In a previous digest, Bill Finch wrote the following:

> The Midmer-Loesch Theatre Organ on the Atlantic City Pier (The largest
> theatre organ built) cost $83,246.  The Radio City Organ (also Midmer-
> Loesch I believe) cost $60,000.  Most Wurlitzer Theatre Organs were
> around $35,000, but they were worth a million dollars in publicity.

It seems to me that $83,000 was far too small a figure go the building of
the Atlantic City Municipal Auditorium organ.

The correct amount as awarded was $347,200 in May, 1929.  In 1974 I had
the pleasure to extensively interview George Losh, then on in years (80).
He had previously given me much historical information concerning the
Municipal organ, including original drawings, sketches, 8x10 photos,
original contracts,  advertising literature, and most interestingly,
letters between the firm and the in-house organ repairman, Roscoe Evans .

I interviewed him on two occasions and learned much about the organ.  In
1982 I started writing about it and completed a 60 + page manuscript that
now lies dormant in my closet.  I have no idea how to share it with those
who may be interested in it.

In 1975 George Losh died and I wrote an obituary for The Diapason.  It was
reproduced  word for word by the Theater Organ magazine but, unfortunately
for those who would have desired additional information, my name was not
included.

Here is an excerpt:

George Losh, organ builder, died March 30, 1975.  Mr. Losh was the former
owner of Midmer-Losh, Inc. having retired from the organ building firm in
June, 1973.

Midmer-Losh was best known for the construction of two very large organ:
the Atlantic City High School organ, and the Atlantic City Municipal
Auditorium organ.  Both were built in the early 1920Us and 1930Us
respectively......

A contract was awarded to Midmer-Losh Company for ........$347,200.
According to the contract, the organ was to have two consoles, one of six
manuals and the other of five.  Both consoles controlled an organ of 297
stops.  Several subsequent contracts increased the size and cost of the
organ....and by adding a seventh manual.

Unfortunately, the Atlantic City organ project met with many difficulties,
both political and financial.....

The organ was completed in March, 1932.  After months of suits, hearings
and litigations, the organ was finally accepted in September of 1933.  But
final payment was delayed until much later.  ....In the end, the Atlantic
City organ was considered a financial and emotional disaster for the firm.
They were never able to bounce back to their original prosperity and
reputation.

Here is a small excerpt from my manuscript:

Oh, say!  Can't you hear?...

     One of the worst disasters for the Midmer-Losh Company occurred at
the worst possible time.  This disaster was to give plenty of ammunition
to the foes of the company.  It happened early in September, 1933 during
the Rolling Chair Parade at the Beauty Pageant.  Over ten thousand persons
were standing ready to sing the National Anthem.  Arthur Scott Brook (the
Atlantic City organ inspector) was at the organ console.  All of a sudden,
after the first line of the anthem was sung, the organ went silent!

Brook was furious, as can well be imagined.  He was to vent his anger
later on during the hearings when, as the city's inspector, he caused all
sorts of problems for the Midmer-Losh firm.

Let's look into this organ breakdown problem.  As most organ technicians
know, a catastrophic breakdown can occur at almost anytime and for a
multitude of reasons.  To get 100% reliability from an installation the
size and complexity of this one is almost an impossibility.  But for
Brooks, the embarrassed organist, this breakdown was unforgivable.  Most
of the time a catastrophic failure is the easiest to repair.  This is what
Roscoe Evans relates to George in a letter:

        "The breakdown referred to was the motor that drives
        the generator.  The field opened up or burned out two
        days before the Pageant.  The electricians hooked up a
        spare motor with a belt drive.  So when Brook started
        playing the Star Spangled Banner, and all the people
        were standing, he played about ten bars, the organ went
        dead - the belt flew off.  Dan had it on again in about a
        minute  but that was too late."

A great article on the organ can be found in the "American Organist" vol.
15, No.8, August 1932.  It is called, "The Greatest Organ in the World" by
T. Scott Buhrman.  I found it in the Lincoln Center Music Library.

Hope this clears up a few things concerning the Midmer-Losh firm.

Andy LaTorre
LaTorre Orgue Mecanique