Syracuse Wurlitzer

Presented by our neighbor and friends to the west....

Our friend David Peckham is performing live online tonight at the beautiful Marr & Colton pipe organ in Elmira NY. Details below...Check it out!

Celebrating the Suffrage Centennial 100 years since the ratification of the 19th amendment Did you know that the Harriet May Mills Art and Home Center on the Fa...irgrounds is dedicated to one of Syracuse’s local suffrage leaders? Named for Syracuse-based suffrage leader Harriet May Mills (1857 - 1935). Harriet represented the suffrage cause twice at the New York State Fair in Syracuse. She distributed suffrage literature and promotional material in the Fair's main exhibition hall in 1900 and spoke in the main auditorium on September 19, 1903. In 1919, she founded the Onondaga County Women’s Democratic Club, the first such organization in the state. In 1920, she campaigned for election as Attorney General of the State of New York, becoming the first female to seek major state-wide office as a candidate of a major political party. The State Fair building opened in 1934 and Mills attended its dedication. She died about one year later. See more

We miss seeing all our wonderful public too!

Our friend and Museum Trustee is also featured often at the Capitol Theatre in Rome NY.

The following message was sent to our members 7th July 2020: Members & Friends; Earlier this year we were forced by the State of New York to postpone the first two music programs this season featuring the Mighty Wurlitzer organ with another great Scott Foppiano concert in April and the anticipated return of Lance Luce in late May. We had hoped to restart our programming later this fall/winter, however considering our membership age demographics; it’s highly unlikely we can... safely present any programs until there is a successful vaccine and general guidelines from the CDC and state government to allow safe crowds in our Empire Theatre. Obviously, our audience and volunteers health is our most important priority and concern. Yesterday 6th July, the governor made official the cancellation of the New York State Fair. For over 50 years, the annual State Fair has been our primary means of community outreach and fundraising to sustain our restoration and preservation efforts year-round. Thankfully, our operating expenses this year has been minimal, so the Board of Trustees have decided to extend all paid 2020 memberships through 2021 calendar year. While we are continued to be shut down, your Board of Trustees is considering some needed refurbishment work on some of the Wurlitzer organ pipes. Also, earlier this spring, we added a beautiful 1950’s vintage Wurlitzer Jukebox to our museum collection. If you have any questions, always feel free to reach out to us. For the best up-to-date news, follow us on Facebook at Syracuse-Wurlitzer. Incidentally, we hope to be launching an all-new web site later this year at www.syracusewurlitzer.com. Stay healthy, stay safe and keep a little music in your life. Musically yours, ESTMIM Board of Trustees

Have you ever wondered what the interior of the Strand Theatre down the street from our beloved RKO Keith’s looked like? Hooray for the OHA to finally find one!! Can any of our area theatre organ experts confirm what the pipe organ was or what happened to it?

News from our neighbor in the southern tier of upstate NY...

An exciting update from our neighbors to the east.

Hello Dolly, and hello to all our members and friends!

Please see message below from our Director:

To friends across the pond! Happy Independence Day #4thJuly (Image courtesy of Walter Gunston)

Our friend and house organist Jason Comet and all of us at the Empire State Theatre and Musical Instrument Museum wishes you a happy Independence Day!