How much is the organ used during the Christmas show now? From the various youtube videos, it appears only to be used before the show starts, but no longer during the Nativity scene. Any intermissions between set and scene changes or the exit music?
Denpiano, glad to see your still here. I enjoyed reading your posts about the organ and Ray Bohr. I knew him as boy growing up until his passing when I was 11.
Went to the ‘LOTR’ concert last night. Sat in 403A on the second mezzanine. Music-wise I enjoyed it. I could hear the instruments extremely well compared to my 5.1 home theater system when playing the DVD version of the film. But the picture looked standard definition and not high def. as they were advertising. Plus the ambient light around the orchestra and chorus made it look worse, though that is to be expected I suppose. There was an intermission and I was hoping the organ would be played, but it wasn’t. My only real gripe was that some people don’t abide by the rules of no flash photography during the performance.
kong1911, sorry I have not recieved your email yet, although I think I know the photo your are talking about. That’s great you get to play the Brooklyn Paramount! My parents are from that area and I have a picture of my dad at the console of that organ back in the 60s. Mind trying that email again? Thanks!
kong1911, if you please, email me at and I’ll share with you what I know and remember of Ray as well as let you know of the other tapes I have. Thanks!
Hi Kong, that was me who posted the link. I was only 2 at the time so unfortunately I never got to experience RCMH pre-1979, firsthand. My Dad made those tapes as he was a good friend of organist, Ray Bohr and I suspect he made them as he knew of the impending doom that was to come.
I was a bit hesistant to post them for fear of the powers-that-be may make me pull it off for some kind of infringent reason. But after uploading them to digital, researching about Ray and RCMH, plus the adoration here on this forum, I felt the need to post them. I’m glad you and others enjoy it!
This last one is listed on the tape as ‘Xmas show 1978’. Having never seen a RCMH Christmas show, I have no idea of how this differs from the ones done shown today. Scrolling back through this list, however, it appears the pre-1979 shows were the ones to see.
Your welcome, I will be adding more as there are various other tapes containing material from 1977-1978. The majority of them is of Ray playing, but there are also 2 small tracks of what appears to be the finale of the Christmas and Easter shows, as well as one entitled ‘Bach Festival Overture’
I just found this list and read as much as I could. I’m trying to get as much info on Ray Bohr and his performances at RCMH. It appears Denpiano and Organized among others knew him well. My Dad met Ray backstage in 1964 and they became good friends all the way until Ray’s passing in 1987. I was 11 at the time so I never got to see or hear Ray live at RCMH. But my father made several recordings of Ray in concert during 77-78. I’ve been playing them alot lately as well as going through old photos and hearing stories about Ray from other family members. I can remember during visits, he and my father would talk until very late all about organs and pipes, etc. On short, if anyone has info, pix, etc…please reply or email me privately at Thanks!
Digging through my parents LP collection, I discovered a RCMH Christmas album from 1972. Took a few pics:
View link
View link
View link
How much is the organ used during the Christmas show now? From the various youtube videos, it appears only to be used before the show starts, but no longer during the Nativity scene. Any intermissions between set and scene changes or the exit music?
There was a brief outdoor shot of RCMH on HBO’s ‘The Pacific’ Sunday night.
there are a few of Bohr’s intermissions on youtube
Denpiano, glad to see your still here. I enjoyed reading your posts about the organ and Ray Bohr. I knew him as boy growing up until his passing when I was 11.
Went to the ‘LOTR’ concert last night. Sat in 403A on the second mezzanine. Music-wise I enjoyed it. I could hear the instruments extremely well compared to my 5.1 home theater system when playing the DVD version of the film. But the picture looked standard definition and not high def. as they were advertising. Plus the ambient light around the orchestra and chorus made it look worse, though that is to be expected I suppose. There was an intermission and I was hoping the organ would be played, but it wasn’t. My only real gripe was that some people don’t abide by the rules of no flash photography during the performance.
kong1911, sorry I have not recieved your email yet, although I think I know the photo your are talking about. That’s great you get to play the Brooklyn Paramount! My parents are from that area and I have a picture of my dad at the console of that organ back in the 60s. Mind trying that email again? Thanks!
kong1911, if you please, email me at and I’ll share with you what I know and remember of Ray as well as let you know of the other tapes I have. Thanks!
Hi Kong, that was me who posted the link. I was only 2 at the time so unfortunately I never got to experience RCMH pre-1979, firsthand. My Dad made those tapes as he was a good friend of organist, Ray Bohr and I suspect he made them as he knew of the impending doom that was to come.
I was a bit hesistant to post them for fear of the powers-that-be may make me pull it off for some kind of infringent reason. But after uploading them to digital, researching about Ray and RCMH, plus the adoration here on this forum, I felt the need to post them. I’m glad you and others enjoy it!
Easter Show Segment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTqE_lEIp0Q
Bach Festival Overture:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQwy2YcVCeM
Here’s 2 more:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFpZgOBMfVU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxACcFtuF6s
This last one is listed on the tape as ‘Xmas show 1978’. Having never seen a RCMH Christmas show, I have no idea of how this differs from the ones done shown today. Scrolling back through this list, however, it appears the pre-1979 shows were the ones to see.
Enjoy!
Your welcome, I will be adding more as there are various other tapes containing material from 1977-1978. The majority of them is of Ray playing, but there are also 2 small tracks of what appears to be the finale of the Christmas and Easter shows, as well as one entitled ‘Bach Festival Overture’
I posted an audio clip on youtube of Ray Bohr playing the organ from 1978. Here is the link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sctkbSvnKs
My mom told me that my dad helped restore the organ back in the early or mid 60s and even got a chance to play it before a movie showing once.
I just found this list and read as much as I could. I’m trying to get as much info on Ray Bohr and his performances at RCMH. It appears Denpiano and Organized among others knew him well. My Dad met Ray backstage in 1964 and they became good friends all the way until Ray’s passing in 1987. I was 11 at the time so I never got to see or hear Ray live at RCMH. But my father made several recordings of Ray in concert during 77-78. I’ve been playing them alot lately as well as going through old photos and hearing stories about Ray from other family members. I can remember during visits, he and my father would talk until very late all about organs and pipes, etc. On short, if anyone has info, pix, etc…please reply or email me privately at Thanks!