“I marveled at the
organ. What an amazing resource to Medford this is.
What a treat and what a blessing for Medford to have this amazing opportunity
— to house an historic organ in an historic theater!”
“Peter Krasinski is an amazing organist and made that
100-year-old magnificent instrument sound fantastic!”
“Fabulous! Interesting, classy, and there for
everyone!”
October 14, 2023
Dear Chevalier Theatre Organ Society members and
friends,
We wanted to share the above comments received vie
email from three of the more than 325 attendees at our Wurlitzer Organ Debut
Concert at Chevalier Theatre last December. It was so gratifying to hear the
appreciative feedback after two decades of dedicated work toward that
monumental day, and we thank YOU for your steadfast support that helped make it
happen.
We’ve worked hard to continue to
advance the Wurlitzer restoration this year and are pleased to be planning the
second public concert with the organ, “Songs of America,” in conjunction with
our 2023 Annual Meeting on Sunday, November 12.
The most notable recent work is the restoration of two
ranks of reed pipes in the Main Chest by Peter Rudewicz, supported by a grant
from the American Theatre Organ Society Foundation. Peter also fully restored
and installed the Main Chest’s tremolo, the device so essential to creating the
theatre pipe organ’s unique sound.
Meanwhile, improvements have been
made to the swell shades, which control the volume of
sound coming from the chamber, and work has begun to install an additional set
of shades on a second chamber opening, which will bring more sound into the
hall. And a detailed 3D schematic, also being created by Rudewicz, will help us
piece together the last of the organ components in our oddly shaped and rapidly
filling chamber.
We thank YOU for your annual member dues and other
donations that help pay for these essential
(Continued
on reverse)
Here is a look at some of the delicate reed pipes on the
Chevalier Wurlitzer’s Main Chest that were restored this year by Peter
Rudewicz.
Peter Krasinski, shown during his 2022 Wurlitzer Debut Concert
performance, will return to Chevalier Theatre for the “Songs of America”
concert on Sunday, November 12. Photo by Daniel Kool/Boston Globe.
professional services to augment the
work of our volunteer crew, directed by Chief Technician Dick Pelland. We hope
you will renew your membership, or become a CTOS member, today. Enclosed is a
dues form and return envelope if paying by check. Payments also may be made
electronically by Venmo to @ChevalierTOS or by PayPal to chevaliertheatreorgan@gmail.com.
Most of all, please
join us at Chevalier for “Songs of America” at 3 p.m. on November 12. Come
early to attend our Annual Meeting, which will begin at 2:30 and feature a
slide presentation on the history of the organ and restoration project.
The concert will again feature Chevalier
Theatre favorite Peter Krasinski at the console. He’ll perform a rousing
collection of our country’s most well-known and beloved music — apropos for
Veterans Day weekend as we honor those who served.
The program will
include:
· Songs of Our Armed Forces, saluting each
of the five U.S. military branches
· The Best Loved Songs of America
Throughout the Decades, 1910-2020
· An audience sing-along of Songs of the
Military Throughout the Years, from World War I through the Gulf War
Punctuating the patriotic afternoon will
be a reading of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address by well-known Medford
broadcaster and announcer Steve Bertorelli, accompanied by Krasinski.
Thank you again for your support! See
you at Chevalier on November 12!
Ken Krause,
President
And the Chevalier
Theatre Organ Society Board of Directors
Chris
DesAutels, Vice President Wayne
Johnson, Director
Michael
Cerullo, Treasurer
Richard
Pelland, Director
May
Marquebreuck, Clerk
Robert
K. Legon, Director Emeritus
