Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ, left, and the Wanamaker Organ, which resides at Macy's in Center City Philadelphia
It's not uncommon for aficionados to debate who has the bigger organ.
However, it's not about size as much as performance when it comes to Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ and the Wanamaker Organ, which resides in Center City Philadelphia's Macy's.
Both are iconic and massive.
The former is the largest and loudest musical instrument ever constructed. It is one of the only two organs in the world to have an open 64-foot pipe rank.
The difference between the organs separated by 60 miles is that the former has several thousand more pipes than its cousin. However, the Wanamaker Organ, which was built in 1904 for the St. Louis World's Fair, has more sets of pipes.
"We have a friendly rivalry," Wanamaker Organ executive director Ray Binswanger said. "The organs are like '1A' and '1B.' We can't help but joke about the size difference but the scale of the organ in Atlantic City is unbelievable. It's so powerful that it's overwhelming."
It was evident during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium organ last summer how potent the largest organ in the world (as measured by the number of pipes: 33,112) is while in performance mode. The Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ can split ears if played at maximum volume.
"The organ was built for a capacity of 41,000," said Scott Banks, membership and events coordinator of the Historic Organ Restoration Committee. "That's why the volume is so great."
However, when Boardwalk Hall was rehabbed from 1998 to 2001, the venue's seating configuration changed and it became standing-room-only at 14,500.
After decades of accumulated damage from water, building renovations, neglect and insufficient funding, the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ is in good shape, thanks to a multimillion-dollar restoration program.
A team of 22 — including 15 regular volunteers — work on the organ and help with tours and outreach. Many of the volunteers also are part of the Wanamaker Organ crew.
Boardwalk Hall's organ recitals are slated from April to December every Wednesday at noon. Daily noon recitals run from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Scott Banks, membership and events coordinator of the Historic Organ Restoration Committee, talks about the pipes."We go offline to do large repairs and other maintenance," Banks said.
There's a great deal to maintain.
The Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ is the only organ to have pipes voiced on 100 inches of wind pressure and a console featuring 7 manuals and 1,235 stop tabs.
Considering everything the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ has endured, it's remarkable that it sounds tremendous. In two months folks can bask in its rich sonic glory.
However, for those who can't wait, it's just over an hour drive to Macy's to experience the Wanamaker Organ, which is played twice a day, at noon and 5:30 p.m.
Even though the Center City shop will close soon since it is one of 66 Macy's stores that will shutter in 2025, a spokesperson from Macy's Inc. confirmed, there is optimism that the Wanamaker's future is bright.
"From what we've been told, we're inclined to be optimistic," Binswanger said. "The details haven't been released but it sounds like the news is good. The word is that the store will close March 23. The big protection for us is that everybody loves the Wanamaker Organ."
Those who have visited the Boardwalk Hall Auditorium Organ feel the same way.
"They're both great," Binswanger said. "We have this wonderful, friendly rivalry. We have more sets of pipes and the Boardwalk Organ has several thousand more pipes than we do. The two organs are like golf courses that are each magnificent but different. (President of the Historic Organ Restoration Committee in Atlantic City) Curt Mangel, who is the curator of the Wanamaker Organ, says that tackling all of the issues of the organs is like two 'Missions impossibles' but we're succeeding wonderfully."
That's music to the ears of organ lovers, who enjoy music from massive instruments. "We like to joke about the size thing," Binswanger said. "That keeps it light."
