Memories Of Oheka Castle

 

Oheka Castle At Night

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otto H. 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 one of the second largest private residences in the United States. The New York Times called it "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 purcased in 1984 when it was a total ruin after vandals destroyed the building.

A few quick shots of Oheka Castle were shown in the opening newsreel in the classic 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," in 1924.

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

"...in his art, thoroughly and uncompromiseingly 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 booklet published in honor of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of "Rhapsody in Blue"in 1924:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Young bandleader 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 singers including Shirley Bassey, Doris Day, Bob Wills & His Teaxas Playboys, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra.

 

Anniversary Webinar:

Otto H. 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 completerly 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.

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

This virtual program was sponsored by the NY Adventure Club and presented by Roger Lee Hall, Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) who celebrated the 70th anniversary when he was a resident in Oheka Castle as a cadet in Eastern Military Academy and first sang in the glee club in 1954. Also when he later sang at the Friends of Oheka Garden Party in 2004. Over the years he has researched the life of the Kahn family including Roger Wolfe Kahn who had his own jazz orchestra.

 

 

An Illustrated Memoir

 

 

Friends of Oheka Garden Party, June 2004

Front of Oheka Castle from 1954 yearbook of Eastern Military Academy.

To order the memoir...

 

 

 

This memoir is available in two different formats:

+Book with his personal memories and many pictures
readable on any device for PDF books

or

+CD-ROM (playable on a CD device - but not DVD or Blu-ray player)
containing the complete book plus more pictures from the author's collection
of Eastern Military Academy in the 1950s
and bonus audio files (MP3) and video clips.

Both the book and CD-ROM are titled after the popular song, "Crazy Rhythm,"
recorded by the Roger Wolfe Kahn Orchestra in 1928.
The book includes background on the author's experiences
living there as a cadet at Eastern Military Academy in the 1950s,
and his return to sing for a Friends of Oheka Garden Party in 2004.

Both the CD-ROM and book are only available here
and not at any other Online site.

The cost is only $9.95 for the PDF book (available Worldwide)

The CD-ROM is available by clicking on PayPal the "Quantity" button two times for the total of $19.95

Note: the CD-ROM is only available in the USA and it includes Free Shipping.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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
or
If ordering the CD-ROM, the disc will be sent to you by US Mail.

To send your email address -- click here

 

 

For any questions -- click here

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

"Dream World" - Songs, Poems, Stories

 

 

 

 

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