Silent Movies Made Musical with the Mighty Wurlitzer

Back by popular demand, The Friends of Music Hall presents our popular silent film concert series featuring organist Tedde Gibson mastering the Albee Theatre Mighty Wurlitzer organ in the Music Hall Ballroom while screening Captain January and Carmen Jr.

Diana Serra Cary (born Peggy-Jean Montgomery) lived from 1918 to 2020 and was known as Baby Peggy during her career. She was one of three major American child stars of the Hollywood silent film era along with Jackie Coogan and Baby Marie. Between 1921 and 1924 she starred in over 150 short comedy films. 

Screening on April 12 are two favorites: Carmen Jr. (1923), a short comedy film, and Captain January (1924), based on an 1890 children’s novel about a lighthouse keeper and his adopted daughter. Shirley Temple later starred in a remake.

Tedde Gibson is a pianist and classical, Hammond, and theatre organist. He is also a composer, arranger, and silent film scorer. Born in Tacoma, WA, he began organ study at age 16 at the University of Puget Sound. Tedde is the Director of Fine Arts at Mount Pleasant Church and Ministries in Baltimore, MD, and organist at Capitol Hill Seventh-day Adventist Church in Washington, DC. He is an active recitalist and workshop clinician, performing on theatre and church organs nationwide. He has been featured on NBC Nightly News Weekend Edition. Tedde is ex-officio of the American Theatre Organ Society. Augsburg Fortress publishes his compositions for organ. www.teddegibson.com

In Recognition of Ron Wehmeier, the Organ Man

On April 12, 2024,  the City of Cincinnati and Friends of Music Hall will recognize Cincinnati's Organ Man, Ronald F. Wehmeier with a Proclamation delivered by the Mayor of Cincinnati Aftab Pureval. Since the early 1960s Ronald F. Wehmeier has skillfully rebuilt and restored pipe organs and in 2009 he brought the Mighty Wurlitzer to life in this ballroom. Ron added a classical division, a flute celeste and soft strings, replaced the original relay with computerized switching, added an automatic player system, and restored a 1925 Steinway Grand 6-foot-6 to accompany the 1927 Wurlitzer. His work requires the skills of a number of trades, including watchmaker - because of the delicacy of the parts, carpenter, and metal craftsman. Ron meticulously maintains this entire system, including having protected it from harm during the construction phase of Music Hall’s revitalization. “Hearing your work come to life, just to see the people enjoying the music—this has always been a great thrill to me.” We share Ron’s enthusiasm for the Mighty Wurlitzer and are forever grateful for his remarkable skill and dedication. Ron will always be Cincinnati's “Organ Man”!