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Retired colonel rents Radio City to play organ

Jack Moelmann is a retired Air Force colonel with a passion for playing the pipe organ. His passion runs so deep that he recently plunked down nearly $120,000 to fulfill a lifelong dream — to perform on the famed Wurlitzer organ at Radio City Music Hall.

On Aug. 9, the 67-year-old Moelmann will sit at the ebony horseshoe-shaped keyboard console at the magnificent Art Deco concert hall for a single evening performance entitled "A Musical Showcase featuring Col. Jack Moelmann and Friends at the Mighty Wurlitzer Theatre Pipe Organ."

Moelmann said that Radio City for him has always constituted "the mecca of places to play."

"One day back in February, I looked in the mirror and said, 'Jack, you have a dream, go for it!'" he said. "Not to argue with myself, I have personally rented Radio City Music Hall for an organ program the likes of which has not been done in years, if ever."

The organ at Radio City is the largest theater pipe organ ever built by the Wurlitzer Company. Installed in 1932, the year Radio City opened, it features four keyboards, 58 sets of pipes and twin consoles that can be independently operated.

Moelmann has no illusions of making money or attracting a huge audience. He spent $118,182 to rent out the 6,000-seat hall, and concedes that he had to cash out his savings accounts and savings bonds to cover the cost.

He also thought about renting Radio City's Rockettes for the show, but quickly realized they were way out of his league. Moelmann said they would have cost $90,000 for a five-minute performance.

"I'll be happy with 1,000 people," he said of the show, where tickets cost $50. "I'm going there to gratify myself by playing ... and to show off what the music hall has in the way of an organ."

He hopes proceeds from the show will cover his cost, and he may donate some money to the Theatre Organ Society International, where Moelmann serves as secretary.

Moelmann said he will decide on the program at the last minute.

Still, he is reasonably certain he will play the Trolley Song from the musical "Meet Me in St. Louis," the novelty tune "Rubber Duckie" from Sesame Street, and the title song from the musical "Mame," in a duet with fellow organ player Russell Holmes.

Holmes is flying in from England for the show, and Moelmann has invited three other organists to perform.

Moelmann has also included an audience sing-along and a "Tribute to America" finale, featuring a medley of patriotic songs beginning with the "Battle Hymn to the Republic." Military scenes, including the Air Force's elite Thunderbirds, will be projected on a large movie screen.

Moelmann said the independently working consoles are what makes the Radio City Wurlitzer unique. Sitting literally "a city block apart" across the 144-foot-wide stage, they are rarely played simultaneously.

Radio City's Christmas Spectacular has used both consoles at the same time, but Moelmann's concert would be the only time both are played at a public concert exclusively showcasing the organ, said venue spokeswoman Mikyl Cordova.

Moelmann lives in O'Fallon, Ill., outside St. Louis. He retired in 1991 after 26 years in the Air Force, assigned to the communications and electronics field.