, there are many opportunities for travel – which he does regularly to perform for his fans and friends in Foxburg – where his December 2022 ARCA Educational ArtReach performances delighted students from the Allegheny-Clarion Valley School.
The McKissick Mighty Wurtlitzer
The Wurlitzer organ in Lincoln Hall is one of the best examples of this class of theatre organ. ARCA’s Wurlitzer contains seventeen ranks of pipes and is characterized by a balanced blend of unmistakeable Wurlitzer ‘sounds”. Built in 1928 at the Wurlitzer Organ factory in North Tonawanda outside of Buffalo and numbered OPUS 1989, the organ originally was installed in Cleveland’s Uptown Theatre. It was played for several years accompanying silent movies. With the end of the silent film era it was subsequently purchased by Richard Wheeler, a Cleveland organist, and remained in his home until Wheeler passed. Paul McKissick purchased it from the Haynes Company in North Canton, Ohio, where it had been in storage.
Paul lovingly and painstakingly rebuilt the instrument over eleven years and in 1999 the restored Wulrtlizer was installed in McKissick’s garage at their home in Lake Latonka near Mercer, PA. The organ became known as the Latona Pipes, and was played in annual benefits concerts to raise money for the DeBence Museum in Franklin. Dr. Arthur and Patricia Steffee attended one of the concerts. When Paul decided to downsize and was seeking a place for the Wurtlizer for the next generation, Dr. Arthur and Patricia Steffee, ARCA’s founders, purchased it to enhance the newly restored Lincoln Hall, on the second floor of the Foxburg Free Library.
Its seventeen ranks of pipes translate to 60 notes per voice or rank, more than 1200 pipes and 6,000 moving parts to make the Wurlitzer sound. Only the relay and computer are not authentic or vintage parts on the organ. The installation included one of Wurlitzer’s most unique features, the decorative ‘Toy Shelf’ of miniature instruments, which are displayed in a rear balcony in Lincoln Hall and are all powered by the organ. The marimba was added and all the associated drums, cymbals, bells and automatic piano produce a balanced blend of unmistakable Mighty Wurlitzer sounds.
ARCA audiences have enjoyed seventeen years of glorious music making on the McKissick Mighty Wurlitzer by some of the worlds greatest theatre organists – including David Wickerham, Martin Ellis, Walt Strony, Scott Foppiano, Donna Parker, Jelani Eddington and Ken Double. Jason Wiles is ARCA’s organ technician, maintaining and tuning the organ for each concert.
