Wonders of the Wurlitzer

PPAC’s “Mighty Wurlitzer” was built in 1927 and has five keyboards, twenty-one ranks, and percussion that can produce many orchestral sounds, as well as sound effects that can be utilized when accompanying silent films. The PPAC “Mighty Wurlitzer” is one of only three five-manual keyboard consoles built by Wurlitzer. Lincoln W.N. Pratt assisted a small team of PPAC Trustees in finding the 5/21 Wurlitzer organ which was privately owned; the organ was purchased by PPAC in 1982 and has held a special place of honor at the theatre ever since. 

Lincoln W.N. Pratt was the PPAC House Organist from 1982 until his passing in 1998; Mr. Pratt played the organ prior to many Broadway shows and he helped create the first, free Wednesdays at the Wurlitzer series which has now become the Wonders of the Wurlitzer series; these concerts are still free and open to the public. The console of the Mighty Wurlitzer was posthumously dedicated to Mr. Pratt.

World-renowned organist and silent film accompanist Peter Edwin Krasinski has been PPAC’s House Organist since the fall of 2020. Mr. Krasinski performed a free concert during PPAC’s special 90^th Anniversary Celebration in October 2018 and has performed for the Wurlitzer concert series and for other PPAC events.

PPAC and Mr. Krasinski began the virtual Wurlitzer concert series in October 2020, when PPAC recorded him performing his own unique, improvised accompaniment on the Mighty Wurlitzer to the 1925 silent film The Phantom of The Opera.>

PPAC has also recorded Mr. Krasinski performing a holiday season concert and Valentine’s Day concert on the Mighty Wurlitzer; these videos remain free to view and can be accessed at any time on PPAC’s YouTube Channel.

Mr. Krasinski will perform pre-show Wurlitzer concerts and more; please join our e-list to receive PPAC news on upcoming Wurlitzer concerts, Broadway shows and other events.