Merry Christmas from the old Wanamaker Department Store Pipe Organ!

My interest is buying and selling antiques and vintage items mostly
from the 1920's into the mid 1960's. Thank you for watching.
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Visit The Old Curiosity Shop on Ebay by clicking the link below:
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[@lesliemoore2644]

My mom used to work in an office around the corner. She remembers people saying “Meet me at the eagle “ I showed her your videos at Thanksgiving , she said it brought back such wonderful memories 😊

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Oh yes....."Meet me at the eagle" has been said for well over 100 years!

[@elderlypoodle9181]

What a great recollection 🥰

[@conniemoney4459]

My parents bought me a small organ when I was a kid and at Christmas I would play Christmas songs and we would sing. Wow. That’s an old memory

[@bigmcfan]

Absolutely gorgeous, Scott. Not sure if you are aware or not but the organ was built for and used here in Saint Louis for the 1904 World’s Fair. It was later dismantled and moved to Philadelphia. I would love to hear it in person someday. Thanks for sharing !! 🎄

[@helenbailey8419]

I like the sepia tone part.

[@elizabethmcintosh5238]

Thank you !

[@helenbailey8419]

Beautiful rendition of the hymn Oh come let us adore Him.

[@helenbailey8419]

Thank-you Scott

[@wendy833]

Very pretty place. Beautiful ambience. It seems empty for 1 week away from Christmas.

[@deniseborchardt4491]

Beautiful!

[@allymonte7295]

Used to go to Wanamaker's, Strawbridge and Clothier and Bamberger's! 🎄🎄🎄

[@MelywoodMedia]

Amazing! Shopping there would be great!

[@elderlypoodle9181]

The organist put a little Rick Wakeman into it !😮👍♥️

[@aaronandrews3059]

Love how magical Christmas music sounds on the organ. Tonight is my concert at my church. Wish you could come hear the choir and yours truly on the organ.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Wish I could too.

[@elderlypoodle9181]

Aaron, I wish I was you tonight. What a wonderful experience ❤

[@helenbailey8419]

The different lighting sequences.Beautiful.Oh Silent Night,so beautifully played..tears to my eyes.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Helen, I wish you could hear it in person!

[@helenbailey8419]

It must be magnificent

[@OldeHadleyVintage]

Scott I can’t tell you what an absolute pleasure it was to be there with you and enjoy this concert… I’m still tearing up when I listen to Silent Night… so beautiful and I can imagine that it’s exactly what it sounds like in heaven for my Mom…as I told you it was her favorite carol… this will now be an annual trip for me to enjoy that amazing music! Thank you again my dear friend! ❤🎄🎁 ❄️Merry Christmas to you and your family!

[@karenwilliams8465]

When Scott said he was sharing with a friend I thought of you don't know why. Bless your heart and glad you got a chance to start new traditions.

[@lisak1994]

This brings back memories of my friend who has passed. She took me to see the light show for the first time. Actually, it was my very first time in Wanamakers. She's a grand ole store. Sad to see so few shoppers this time of year.

[@karlaglover9693]

Absolutely amazing and beautiful

[@megk.4599]

Soaking in the perfection & beauty 🕊… blessings & peace to all 🙏.

[@catgivens]

Oh, Scott! Thank you so much!!! Hippie Holly-Daze to you and all of yours.

[@erinwoempner1228]

Scott, thank you being you and for sharing your life of us. God bless you and Jesus loves you, more than anyone ever could. ❤❤❤❤

[@karenwilliams8465]

Thank you for sharing. I ended up looking at the history of the department store and organ.

[@sandrafish1056]

Thank you for sharing. Love the pipe organ. Look forward to you sharing it with us. Merry Christmas

[@timrowell4786]

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

[@andersdottir1111]

What a beautiful old store!

[@Lizg1128]

What a wonderful sound that organ makes must fill up the entire Grand court. Lovely show thanks so much for sharing Scott.

[@justynejaniszewski4626]

Lovely to see the tradition continue.

[@daphneoakes8389]

Beautiful, thank you and Merry Christmas!

