Memories Of Oheka Castle

 

Nighttime at Oheka
(courtesy - Oheka Castle website)

New expanded edition of this book now available!

 

 

 

 

Otto Hermann Kahn
Born: Mannheim, Germany, February 21, 1867
Died: New York, New York, March 29, 1934

He named his dream castle: "OHEKA" after the initials of his full name
(O=Otto/ HE=Hermann/ KA=Kahn).

He was called "King of New York" in the 1920s and appeared on the cover of TIME Magazine in 1925.
His musical son, Roger Wolfe Kahn, also appeared on the TIME cover in the 1920s.

 

Oheka Castle was completed in 1919. It originally had 127 rooms and occupied 109,000 square feet of space, making it the second largest private residences in the United States after the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina. The New York Times called OHEKA "the finest country home in America." It was also the largest residence built in New York State and is now the largest restored home in the USA after being purchased in 1984 when it was a total ruin after vandals destroyed most of the castle but it survived because Otto Kahn had it constructed using mainly steel and concrete and very little wood.

This front entrance staircase at Oheka was modeled after the Chateau de Fontainebleau in France:

 

A few quick shots of Oheka Castle were shown in the opening newsreel
in the classic 1941 Hollywood film, CITIZEN KANE.

Otto Kahn was also a big supporter of George Gershwin's music. He attended the historic First Performance of Gershwin's first concert work, "Rhapsody in Blue," at Aeolian Hall in New York in 1924. Kahn also helped finance some Broadway shows, including the first all Gershwin musical,
"Lady Be Good," which premiered on December 1, 1924 ands ran for 330 performances.
One of the hit songs from that musical was "Fascinating Rhythm."

From a tribute to George Gershwin written by Otto Kahn in 1928:

"...in his art, thoroughly and uncompromisingly American as it is, one of their foremost spokesman. In the rhythm, the melody, the humor, grace, the rush and sweep and dynamics of his compositions, he expresses the genius of young America."

That quote is included in a new edition of this illustrated booklet published in honor of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue"in 1924:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young band leader Roger Wolfe Kahn who formed his own orchestra in 1923

 

Otto Kahn's son, Roger Wolfe Kahn (1907-1962), was a talented musician and reportedly could play 18 different instruments. His favorites were piano and saxophone. Among the famous later Big Band musicians who played in his band were Tommy & Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden, and Joe Venuti.

Roger Wolfe Kahn co-wrote this song with Irving Caesar and Joseph Meyer - a big hit in 1928 and has had over 150 cover records by many later pop singers including Shirley Bassey, Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and also jazz musicians like -- Bix Beiderbecke, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Les Paul,
Django Reinhardt and others.

 

Illustrated Webinar:

"Otto Kahn: A Personal Connection with the Gilded Age Music Patron"

Otto Hermann Kahn (1867-1934) was one of America's wealthiest citizens in the early 20th century and his beautiful Oheka Castle was the second largest private residence in America and is now the largest private residence which has been restored after being almost completely destroyed by vandals.

Otto spent considerable time and money in support of music and other arts. He was a major supporter of the Metropolitan Opera in New York in its early years and brought major opera people from Europe, especially the famous Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso. Kahn also helped support many musicians and actors on Broadway, including composer, George Gershwin, and actor, Paul Robeson.

This virtual program was produced by the New York Adventure Club and presented several times by Roger Hall, Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP).

 

 

In 2024, he celebrates the 70th anniversary when he first sang in a glee club
at Eastern Military Academy in 1954:

 

Also the 20th anniversary when he sang at this annual event --

 

Friends of Oheka Garden Party in 2004

Roger Hall was invited to sing a few Gershwin songs, accompanied by 1920s recordings of
George Gershwin at the piano, at the Friends of Oheka Garden Party shown here:

 

 

Now he has written his memories at EMA and Oheka Castle in a PDF book
in a new expanded edition with picture gallery supplement --

 

Picture of exterior of Oheka Castle and first floor hallway from EMA yearbook in Crazy Rhythm: Memories of Eastern Military Academy and Oheka Castle

 

Order your copy of this book
now available at Special Reduced Price!

 

 

 

CRAZY RHYTHM: Memories of Eastern Military Academy and Oheka Castle
(PineTree Press, 2024)

A book with Roger Hall's personal memories
and a new picture gallery supplement
readable on any device for PDF books.

Special Sale Price for a limited time!

The cost is only $11.95 for the PDF book
(sent by email attachment and no shipping charge needed)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After you have placed your order,
please be sure to send your email address
so you will receive the PDF book
directly by email attachment


To send your email address -- click here

 

 

For any questions -- click here

 

See all 8 volumes in the series:

Memories And Music

 

 

 

 

Also available separately is Roger Hall's earlier story
about his years living there in the 1950s titled,
"E.M.A. at Oheka" and including his early pop songs on this CD-ROM --

"Dream World" - Songs, Poems, Stories

 

 

 

 

To inquire about scheduling an illustrated music program by Roger Hall,
either in-person or an Online virtual program,
see his list of available lectures and workshops -- click here