Memories Of Oheka Castle

 

Oheka Castle At Night

 

Beautiful front entrance staircase at Oheka Historical Hotel

 

 


 

 

 

 

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 the second largest private residence in the United States (after the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, 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.

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 of Gershwin's Broadway shows,
including "Lady Be Good" in 1924.

Otto Kahn's highly favorable statement about George Gershwin is included in this music guide
published in a new edition in honor of the 100th anniversary of the premiere of
"Rhapsody in Blue"in 1924 --

 


 

 

Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra

 

Otto Kahn's son, Roger Wolfe Kahn (1907-1962), was a talented musician and played many different instruments.

In the 1920s he was a young band leader and a popular 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 Roger Kahn co-wrote with Irving Caesar and Joseph Meyer was "Crazy Rhythm" - a big hit in 1928.

 

 

A Memoir

Read Roger Lee Hall's remembrances while a young cadet at Eastern Military Academy in the 1950s and
his return in 2004 to present a music program of Gershwin songs for the
Friends of Oheka Castle Garden Party on Long Island - as shown here:

 

 

In commemoration of his attending Eastern Military Academy
at Oheka Castle (above picture from 1954 yearbook), his memoir with many pictures
is now available and sent directly to you as a PDF book by email attachment.
It is titled --



 

 


"Crazy Rhythm" -
Memories of
Eastern Military Academy and Oheka Castle
by Roger Lee Hall

This story with many illustrations is available as a PDF.

It includes background on the Oheka owner, Otto Hermann Kahn,
his musical son, Roger Wolfe Kahn,
who had his own jazz orchestra and co-wrote the "Crazy Rhythm" song,
and Roger Hall's experiences 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.

This book is only available here
and not at any other Online site.

The cost for this PDF story is only $10.95
and will be sent directly to you by email attachment.
You will also receive a free audio file from the author's radio appearance
speaking about George Gershwin.

 

 



 

Official PayPal Seal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

Send your email address to
-- pinetreepro@aol.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also available separately is Roger Hall's personal story,

"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, AMP
see his list of lectures and workkshops -- click here

 


 


 

 

 

   
       
   
   
 

© 2019-2024, PineTree Productions. All Rights Reserved.
No pictures from this website to be reproduced without permission. Contact: pinetreepro@aol.com