[@stephaniemontor1567]

Thank you Scott! I have such fond memories of Christmas in Wanamaker! I loved the crowds , the beautiful counters, there used to be soo many people! We would all gather shoulder to shoulder to watch the show. Merry Christmas!

[@teresahewitt286]

Thank you for sharing always enjoy

[@crystalwaters7081]

Beautiful!!! 🎄☃️❤️

[@christineprice5463]

Lovely organ music! I truly enjoyed the video of the Wanamaker store. I am looking forward to hearing Silent Night at Ebenezer Lutheran Church on Christmas eve.

[@leirobinson3103]

I’ve been waiting for this! Thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@rosamerla1534]

Beautiful thank you

[@patyeaman]

Thank You for sharing!!

[@hollynelson543]

GOOD EVENING SCOTT 🎄and thanks for this treasured memory.

[@sandragrimm4196]

WOW! No words😮😍 Merry Christmas 🎁🎄 ❤

[@winkingowlantiques3422]

Love it! 🎄❤🎅🏻

[@CathyMiller0711]

Thank you, Scott. ❤

[@marybethsmith6458]

Its beautiful and so is the music.

[@Lu.G.]

👏🏻 Wonderful! 👏🏻 Thank you for sharing the beautiful music from that amazing pipe organ, once again! ❤️

[@danielulz1640]

It is like you just sent me the nicest Christmas card ever . Thank you, Scott, Merry Christmas.

[@debbiewilmarth7389]

Lovely ❤

[@KarenKayF]

This always warms my heart. Thank you so much for sharing, Scott.

[@SISSYKAY]

Very beautiful!!

[@Nacho-Mamma]

Actually, the largest functioning theatre organ sits in the middle of an old warehouse in Wisconsin, with several thousand ranks of wooden, tin & brass pipes & reeds, 2 pianos, 3 octave carillon, string section, full percussion, chimes, concertina, 3 auto horns, xylophone & glockenspiel, sleigh bells, and multiple sound effects. In an interview a couple years ago, the owner said he'd spent over $1.5 million to restore the entire instrument, but not including pieces he owned but hadn't yet restored & installed. Now, I've never seen or heard the Wannamaker theatre organ in person. But, I do know that it's one of five or six remaining functional theatre organs left in the United States.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

The Wanamaker Organ in the Grand Hall is actually not a theater organ but rather a symphonic organ with the power of several symphony orchestra. In the Wanamaker Building there is a small theater organ located in a separate room.

[@laurensouthgate2458]

Wow thanks for the trip Scott.

[@tracy9397]

Thank you for sharing. I love hearing Silent Night being played. Absolutely beautiful!

[@garyg6000]

Was there last week. Love this organ.

[@willieg9731]

did still have the water fountains?

[@garyg6000]

@@willieg9731 Didn't see water fountains.

[@kishascape]

Ahh such precious times :3

[@lindas.5168]

Thank you so much for sharing Scott

[@sallywilson2770]

Lovely thank you and Happy Christmas ⭐⭐

[@lrose5526]

I love it! Such memories of laying on the floor watching. What is this building now?

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

It is still called the John Wanamaker Building.

[@kathyhodges7054]

Thank you Scott for bringing back such wonderful childhood memories. My family would take me to Center city to hear the pipe organ and see the Christmas light show. Having lunch at the Wanamaker‘s tea room was a very special treat. Merry Christmas to you and yours. Love you delco friend.🎄💚🎄

[@george.carrasco]

Love the tree Scotty!

[@elsah5404]

❤ Happiest Holiday wishes to you.

[@RM-bl4td]

Thank you Scott This is late January and I am still enjoying this. Just wonderful.

[@rhondagentry2170]

Thank you. A major part of my Christmas memories Involve music. From playing piano or guitar while my family sang carols to marching with a clarinet in the parades. I think that I would tremble if my fingers were to create a sound of that magnitude. Always loved the majesty of orchestra concerts with violins and French horns. Organ music is the same in its glorious, soulful expression. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎄🌟🎉

[@rhondahausmann3668]

So beautiful! Thank you for sharing! I had to know more about this amazing piece of history and so I went down the rabbit hole through the department store museum online. Fascinating history!! I also found the department store I grew up in, Gilmores of Kalamazoo. We didn’t have a organ, but there was the Gilmore Santa and a wonderful parade.

