ESTMIM presents a special Centennial Celebration of the Mighty Syracuse Wurlitzer featuring organist Dave Wickerham

The Empire State Theatre & Musical Instrument Museum is proud to announce a special program of music entertainment featuring Dave Wickerham as he performs on the Mighty Syracuse Wurlitzer Unit Orchestra. This special program commemorates the centennial of Wurlitzer Opus 1143 – built in August 1925 in North Tonawanda, New York and shipped to the RKO Keith’s Theatre in Syracuse New York. In 1966 this instrument was saved from demolition by dedicated volunteers and relocated to the New York State Fairgrounds where it was completely restored to original factory specifications and has since entertained countless audiences for nearly 60 years. This celebration marks 100 years of one of New York State’s preeminent and historically significant pipe organs used principally for entertainment and the accompaniment of silent films. The Syracuse Wurlitzer is preserved as an original example of the American theatre pipe organ and honored to be placed on National Registry of Historic and Significant Instruments by the American Theatre Organ Society. In 2016, Wurlitzer Opus 1143 was designated as a National Heritage Pipe Organ by the Organ Historical Society and designated as an Organ of Historical Significance, Worthy of Preservation.

Dave Wickerham was born in Encino, California in 1962. He began playing the electronic organ at the age of four and had his first pipe organ experience at age ten. His musical education started at age seven. When he moved to Arizona in 1976, he became Associate Organist at the famous Organ Stop Pizza Restaurants in Phoenix, Mesa and Tucson. While in Arizona, he continued his musical studies with Roseamond Crowley, one of the few remaining descendants of the Louis Vierne line of organists. He attended the University of Arizona in Tucson on a full scholarship, pursuing classical organ studies for six years with Dr. Roy Johnson.

Doors open at 6:30pm - General seating tickets are available at the door prior to the program….Please bring cash!

Refreshments will be served during intermission and special tours of the organ pipe chambers will be held following the program.

Founded in 1966, the non-profit Empire State Theatre & Musical Instrument Museum is chartered by the New York State Board of Regents as an Educational Organization. It is located in the Harriet May Mills Art & Home Center on the New York State Fairgrounds. The Wurlitzer organ was built in 1925 for the former RKO Keith’s Theatre in downtown Syracuse where it was used principally for silent film accompaniment and musical interludes. It was saved and reinstalled permanently in the Empire Theatre at the State Fairgrounds as the centerpiece of the theatre and musical instrument museum.

More information about the museum is available at https://www.facebook.com/SyracuseWurlitzer.