A visit to Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall and the world’s largest pipe organ

A big thanks to Scott Banks for the private tour

[@paulfabre6058]

Back to the organ. I know nothing about organs per se'. But I can recognize game. And this is world-class game. Having heard this organ only a few blocks away from my house is kind of like growing up with Steven Hawking as your next door neighbor. Most everybody will have no idea how amazing that actually is until they dig into it. This (all caps) MARVEL of musical engineering is a superlative of a superlative. Nobody, nowhere, no how, can top this, ever. Nobody will ever build anything that can compare to this again. I learned recently that only 40% of the 33,400 pipes have been restored so far. This is truly mind boggling. Funded mainly by donations, restoration work has been progressing at an amazing rate. But when working with an instrument that is actually part of an entire building, it is hard to find words to adequately describe just how huge this instrument is. A an example: If one pipe were repaired/restored/cleaned/or tuned each day, it would take 91 years to complete the job. The dedicated team of restorationists and fans of this magnificent machine are to be commended. Truth be told...In a city that cannot figure out how to pave the main street that every visitor to the city arrives on, it is great testimony that Boardwalk Hall and the organ within is in as good of shape as it is. Overall Boardwalk Hall has a long way to go until it is restored to its original splendor. Especially the West Hall and the parking areas, but OMG both the Midmer-Losch and the Kimball organs shine like a brilliant sun over this dilapidated and neglected city.

[@jeffreyg201]

Coverage of Atlantic City The convention was intended to boost Atlantic City's image as a premier travel destination in the United States. Instead the DNC exposed the decline of the city.[7] Atlantic City faced criticism for poor quality hotels and the streets and buildings were dirty.[7] The decrepitude of Atlantic City was particularly present in comparison to San Francisco, California, an emerging city, that was the host city of the earlier-held 1964 Republican National Convention that members of the media had also attended.[7][8] Chuck Darrow of the Philadelphia Inquirer in 2014 wrote an article where he credited the convention with causing harm to Atlantic City's reputation. He recounted that, with the city's hotel facilities aging and tourism on the decline in the city, the accommodations and hospitality that delegates and the media experienced with left a less than stellar impression. With no contested ballot to preoccupy their coverage, Darrow recounts that the media spent time publicly expressing grievances about what they considered to be poor hospitality in Atlantic City.[8] This perceived decline in Atlantic City led to the city becoming a hub for casinos and gambling.

[@paulfabre6058]

After the demolition of Trump Plaza, the remaining hotel tower was at one time, a Holiday Inn. A Rainforest Cafe still occupies the North East corner of the structure. Boardwalk Hall is one of the most beautiful, well maintained, modern, and welcoming structures on the East Coast and resides right on the Atlantic City boardwalk. This building is magnificent in not only its architectural beauty, but also with its perfect blending of theatrical technology both old and new. The gigantic traditional fly house is a monument to traditional theatrical technology of the 1930's. And the state-of-the-art overhead truss system which was installed after a tragic accident on the Justin Timberlake/Christina Aguilera tour is a commitment to keeping up with the latest innovations in theatrical rigging. This modern overhead truss system uses hundreds of dynamic weight sensors to accurately display the weight of everything hanging from it in real time. Boardwalk Hall uses cutting edge technology to stay relevant, economical, and safe for all touring shows.

[@EdGattsek]

Ty for all of this info. Of course I recognize the renovation in that I see the changes in the building since my first visits in the mid1990s when the building and esp the organ was in such disrepair. I did it know all of the details and histories of the rigging.

[@denniswhite166]

I'm a veteran of the AC/DC War. I got wounded during the Battle of Voltage in Menlo Park, NJ. I sat out the rest of the war in a DC transformer room in NYC. Dr. Thomas Edison tended to my wounds.

[@jeffreyg201]

The Beatles performed at what was then known as Convention Hall in August 1964 to a packed crowd.

