A visit with Chicago Blackhawks organist Frank Pellico

[@andrewnite9548]

I had no idea that I would end up meeting this man 9 years later

[@BHV0810]

They should've put the organ in a museum, or kept Chicago Stadium as a museum. Also, Wayne Messmer sings the anthems for the Chicago Wolves now.

[@luvthoseclips]

Frank played at Wrigley Field earlier today for the Winter Sports Classic. I remember when he played regularly at Wrigley back in the 1970s, & I still have some cassette tapes of his National Anthem performances there.

[@monsterbowler]

He would come down to the Quad Cities a few years back and have "olde time hockey nights" where they played the organ all night long. It was a blast. Incredible to hear.

[@tregnier279]

From what I understand, the main reason the organ wasn't installed in the new stadium as because Frank told the builders that it would have cost many millions of dollars to recondition and reinstall the Barton (it would be more like less than half a million), which led to it being axed from the new stadium. So... yeah.

[@unequally-tempered]

From over in the UK we look on you Americans as delightfully crazy! It's fantastically outrageous to have such an organ at a hockey match! UK football stadiums aren't equipped with organs! Perhaps if they were I'd have developed an interest in football . . . Thanks for posting this video. Pity it's not a real pipe organ though.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

It used to be a real organ. Look up the details and or pictures of the "Chicago Stadium Barton organ"

[@ikonix360]

Think he meant to say largest and loudest theatre organ.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

You're correct.

[@rnman99]

Was it the Matterhorn? I know he used to play there back in the day

[@ul7185]

Frank Pellico Plays Sweet Victory (Not-So-COVID-19 Special)

[@stagea11]

is there any organ music played by an arena organist at bulls games at the United Center?

[@ahayling0222]

The Organ was used at the 2017 Jazz vs Bulls game (once 2017-03-18). Not kidding.

[@Zj2030]

@@ahayling0222 i think i heard an organ in one of the bulls's games in January as well

[@Trojans175]

Nice voice crack at 2:43

[@JAYZIGGY5]

I'm still upset they didn't save the big Barton and I'm outraged that "My Vision" isn't played at the end of the night anymore after all those years.

[@RefrigeratedWaffles2]

Atleast the Barton wasn’t going down with the stadium, but I agree. This new organ is stupid and I feel that it sounds way too electric

[@JAYZIGGY5]

@@RefrigeratedWaffles2 WAY too electric.

[@OptimusKind]

They "can" what? Also, what is a hockey organ?

[@ChachaChapati]

Best organ in the league goes to Chicago...coming from a Pens fan.

[@rob2325]

Try Amalie in Tampa with an 80 rank Walker Technical, puts the Allen to shame.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

@@rob2325 I'll agree it sounds better than the hawks new electric junker but those aren't real pipes in Tampa either.

[@stevejam20]

i don't get why they play any modern music at all at blackhawks games. fans loved it in the chicago stadium when frank just played the organ all night long. if they want the old school atmosphere of the stadium, they should hand the reigns over to frank full-time.

[@DJKawonOfficial]

You searched for this

[@newyorkfan9832]

Did frank just play three blind mice at the beginning of the vid because if any nhl Organist did that then they would be fired

[@rnman99]

OMG I have that same fake book it has to be 35 years old by now

[@OfficialPandaMiata]

Well I just found out last week that he is my uncle

[@JAYZIGGY5]

If a guy can have the stadium organ console, installed in his HOUSE.... I don't think "they couldn't bring that organ over here" is the right thing to say, or accurate at all. I still love the Hawks, and Hawks games, but I'm not at all impressed by the organ sound. It's electronic,average and boring. No it wouldn't sound EXACTLY the same as the Stadium, specially since the original pipes no longer exist now, but try to imagine the United Center with a real organ in it!

[@jcavankelly]

Some of those old pipe organs would indeed cost millions to move. Especially the ones with the pipes built into the walls etc. I know, when renovating St. Michael's Cathedral in Toronto, they couldn't give the organ away because it would have cost at least a million to move it. Also, he call's it the biggest pipe organ in the world but on several lists I've seen, it doesn't make the top ten.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

@@jcavankelly There were four rooms in the ceiling with the pipes. I'm sure there was more that I couldn't see but maybe it was the biggest when it was made? Or maybe it was the biggest theater organ? I don't know but it was the biggest and loudest I've ever heard. It's definitely missed. And the Wirtz family has plenty of millions.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

@@jcavankelly It also was completely removed I believe for free by volunteers before it was destroyed in a fire.

[@danielmkubacki]

The Wanamaker Organ is the lagest. or Bordwalk hall

[@JAYZIGGY5]

This was the largest theater pipe organ. Not the electric piece of crap in this video but the old one that should've been saved.

[@stagea11]

is there any organ music played by an arena organist at bulls games?

[@jjsnacks8511]

Norman Vincent nope

[@accousticdecay]

Allen Organs aren't real pipes, but they are certainly the best immitation I have ever heard. I play a small Allen that has more virtual pipes than our entire sanctuary could hold if they were real. It is a blast to play every Sunday. And no tuning, revoicing, or sticky Pittman valves.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

Sounds nothing like real pipes to me. I'll be mad about what they did to the old organ forever.

[@skifusya2814]

Sorry, but Frank's the worst organist the Hawks have ever had. A shame that they dumped Nancy Faust for him.

[@randymagnuson9452]

Frank: honestly, it needs voicing and tremulant adjustment. It's uninspiring and nowhere true to the theatrical lyrical sound, which was so much the difference between the Stadium Barton, and the rest. Allen organs can approach theatrical sound. Grab a screw driver and hit the pots. Fire the guy that left it as it is now.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

In sound comparison the old organ was a 1929 Rolls and the new one is a 94 Ford Festiva. I don't know what stops he uses for the anthem nowadays but it sounds absolutely NOTHING like real pipes.

[@KCMDButcher42]

It's a damn shame what happened to that pipe organ from the old building. It should have went to a pizza parlor or department store--something other than a grave.

[@JAYZIGGY5]

Pizza parlor? How about across the street where it belongs.