A Pipe Dream Come True

He Spent His Life Savings On Playing The Organ At Radio City Music Hall - And Still Wants More

(CBS)  Making a dream come true can be worth a great sum of money. But for one man, it meant nearly his entire life savings. CBS News correspondent Steve Hartman tells this man's story for Assignment America.

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This story is not a story about the theatre organ 67-year-old Jack Moelmann built in his basement outside St. Louis - although that certainly would make an interesting story.

Instead, this story is about Moelmann's other passion, which is to play on as many different theatre organs as possible.

But isn't an organ just an organ?

"No, because they're all different," Moelmann said.

Since his first gig in the church choir, Moelmann has played hundreds of theatre organs. Almost all the famous ones, except perhaps the most famous of all.

"It's the biggest one made by Wurlitzer, and that makes it historic - and in a theatre that is historic," Moelmann said.

Radio City Music Hall - Moelmann has always wanted to play there.

"I looked in the mirror and I said, 'Why not?'" Molemann explained.

Of course, Radio City doesn't just let any old schmoe wander in to play their pipe organ.

In fact, the only way they'd let him play the organ there is if he rented out the entire theatre.

"I've paid so far to the music hall $118,182." He said.

He's not rich. A retired Air Force colonel and life-long bachelor, this one-night stand cost him the bulk of his life savings.

To try and recoup some, Jack sold $50 tickets - which to me seemed about $50 dollars too much ...

"Anybody want a free ticket for Jack Moelmann?" Hartman asked on the street outside the theater.

He thought he was pretty funny. Until, just a few moments later he spotted a potential taker.

"Sir, you looked like you'd like to see Jack Moelmann for free."

"I was actually going to pay for it," the man replied.

"Really!?" Hartman said.

The guy, named Alex, had read about the concert in a local paper.

Alex told Hartman he's not a big fan of organ music.

"I just admire that he's doing this so I think he deserves to get some support," he said.

By show time, nearly 1,000 people had shown up to support Moelmann. That's not many by Radio City standards, but pretty remarkable for an amateur organist.

And they all sat there - for nearly three hours of Rubber Duckie and other assorted favorites. Applauding - if not his organ playing - then at least his attitude.

Only in America can you achieve even your wildest dreams - by buying them.

And only in America can you make that dream happen - and still want more.

"Now I gotta work on the next one," Moelmann said.

"But you're out of money," Hartman said.

"Yea, but this one's free," he said.

After playing Radio City, Moelmann got an invitation to play the largest theatre organ in the world. It's at department store in Philadelphia and has almost 30,000 pipes.

Needless to say, he plans to accept the invitation.

[pipedream08]

I think it''s wonderful that Jack has an interest in pipe organs. It''s a shame he had to pay so much to play the organ at Radio City Music Hall. I know there are expenses but.....

By the way, the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia is not a theater organ. Anyways Jack, have a great time. Pull out all the stops and shake the building!

(re-posted-sorry about the typos in previous posting).

[pipedream08]

I think it''s wonderful he has an interest in pipe organs. It''s a shame he had to pay so much to play I think it''s wonderful that Jack has an interest in pipe organs. It''s a shame he had to pay so much money to play the organ at Radio City Music Hall. I know there are expenses but.....

By the way, the Wanamaker Organ in Philadelphia is not a theater organ. Anyways Jack, have a great time. Pull out all the stops and shake the building.

[jennmarikp]

Radio City Music Hall should refund that man''s life savings. What a rip off. How much money would they lose by allowing this man to play their organ for three hours? Terrible!!

[u-r-right]

Radio City Music Hall needs to give him back his money. Couldn''t they let him play their stupid organ at a time when they are closed? I think this guy is a bit demented for agreeing to pay that much. A fool and his money are soon parted.

[oneworldusa]

There''s a Wurlitzer in Richmond, Va. at the Byrd Theatre, complete with its velvet seats, velvet curtains, chandeliers, wall-paintings, balcony seating, marble, etc.

You don''t find ''em like that anymore.

[goboblue]

Hey "BlackYowe";
Americans didn''t "sell out" under Reagan, you KOOK. "Conspicuous consumerism" was WIDESPREAD, ALIVE AND WELL in America since AT LEAST the beginning of the 20th century--What, do you think John Lennon was protesting the American way of life ONLY AFTER Reagan was elected?!!
Wake up!!

[blackyowe]

Americans values are about money. It''s all what you drive, what you wear, how much you will offer. This society sold out under Regan!

[shellnanna]

I am appalled that the author of this story summed up American patriotism in this gesture: only in America can you achieve your wildest dreams- by buying them. Are you kidding me? What does this say about our values? What about people like me, whose dreams are merely to be able to feed your kids and keep the electricity on at the same time? I''m glad this guy was able to "buy" his dream, but the author really underscores Americans'' preoccuppation with material weatlth, possessions, and consumerism in that one sentence and turned a nice story into a piece about the caste system we have in this country, where the rich can "achieve" (read:purchase) their "dreams (ie whatever they want), while the working class and poor continue to scrape by. Shame on you Steve Hartman.

[barbaraf4]

His Bucket List.

[calducks2]

Nice that the Radio City Music Hall could take advantage of a person''s dream. Hard to believe they couldn''t come up with something besides charging him $118,000.

[wmbrashier]

"Bravo Zulu"
That''s U.S.Navy talk for
"Job Well Done!"
Where there''s a "Will there''s a Way!"