Lance Luce - Van Andel Museum Center
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Grand Rapids, Michigan
On Friday, April 13, 2007 and Saturday, April 14, 2007 I gave an
organ concert at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids,
Michigan on their Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. My son Nick went with
me on this trip and we had a wonderful time.
I played organ selections in the first half of each concert (they have two
concerts because the auditorium seating is limited.) In the second half
of the concert we had a sing-along and a short Laurel and Hardy silent
movie with organ accompaniment. For the audience size (150) I have
never heard more enthusiastic singing or laughter with the movie, it was
amazing.
The organ had been in a theatre originally, then it was moved to a
popular restaurant in Grand Rapids, "The Roaring Twenties" which
became "Good Time Charlies" in later years. I had the chance to play
the organ a few times for the pizza patrons. That was along about the
same time we had the Pied Piper and Pizza and Pipes on the East side
of the State of Michigan.
The organ sounds great in its new home in the museum. The pipes and
percussions are in the back two sides of the auditorium rather than the
expected front corners. Everything on the organ worked great and it
sounds spectacular. I hope to get a chance to perform there again
someday.
The Museum was really cool. Nick and I got "locked in" on Thursday
night, and had a chance to walk around and see all of the displays.
ALL of the lights were on for the one lone employee that was cleaning
the carpet on the second floor just outside the auditoriums main doors.
We took full advantage of this rare opportunity to give ourselves a self
guided tour of all three floors, expecting to be taped on the shoulder
any second by security. We did pay close attention to the signs that
said "please do not touch" as well as the ones that said "please touch".
Nick found that a nice departure from the norm.
On Friday early afternoon we walked across the street to the Gerald R.
Ford museum, and took in its' many displays, and visited the memorial
site as well. On your next visit to Grand Rapids, it's extremely worth
your while to visit both museums. A walk through the "old" section of
the now named "Amway Grand" was fun too. Nick and I sat on the
plush couches and looked up at the crystal chandeliers reflecting against
the gold leaf ceiling, and pretended for a few minutes.
We met some wonderful people. Bob was a great host for the organ
group, and Gina was equally wonderful as our guide to the Museum.
Here's a link to the museum, it is VERY well done.
Just FYI, Nick took some of these pictures, and I took some with an
old 3.2 Megapixel camera that I had with me.
organ concert at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids,
Michigan on their Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ. My son Nick went with
me on this trip and we had a wonderful time.
I played organ selections in the first half of each concert (they have two
concerts because the auditorium seating is limited.) In the second half
of the concert we had a sing-along and a short Laurel and Hardy silent
movie with organ accompaniment. For the audience size (150) I have
never heard more enthusiastic singing or laughter with the movie, it was
amazing.
The organ had been in a theatre originally, then it was moved to a
popular restaurant in Grand Rapids, "The Roaring Twenties" which
became "Good Time Charlies" in later years. I had the chance to play
the organ a few times for the pizza patrons. That was along about the
same time we had the Pied Piper and Pizza and Pipes on the East side
of the State of Michigan.
The organ sounds great in its new home in the museum. The pipes and
percussions are in the back two sides of the auditorium rather than the
expected front corners. Everything on the organ worked great and it
sounds spectacular. I hope to get a chance to perform there again
someday.
The Museum was really cool. Nick and I got "locked in" on Thursday
night, and had a chance to walk around and see all of the displays.
ALL of the lights were on for the one lone employee that was cleaning
the carpet on the second floor just outside the auditoriums main doors.
We took full advantage of this rare opportunity to give ourselves a self
guided tour of all three floors, expecting to be taped on the shoulder
any second by security. We did pay close attention to the signs that
said "please do not touch" as well as the ones that said "please touch".
Nick found that a nice departure from the norm.
On Friday early afternoon we walked across the street to the Gerald R.
Ford museum, and took in its' many displays, and visited the memorial
site as well. On your next visit to Grand Rapids, it's extremely worth
your while to visit both museums. A walk through the "old" section of
the now named "Amway Grand" was fun too. Nick and I sat on the
plush couches and looked up at the crystal chandeliers reflecting against
the gold leaf ceiling, and pretended for a few minutes.
We met some wonderful people. Bob was a great host for the organ
group, and Gina was equally wonderful as our guide to the Museum.
Here's a link to the museum, it is VERY well done.
Just FYI, Nick took some of these pictures, and I took some with an
old 3.2 Megapixel camera that I had with me.
December 11th & 12th, 2009 was a return visit for me to the 3/30 Wurlitzer
organ at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The lake
effect snow was blowing in pretty hard, and most things on the night of my arrival
were closed. Fortunately the snow let up on Friday morning and we were able to
have the concerts on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Both shows were
well attended, the Saturday afternoon show was sold out !
The organ sounded great, and the all Christmas program was well received.
The first half of the program was all Christmas favorites, with the organ console
center stage. In the second half, the organ was moved off to the right side so the
projection screen could be used for a Christmas carol sing-along and the Laurel
and Hardy short comedy "Double Whoopie."
On this trip I took one of my "good cameras" and was able to get some shots of
the pipes, as well as the console. I used a Canon EFS 10mm-22mm lens for
the wide angle shots. I took a few new pictures of some of the displays in the
museum also. The museum is really terrific.
As per my comments below from my previous concerts, the audience sang like
a trained choir. It is a cool feeling to play for a sing-along when the audience is
singing with that much feeling and strength.
Since it was a Christmas concert, I was able to take make good use of the
tuned sleigh bells and other percussions on the organ. The Trumpet En
Chamade cuts through full organ with ease.
Hope you like these pictures. Make sure you visit this museum when you're in
Grand Rapids, it is first class.
organ at the Van Andel Museum Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The lake
effect snow was blowing in pretty hard, and most things on the night of my arrival
were closed. Fortunately the snow let up on Friday morning and we were able to
have the concerts on Friday night and Saturday afternoon. Both shows were
well attended, the Saturday afternoon show was sold out !
The organ sounded great, and the all Christmas program was well received.
The first half of the program was all Christmas favorites, with the organ console
center stage. In the second half, the organ was moved off to the right side so the
projection screen could be used for a Christmas carol sing-along and the Laurel
and Hardy short comedy "Double Whoopie."
On this trip I took one of my "good cameras" and was able to get some shots of
the pipes, as well as the console. I used a Canon EFS 10mm-22mm lens for
the wide angle shots. I took a few new pictures of some of the displays in the
museum also. The museum is really terrific.
As per my comments below from my previous concerts, the audience sang like
a trained choir. It is a cool feeling to play for a sing-along when the audience is
singing with that much feeling and strength.
Since it was a Christmas concert, I was able to take make good use of the
tuned sleigh bells and other percussions on the organ. The Trumpet En
Chamade cuts through full organ with ease.
Hope you like these pictures. Make sure you visit this museum when you're in
Grand Rapids, it is first class.