[@erinwoempner1228]

How majestic ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤.

[@marydenny1]

Love finding these musical treats at the end of a day, thank you, Scott, and Virgil too.😊

[@colleenbraun5792]

Scott, thank you so much for sharing! Just beautiful!

[@annvarghese5997]

It's beautiful

[@TheLoghouseTeacher]

Beautiful, all of it!! Thank you, Scott!! Merry Christmas!! 🤩🎄🤶🏻🎅🏻✌️🥰

[@creationspast.janebowell1903]

Wonderful and thank you and a very Happy Christmas to you

[@BethCampbell-b9c]

Scott I just found a you tube video by Alex Rivera on the Wannamaker organ!

[@lindakelly6444]

Thank you Scott for this beautiful holiday treat! Merry Christmas!🙏🎄❤

[@kateannkippy37]

I enjoy this every year since I found your channel....Thank you very much Scott. 🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶

[@lindamasson3094]

Seeing the inside of that department store brings back memories of shopping in them as a young person in the town I grew up in. Portland, OR. You can't match that experience on line!

[@lindamasson3094]

Hearing that organ always brings tears to my eyes.....such a treat

[@rogersteigleman4785]

One. Of. The. Largest. Pipe. Organs. In. The. World. I Like. To. Go. There. And. Hear. It.

[@virginiaswafford7078]

I watched this last year and enjoyed it then as i do now ,i can only imagine how beautiful the building is it looks so grand. Thank you Scott you have given me the best Christmas card with beautiful music ever.this will be your first Christmas in your new/old house now to make your own memories. May you have the happiest Christmas this year. God bless you and thanks again for all you do and the joy you bring to so many .Merry Christmas 🎄

[@maryscott_50]

You are so kind to film this for us! Merry Christmas!

[@garlandedwards1749]

I really enjoyed hearing the organ music. Silent Night always brings back memories playing Silent Night for my grandmother on the piano at Christmas. God bless you, Scott.

[@larryjohnson6385]

Beautiful ❤️😍😍

[@conniekelly631]

Thank you Scott from all of us you take us every where 🎄We all love Christmas music and shopping with you . We love watching all the work on you new house . God Bless you Scott 🎅🏻

[@Dotlikesred]

Oh Scott I thoroughly enjoyed this! I have such a love for pipe organs. Oh my Silent Night! This really lifts the spirit. Thanks so much for showing the organist. I hope all those people know there is a real person playing that beautiful music !

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Thank you Dot. I’m saving your cookie vids to watch during Christmas week! Merry Christmas to you and family!

[@Dotlikesred]

@@oldcuriosityshop265 Merry Christmas Scott!

[@madelinerose5326]

Who owns the building and the organ? Can you share a picture or two of the eagle and its history. Be safe and have fun.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

I can do that for sure in a future video. Thank you for asking.

[@lindagates9150]

Sorry I couldn't listen to the music but I thank you and will smash the like button .for you have inspired my trip down memory lane when department stores had Christmas displays in their humongous windows sadly those stores are gone and taken the magic with them😲💝👋🙋🏼‍♀️👋💝

[@Andie-]

Thank you for taking the time to film this and share it with us. Very beautiful!

[@stillwatersfarm974]

Absolutely beautiful! What a wonderful Christmas treat! Thank you for sharing this with everyone!

[@mikki3961]

I look forward to this every year now. Thank you Scott!

[@gpg9516]

Wow. I had never seen the console of the organ before, that’s pretty impressive and what a beautiful sound. Just beautiful.

[@joangriswell9620]

What a glorious way to begin my day. I was an organist in my younger days, and even though I can no longer play, I adore the sounds that only an organ can produce. From the bottom of my heart I appreciate this gift you have given me and everyone else. Merry Christmas

[@catherinebyrne8628]

💕

[@BethCampbell-b9c]

What an incredible sight to watch and hear this! Thank you for sharing this with us! I can’t even imagine how majestic this sounds in person!!

[@bigd4746]

Thanks for sharing this again. Lovely!