[@bernardcromarty485]

The wind noise can be greatly reduced (whilst recording!) by using a condom on the microphone! Seriously! A fluffy windshield will help, too.

[@jeffreybaker1725]

The front of that building is an art Deco jewel. The bas reliefs Are beautifully detailed and have with stood the test of time! Thank you for panning the front as few people really stop to appreciaperiod

[@EdGattsek]

We are of like mind. This building is a great monument. A true NJ gem. Ty for your kind words

[@susancroft9956]

I attended my first NJMEA Convention in 1977 when I was a senior at TSC. They had just opened Resorts Int. Casino. My friend and I walked over to check it out. As you said, everything was massive! I was awestruck!

[@samueljaramillo4221]

Those keyboards are massive. Great tour. Beautiful building.

[@ShalmendoGlineux]

I watched your video for 9 minutes and I couldn't keep going due to a couple of critiques I have for how you might improve the quality of your videos. First, the double narration is incredibly distracting! It's like having two people talking to you at once. Please consider muting the video audio when you do a voice over so we don't have to hear two of you speaking at once and figure out which words go to which narrative. Second there was a LOT of wind in the microphone while you were outside and not only did it make it difficult to decipher your narration the constant noise was a bit frustrating to try and listen through. Otherwise I enjoyed this video very much and keep up the good work!

[@EdGattsek]

I appreciate your thoughts. I am still very amateur at this filmmaking stuff. I’m sorry you didn’t get to enjoy it due to my amateurish skills. How many videos have you made? Judging by the 13,000+ views this video has received it seems like a topic people are interested in and will tolerate a little bit of wind noise. Thank you again for the constructive criticism I will keep it under advisement

[@davidthompson3415]

Your video represents the hopes of all organist❤ Excellent work dude! Please make many more videos. Your contribution is big time! By doing your thing, you will only have respect and admiration👍❤️

[@EdGattsek]

Thx so much. It means a lot.

[@KingdaToro]

Trump Plaza was built right up against the north side of Boardwalk Hall. It's the cause of the different markings on the north wall.

[@michaelherring1944]

Now demolished.

[@EdGattsek]

Very good call. Of course that what those markings are. Thx for pointing that out

[@michaelherring1944]

My understanding from the organ crew is that "Losh" is pronounced like "gosh." I was told that Dennis Cook started that - I guess he thought it was funny. 😏

[@EdGattsek]

That’s cool. Never heard that before.

[@marknaravas318]

I’d love to visit the organist Mecca someday

[@KingdaToro]

Don't forget, Boardwalk Hall is only half of it. The other half is the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia, only 50 miles away. I personally consider the Midmer-Losh to be the King of Organs and the Wanamaker to be the Queen of Organs.

[@larryarnold1063]

Always a joy watching your videos!! Love them!!

[@EdGattsek]

Glad you like them! And always glad to hear from you. I think you may be featured on my channel in one or two spots. 🎉

[@paulcoatney4362]

Correct me if I am wrong...This building hosted 2 WWE Wrestlemanias did it not?

[@califdad4]

It's not technically all working, the organ in Macy's in Philadelphia is the largest working pipe organ in the world .

[@DommoPA]

When I was little my dad used to park in the basement of the AC hall parking garage. Costs 3.25 a day.

[@reeblesnarfle4519]

Couldn't fathom playing something that large!!!

[@stevepotfora7461]

Thank you for sharing your clear explanations and passion. So many of us have been in that hall, and had no idea what we were standing next to

[@christopherflouton4525]

BTW, the lines on the north side of the building are what's left of Trump Plaza that was demolished. Trump Plaza was built right up against the north wall.

[@EdGattsek]

Very cool. I should have realized after making the video about the plaza destruction, of course it abutted right to the Convention Hall. I think another commenter may have indicated this as well. Thank you for watching my video. I plan to make another one this summer when I have an opportunity to spend a bit more time and have the opportunity to play it!

