Memories of OHEKA Castle

and

Eastern Military Academy

 

 

 

View of Oheka Castle in 1954
when it was home to the Eastern Military Academy

 

Otto H. Kahn (1867-1934)

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 residence in the United States (after the Biltmore Estate in Ashville, North Carolina).
It was also the largest residence built in New York State and now the largest restored home in the USA.

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

 

 

 

 

 

Oheka Castle: The New York Times called it "the finest country home in America."

 

 

In Hollywood, he helped finance Paramount Pictures in its early days and also the Charlie Chaplin films.

Picture shows from left: Douglas Fairbanks, Otto Kahn, Charlie Chaplin

 

Otto Kahn: A Personal Connection With The Gilded Age Music Patron

Music preservationist, Roger Hall, has presented several webinars
about Otrto H. Kahn and his talented son, Roger Wolfe Kahn, who had his own jazz band in the 1920s.

Here are some of the commentas from those who watched this webinar:

"Very good material and clear explanation. Most interesting."

"Having grown up less than a mile from Oheka, I still learned things from this event."

"Roger Hall was extremely knowledgeable about Otto Kahn and the arts scene in the early 20th century.
The pictures and music in his presentation made the webinar come alive."

"Very thorough and learned a lot more than I already knew about Otto Khan."

"Very informative. Lots of visual aids. Host really knew the subject matter."

"Great usage of media, video, pictures. Loved the personal connection of speaker to Oheka."

"The presenter was excellent and knew his facts. The webinar was quite broad in detail such as music facts,
the life of Otto Kahn as well as his son and then Oheka castle itself."

"I liked the addition of the music and the lecturer's experiences at the military academy."

Otto Kahn was very active in supporting The Metropolitan Opera in New York City in its early glory years.
He also helped support some major music talent from the past including:
Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso; Fred and Adele Astaire; George Gershwin; and others.

Kahn also helped support Broadway musicals, like "Lady, Be Good!" (1924) - the first all-Gerhswin show,

Also featured in the webinar were views of the magnificent Oheka Castle on Long Island,
where Mr. Hall attended Eastern Military Academy (EMA) in the 1950s
and began his music training in the glee club. Later, he returned after the castle was restored to its former elegance.

 

The next webinar sponsored by the New York Adventure Club is Thursday, October 17, 2024.

To read about and register for this popular illustrated webinar, go to eventbrite

 

Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra

Otto Kahn's son, Roger Wolfe Kahn (1907-1962), was a talented musician and played many instruments. In the 1920s he was a young band leader and songwriter. Among the famous Big Band musicians who played in his band were Tommy Dorsey, Eddie Lang, Artie Shaw, Jack Teagarden, Joe Venuti, and others. One of the songs he co-wrote with Irving Caesar and Joseph Meyer was "Crazy Rhythm" - a big hit in 1928.

Read about that song and Roger Wolfe Kahn on the multimedia computer disc,

"Crazy Rhythm" - Memories of Eastern Military Academy and Oheka Castle

 

 

Roger has been active for over 50 years as a composer, radio host, cable TV producer, music teacher, writer, and music preservationist.

He is currently Director of the Center for American Music Preservation (CAMP) and also the American Music Recordings Archive (AMRA).

For his work in so many music areas, he has been honored in various directories, including Who's Who in America..

One of the golden times from his youth was the years spent at Eastern Military Academy (EMA) in the early 1950s.

He has written about those years with pictures about the magnificent Oheka Castle where EMA was located.

Roger tells his personal story about his difficult times with a sudden family separation which caused him to enter a depression time. He was saved by the teachers and staff at Eastern Military Academy during his years attending there for several years in the 1950s.

He has remained interested in the restoration and history of Oheka Castle and provided several EMA pictures from his research
for the cable TV program: "Mega Mansions: Oheka Castle and Mansion on O Street."

After leaving EMA, he continued his music career as a songwriter in the 1960s, and then later as a music teacher, composer and singer.

He is now retired from teaching but he still presents lectures and workshops about his extensive work helping to preserve historical American music.

He has given many Online webinars for the NY Adventrure about Otto Kahn and his magnificent castle on Long Island.

 

 

 

 

Friends of Oheka Garden Party

Celebrating The 20th Anniversary of the Restoration of Oheka Castle


Sponsored by the Friends of OHEKA Castle

June 10, 2004

Theme: The Roaring Twenties

Hosts: Otto and Addie Kahn
(portrayed by Gary and Pam Melius)

One of Oddie and Addie Kahn's Special Guests:

 

Fred Astaire
(portrayed by Roger Hall)

 

 

This is the personal story of the author's painful family separation
and attending Eastern Military Academy (EMA) at Oheka Castle in the 1950s
which literally saved his life and was a "golden moment" in his childhood.

It was also the beginning of his music training.

Note: This book is only available here
and not at any other online site.

Order your copy of this personal story (available as a PDF)
titled after the hit song from 1928 co-written by Otto's son, Roger Wolfe Kahn --

Th cost for this PDF book is $11.95
and will be sent directly to you at your email address
with no shipping charge needed.

 

Click on this button to:

 

 

 

 

 

Important!

After you place your order,
send an e-mail mentioning this title
and include your preferred mailing address
to -- pinetreepro@aol.com

 

 

 

Also available separately is an earlier story,
"E.M.A. at Oheka Castle"
on this computer disc playable on CD drive --

 

 

Contact email

 

 

 

 

 

---

Return to top of this page