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Garden Party
Thursday, June 10, 2004
The 20th Anniversary of Pam and Gary Melius'
Restoration of OHEKA CASTLE (1984-2004)
Cold Spring Hills, New York
Contents
This article appeared in the 2004 Garden Party Program Book.
It is reprinted here with slight revisions and added pictures...
"Oh, How I Hate To Get Up In The Morning:
Remembrances of EMA and OHEKA
by Roger Hall
When we drove through the entrance gate and saw the facade, I couldn't belive my eyes. I didn't know it then but it was actually a castle built by Otto Hermann Kahn (1867-1934) and called "OHEKA" (after the initials of his full name). It was completed in 1919, as shown in this old photo:
When I first arrived there in September of 1952, I knew immediately that it was going to be something special.
I was attending Eastern Military Academy.
At the school they mistakenly told us it had been built by the playboy, Aly Kahn, who was once married to movie actress, Rita Hayworth. I was pleased to see Otto Kahn's castle briefly in the newsreel footage at the beginning of the film classic, CITIZEN KANE, one of my all-time favorite films. I first watched the film on WOR-TV in New York in the 1950s and knew even then it was a great film.
The Kahn castle was not so luxurious when I arrived there, but it was still impressive. It had a well worn cobblestone courtyard like some old European town [Kahn was originally from Germany]...
Restored entrance and facde at OHEKA
A magnificent swirling staircase in the entrance hall...
and long straight hallways...
Many of us young cadets were afraid to walk past the wind tunnels in the basement on the way to the canteen. The tunnels were very dark and made an eerie whistling sound.
Weather permitting, each morning we met to pick any trash on the terrace grounds before we had breakfast. So EMA did try to keep the place neat and clean.
Restored facade - my room was on the second floor where the third window on right is situated...
Much destruction was done by the young vandals who set fires and broke windows after EMA closed down.
I was very sad to hear that had happened.
Fortunately, thanks to the efforts of
Gary Melius [shown next to me in gray vest],
the castle now looks even better than I remember it.
In 1954, our room supervisor was Mr. Lewis Brody, who was also our history teacher. In my yearbook, he wrote: "To my brightJolly One." I had come in second in accademics for the entire Lower School and received a silver medal. Mr. Brody was very proud of my achievement. What he didn't know was I loved being at that safe and secure school. I had just lived through a painful separation with my parents so I was glad to be away at school.
Since it was a military academy, there were also the drills and parades. I loved marching to the snappy tunes played by the very good EMA band. My favorite was E.E. Bagley's "National Emblem March."
For the next few years I would spend many happy hours learning to read and write better, thanks to teachers like Mr. Brody.
Most important to my later music career, I did my first singing while at Eastern Military Academy.
I joined the Lower School Glee Club in 1954, as shown in this photograph from the EMA Yearbook...
I remember performing in a variety show which featured a medley of Irving Berlin songs, like "This is the Army" and "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning."
Many years later, in 1988, I did a 100th birthday radio tribute to Irving Berlin. I played "Oh, How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning," as sung by the songwriter himself. The radio host commented how much fun it was to recall the song when "hating" to get up in the morning.
That was true for us EMA cadets as well.
Oh, how we hated to get up in the morning!!
But oh, how much I loved living in Otto Kahn's magnificent castle from 1952 to 1955!
I have never forgotten those wonderful years.
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Message from Frank L. Scalia, President of the Eastern Military Academy Alumni Association
Thank You!
Gary and Pam Melius and Friends of OHEKA
for restoring our former home!
Eastern Military Academy
"We occupied the Castle the longest"!
From 1948 to 1979
"Our proud members appreciate your efforts to maintain and promote
the heritage of Eastern Military Academy"!
For more information see
Eastern Military Academy Alumni Association
Special Guests at the 2004 OHEKA Garden Party
Theme: The Roaring Twenties
Hosts: Otto and Addie Kahn
(portrayed by Gary and Pam Melius)The Kahn's Special Guests:
New York Governor Al Smith
(portrayed by Huntington Supintendent of Highways William Naughton)Grace Moore
(portrayed by Huntington Town Clerk Jo-Ann Raia)Mary Astor
(portrayed by Huntington Councilwoman Susan Berland)Fred Astaire
(portrayed by Music Presevationist Roger Hall)The Great Gatsby
(portrayed by Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson)
For more information about the activities there, click on this link to
Read the best biography about the castle's first owner,
Otto the Magnificent: The Life of Otto Kahn by John Kobbler (1988, 242 pages)
See also this information on
"Fred Astaire" Brings His Greetings to the OHEKA Garden Party
"I'd like to thank Mr. and Mrs. Kahn (or Otto and Addie) for inviting me to take part in the festivities today at this grand chateau on Long Island. I met Otto years ago when my sister Adele and I were working on the first all Gershwin show Lady Be Good in 1924. Adele also met Otto at a party in midtown New York given by Carl Van Vechten in 1925. She danced a little, the powerful Negro singer Paul Robeson sang, and George Gershwin played his wonderful Rhapsody in Blue for the party guests.George's brother, Ira, tells a funny story about Otto.
It seems when Lady Be Good was being prepared, Otto was approached as a potential investor. He listened to the set-up, said it sounded like a success; so he wasn't interested. He helped financially only those shows, ballets, and other artistic ventures which were worth doing but which reached the point of no returns.
Then George or Alex Aarons happened to mention that "The Man I Love" - which Otto had heard some time before at a party- would be part of the show. Otto said to put him down for ten thousand. The following year Otto not only got his money back but received a dividend greater than his investment. Otto wrote to the producer to thank him - it was the first time Otto had ever received a return on his investment for a theatrical production. And was he pleased!
Now I'd like to sing a song recorded by Otto's son, Roger Wolfe Kahn, and his orchestra. They recorded it for the Victor record label. Otto should be very proud of his son. This song is dedicated to Otto for his years of dedicated work maintaining this magnificent chateau. What's the name of the song?
Why it's "Clap Yo' Hands" of course.
Please join me in singing along or just clapping your hands. [Song Plays.]"
-- "Fred Astaire" (as portrayed by Roger Hall)
Note: To hear a 1926 recording of the song played by
Roger Wolfe Kahn (1907-1962) and His Orchestra, click here: "Clap Yo' Hands"
See also:
Anne Kahn Baugh and
Roger Hall at the Garden Party
This illustrated eBook of songs, poems and stories by Roger Hall is available on CD-ROM playable on any computer with Microsoft Word.
It also includes music tracks with Roger's early songs.
One of the stories is titled: "E.M.A. at OHEKA" and describes Roger's years as a cadet at Eastern Military Academy while living at Otto Kahn's magnificent castle, OHEKA.
To read more, click on this link:
And listen to the title song performed by Jake & The Potpourris at
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