[@johnmanire3380]

This organ is going to be magnificent when it's fully restored. Until then the world's largest full functional organ is the Wanamaker Organ at Macy's in Philadelphia with 28,750 pipes in 464 ranks.

[@marcellocolona4980]

I read where the organ in the chapel at West Point is larger.

[@johnmanire3380]

@@marcellocolona4980 23,511 pipes 231 ranks

[@marcellocolona4980]

@@johnmanire3380 Yes, the cadet chapel is the largest church organ.

[@johnmanire3380]

@@marcellocolona4980 yes, but the largest full working pipe organ regardless of what facility it’s located in is the Wanamaker organ

[@marcellocolona4980]

@@johnmanire3380 Did you ever see the Christmas illumination at Macy’s? Wonderful with the organ. An uncle lived at Rittenhouse Square and when we visited for the holidays we always went to hear the organ at Wanamaker’s. Great memories.

[@jimwanmartin6183]

I enjoyed this tour very much, enjoyed seeing the various pipe chests, and found i learned a lot. Thanks so much to all who are working on this organ to bring it back. Call me a listener, organ player, retired music teacher from Maine.

[@EdGattsek]

Do you ever get to the Skinner grave in Bethel?

[@manteuro]

Nice video and tour! I would recommend you mute your camera audio when you record voiceover, it is a very hard listening experience for the viewer to hear yourself speaking twice.

[@EdGattsek]

Thanks for the tip. I’m still pretty new at making videos for KZbin. I will keep trying to improve.

[@K7008B]

Additionally, try to keep the movement of the camera/phone whatever you're using to a minimum. Too many fast, jerky panning movements.

[@hb1338]

Point of information - there is a 64 foot stop on the organ of the Royal Albert Hall in London. It is an open wood and its name is "Acoustic Bass".

[@EdGattsek]

Yeah I think you will find that any stop of that name is a “resultant”. Meaning that when the player selects that stop and plays a note on the pedal, the P5 above pitch is added, thus creating a resultant 64’. So it is not a true 64’. Many smaller instruments do this with a soft 16’ stop to imitate a 32’ Check it out terhardt.userweb.mwn.de/ter/top/acbass.html

[@KingdaToro]

That's true in the same sense that it's true that Boardwalk Hall has a 128 foot stop. They are both resultants, which you get by playing a note and the note a fifth above. But an actual, full-length 64 foot stop is something that can only be found in two organs in the world, Boardwalk Hall and Sydney Town Hall.

[@russelllukenbill]

12:20. You broke it, you bought it.

[@EdGattsek]

You think they’d let me take it home? I did incidentally, remove the foot rest from under my bench and replaced it with a black pipe one like this. My design is a little different. But it turned out pretty well. I’ll have to make an update video on that

[@jaybeeshultz]

The audio sucks,

[@EdGattsek]

If you don’t have something nice to say…

[@KevingerAdr]

It has two consoles？One 5 manuals and one 7？

[@EdGattsek]

Yes. The portable five manual I’ve heard was used for boxing matches. I don’t think it functions.

[@fredlodden1538]

@@EdGattsek I did the tour of the organ in 2018. The 'portable' console was completely disconnected from anything and there was a bundle of control cables as thick as your leg coming out the back that looked like it had been cut through with a hacksaw. Having worked inside telephone exchanges it looked just like the cable wiring of some of those big old exchanges that used relay logic to switch and route telephone calls. Apparently the colour coding of the wires is the same as that used in exchanges. Old telephone technicians would be right at home. There was a plan to get the portable console up and running again. But it would be a big task. The whole project to renovate that organ and bring it back to full working order is a massive task. I liked the enthusiasm displayed by the largely volunteer cry who were restoring, repairing and in some cases recreating all the elements that comprise that massive device.

[@ihatestairsEXTERMINATE]

Is that the organ which caused this weather? I KNEW IT!