By WKTV Staff
joanne@wktv.org
The Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) will kick off the 2021 Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert series with a dynamic organ performance by Andrew Rogers, featuring the silent film Safety Last! on Oct. 15 and 16.
Tickets are on sale now for in-person and virtual concert options. Rogers will play alongside the 1923 American silent romantic comedy film, Safety Last! and the short film Ask Father.
Theater organs were originally developed to provide music and sound effects to accompany silent films. Safety Last! is still regarded today as one of the great film comedies, and includes famous images from the silent film era. Starring Harold Lloyd, the film’s title is a play on the common expression, “safety first,” which prioritizes safety as a means to avoid accidents, especially in workplaces.
The 1928 Mighty Wurlitzer Theater Organ is an impressive icon of Grand Rapids and an artifact preserved in the GRPM’s Collections used to entertain and educate all ages through the annual concert series and year-long programming.
This year’s concerts will be available in person, as well as an option for live virtual viewing for Friday evening shows. In person tickets are $15, with the discounted price of $10 for members. Virtual tickets are $10 per household, with the discounted price of $6 for member households. Tickets are available by visiting grpm.org/Organ.
In person shows will be held at 7 p.m. on Fridays and at 2 p.m. on Saturdays in the GRPM’s Meijer Theater. Virtual concerts of the Friday performance will be streamed live over Zoom; only one link is needed per household.
Additional themed organ concerts will take place in November and December. For more information visit grpm.org/Organ.