[@markchawner1586]

Scott, I'll say it yet again, you're the Top Man for showing a video like that on Christmas week. How beautiful everything looks and sounds. Perfect ! Thank you so very much. Kind regards to you .... 🎄👏😉🧑‍🎄🎄

[@donna8212]

❤⛪️🎄🕊️

[@SAMSON12321]

Just one correction in this video. The uploader said this is the largest pipe organ in the world.... not exactly.... the largest one is in Atlantic City (of all places) right on the boardwalk or which I am sure many of you walked right past its without ever knowing that the unassuming building harbored this massive ( over 40,000 pipe organ behinmd its doors. It still works till this day and concerts are given regularly. During the heyday of Atlantic City people were too interested in the casinos to know or care about the organ and I don't remember it being advertised much or in much use until other venues countrywide started restoring/utilizing their organs and people began seeing how versatile these instruments are, that the Atlantic City started working on restoring it's organ. Been a couple of years in the doing. More than half of the organ worked initially, so it was utilized in that state while the other half was repaired/restored, which it totally is today. Great to see these masterpieces evade the wrecking ball, but would like to see these organs used to their potential more than they are. All types of music can be played on them... just takes the right organist to make them come alive

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Actually that is not exactly what I said. I said it was the largest "functioning" organ in the world and I am very very familiar with the AC organ. I attend the receitals several times during the summer and have contributed to help with the restoration. At present, the AC organ is only about 60 percent playable and it will be several years before it is fully restored. Just wanted to clarify. :) Both instruments are amazing and since they are only about 60 miles apart......everyone who visits this area should go and hear them both. Thanks for watching. :)

[@amymclaughlin1201]

How lovely. Such a wonderful organ. So. What's the story with the eagle of the "meet at the eagle" ? It looks more like the kind of thing that would be on a building facade not inside.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

That bronze eagle has been on the store floor since 1911 and everyone in Philly knows the prase "meet me at the eagle"!

[@melaw5]

Is the entire building the department store, or is it a mall? This was wonderful, just beautiful, thank you!

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

It is not a shopping mall. The store was opened in 1911 as the John Wanamaker Department Store and the building is massive.

[@andy41417]

1:45 My dad did service calls on pipe organs. Said AC Boardwalk Convention Center Organ was largest. (Guinness Book of World Records concurs) His knowledge got him behind the scenes tours of both. Great instrument but being displaced by the inferior piano so organists are in shortage. Pope St. Pius X banned pianos and bands from his Archdiocese and promoted the organ as most suitable for the Latin Rite.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Correct....the Atlantic City organ is larger. Notice that I said the Wanamaker organ was the "largest fully functional" organ in the world. The AC organ was terribly damaged in the storm of 1944 and has not be fully playable since. Amazing restoration is taking place but it will be many years before the organ is 100 percent playable again.

[@micahh9351]

Put an emergency cover over the tutti FFF stop, it might level the building in the wrong hands

[@karynroeseler2652]

Did you onetime say the organ came from St Louis...that's where I live

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

Yes. It was built for the 1904 fair and then after the fair was purchased by John Wanamaker and shipped to Philadelphia and installed in his new store in 1911. The organ was dramatically increased in size and is now the largest fully playing pipe organ in the world.

[@JohnHTuck]

Macy's. Macy's. Macy's. It's now the Philadelphia*Macy's* store.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

I know that John. The building is still officially called the Wanamaker Building, the organ is the Wanamaker Organ.

[@Volaris27]

X O X O

[@mudgebauer]

Although this is a great organ, it is not the largest in the world. The one in Atlantic city is the largest.

[@oldcuriosityshop265]

I don't think you heard me closely.....I said it was the world's largest fully functioning organ in the world. I'm very familiar with the AC organ which was damaged in the 1944 great Atlantic storm. Although the current restoration is amazing....it will be several more years before the organ is close to 100 percent playable. Currently it's about 60 percent playable and sounds fantastic. :)

[@user-cf7tj8wl6q]

What's the title of the song that begins at the 2:14 mark of the video?

[@altonfree6936]

I would like to know the name of this song also.

[@dylandavidshaw]

Gesu Bambino by Pietro Yon