ASSOCIATION OF "THE LATE"
GREAT NORTHERN HOTEL WITH MUSIC
A Fascinating Chapter of Music History
The tearing down of the Great Northern Hotel, at Jackson
Blvd. and Dearborn Street, Chicago, will recall incidents iden-
tified with music and music trade matters to many persons
who will read these lines and will be a happening interesting
to others. At the time of the World's Columbian Exposition,
in 1893, the Great Northern was the home and headquarters
of numerous music and music trade groups from, abroad
and of our own people who were arranging exhibits for the
Exposition.
E. S. Conway of W. W. Kimball Company
Later on the Chicago Piano and Organ Association, had
its monthly meetings and one annual banquet there. When
the Chicago Piano Club came into existence, it, too, held meet-
ings and an annual gathering there. In 1900 the annual meeting
of the Piano Manufacturers and Dealers was held at the Great
Northern and at about the same time a dinner and reorganiza-
tion of the Chicago Piano and Organ Association at which
time E. S. Conway, of the W. W. Kimball Co., was elected
president.
Banquet for Wagener of Story & Clark
An especially interesting event at the Great Northern was
a reception and banquet given to Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Wagener. Mr. Wagener was the "world-wide" traveling repre-
sentative of the Story & Clark Organ Co. He had just married
Miss Sylvia Taylor of Oak Park and a splendid send-off was
given them before their departure for London, England, which
city was to be the Story & Clark headquarters (27 Berners
Street, London) for Europe and certain colonial territory,
and Mr. Wagener was to be the manager. He had traveled to
practically all of the reed organ buying countries; to Australia
and New Zealand, and South Africa; and everywhere over
Continental Europe. He controlled and managed well a large
territory direct from London. A prominent piano manufactur-
ing concern became interested in the London branch and it
was not long until Story & Clark, London, became an estab-
lished piano and organ distributing house of Europe. The
Wagener dinner was sponsored and carried out by the late
Ed. H. Story, who had succeeded his father as president of the
Story & Clark Organ Co.
Famous Organ Recitals
Another notable event at the Great Northern was the
installing of the recital organ built by the Farrand & Votey
Organ Co., at Detroit, Michigan. The instrument was built
under the personal supervision of the late E. S. Votey, who
later on joined the Aeolian Company, and was at the head of
an important division of that concern. The instrument was
built in at the east side of the main lobby, just above the
offices and on the mezzanine floor. The instrument was played
afternoons and evenings and at regular recitals during the
World's Fair. Prominent organists gave recitals and several
amateur players associated with the music business helped
make the performances interesting. The instrument was taken
away about ten years ago, but the railing and the "choir loft"
and location of the console will be there until the last days of
this Great hotel wreckage. Numerous other trade events, great
and small, have come to this splendid hostelry.
CHICAGO PIANO AND ORGAN ASSOCIATION
The regular meeting of the Chicago Piano & Organ Asso-
ciation was held on March 28, 1940, in the Auditorium Hotel,
Chicago, at noon.
After taking care of the routine business it was moved
to send an invitation to Mr. William Howard Beasley, Presi-
dent, and Mr. W. A. Mennie, secretary, of the NAMM to a
luncheon given in their honor on the occasion of their next
visit to Chicago to discuss plans for making the Chicago Piano
& Organ Association more effective. There was also a resolu-
tion passed to consider a Music Exchange for the promotion
of music and as a means of furnishing opportunities for young
musicians. Edmund H. Attwood resigned and was succeeded
by Edward J. Vogt. A letter of condolence was sent to Mrs.
Uhl, widow of the late Edward H. Uhl of Los Angeles.
MAY, N I N E T E E N FORTY
Easter sunrise services at Mt. Rubidoux, at which the Everett
Orgatron was used
THE ORGATRON AND CHURCH MUSIC
The following paragraphs were taken from "Orgatron
World" published by Everett Piano Company, South Haven,
Michigan.
"If there is one season of the church year when music
plays a most important part, it is during Lent, Holy Week and
Easter. Where the power of the spoken word ends, there the
compelling power of musical expression begins.
"The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus have been
the themes of the most sublime music ever to come from the
pen of man. In all of this, the organ plays a commanding part,
suggesting not only reverence and devotion, and the sorrow
and grief of Lent, but as well the glory and triumph of the
Resurrection.
"Churches which have been without the inspiring music
of the organ, for many years have dreamed of the time when
they could enjoy it at the Easter season and throughout the
year. Numerous factors kept their dreams from being realized,
namely, the high cost of a quality organ, the expense of in-
stallation, and the lack of suitable space. But today the Everett
Orgatron makes possible the fulfillment of those dreams for
every church, large or small.
It is an instrument possessing tone that is so glorious, so
rich in pipe-like quality, that it must be heard to be believed.
It is designed according to the specifications of the American
Guild of Organists so that any organist is immediately "at
home" at its console. The great organ literature of the masters
can be played as it was written, upon the Orgatron. It takes
up no more space than a small grand piano and can be in-
stalled within a very few minutes without extra expense. Its
appearance is exquisitely beautiful. It looks as though it be-
longs in a church, for the Orgatron is intended specifically
to provide appropriate music in churches; chapels, and other
places where true organ tone is desired.
"And yet the cost of this superb instrument is modest, so
surprisingly modest, in fact, that every church should learn
more about the Orgatron, so that next Easter its services will
be enhanced by the most sublime of all music, organ music."
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