More on the New Jersey lighting problem the other night

KuklasKorner links to to two articles about last Friday's Devils-Lightning game in New Jersey, after the game was stopped due to a lighting problem.

First, blogger Tom Gulitti complains that the New Jersey organization failed to properly communicate was was happening with fans.

Second, NJ.com has an article about the costs and penalties incurred when a game is delayed or cancelled.

All about the original organ at Maple Leaf Gardens

Had a good chat this morning with a Carleton University grad student who's working on a paper exploring the history of organ music in sports. As far as I know, the Chicago Blackhawks were the first stadium to install an organ. It was the Barton Organ, a massive music machine that intimidated the visiting team, according to legend.

It's hard to find any history about other organs, but I did come across this today -- some info about the first organ at Maple Leaf Gardens, which apparantly still exists inside the Casa Loma in Toronto. Here's a bit of the story:

In 1956, the fatal news was announced that Shea's Hippodrome would be shuttered and the property demolished to make way for the new civic center. Almost too late the organ was purchased by the Maple Leaf Gardens from the wrecking company for $2,000. The roof of the theatre had already been removed! A month was allowed for removal of the instrument.

Credit for the purchase of the organ by the Maple Leaf Gardens management goes to two persons. Dr. Bruce Tovee, ATOS member, and personal physician to Gardens president, Major Conn Smythe, talked the major into buying it. The major, with a feeling of tradition and history, was convinced that the organ would serve a useful purpose in providing background music at hockey games, church rallies etc. The console, pipes, new bandstand and an executive clubhouse all fitted into a neat structure at the sound end of the Gardens under a huge new portrait of Queen Elizabeth.

During re-installation, the organ was considerably enlarged. A new 5-manual console was built, and two of the manuals were obtained from the right pit console of the New York Paramount. The action was completely re-leathered, and new relays installed. Three additional ranks were purchased from the Strand Theatre in Brooklyn, and California theatre organ enthusiast, Dick Simonton contributed an English Post Horn. A new blower was installed, and a high-pressure fanfare Trumpet was planned for but never installed. The piano was not included in the new specifications, either, but most of the toy counter and percussions were. Retained also were the Brass Trumpet. Brass Saxophone and a solo Tibia Clausa on 25inch wind pressure. The action was changed from pneumatic to partial electric operation.

About a year was required to properly install the organ. Doug Morris designed the new addition to the building. Sound engineer was Bob Wood. Much of the organ installation was handled by Ed Gress from Boston and Stewart Duncan, a local expert. Total cost of the project was approximately $100,000.

The first program on the newly installed instrument was on December 20, 1958, when Don "Knuckles" Gordon played seasonal music for Young Canada Night, between periods of a hockey game which was broadcast coast-to-coast on the CBC. Horace Lapp became organist shortly after.

The organ's tenure in Maple Leaf Gardens was a short one, indeed. In 1963 the Gardens were remodeled to add 1800 seats, the Wurlitzer becoming superfluous. What followed was a memorable battle among elements of organ lovers to keep the organ intact and in the area until a place could be found for its third installation.

When the smoke of battle had cleared, the Toronto Theatre Organ Society, with help from affluent members, purchased the organ for $3850. The instrument was removed from the Gardens in 1964, and stored in the imperial Theatre. The Imperial's manager, Bert Brown, was an ATOS member, so this helped the situation immeasurably. The organ languished for six years until the society found a home for it.

Early in 1970, the Kiwanis Club of West Toronto offered the Wurlitzer a home in Casa Loma, thereby replacing the organ which had been sold in the 1924 auction. In June 1970, the organ' s components were moved from the Imperial to the Casa Loma and housed in what was the indoor swimming pool. Installation was begun immediately by members of the Toronto Theatre Organ Society.

Read the entire article...

Hip Hop Santa

One of our little Christmas traditions at Scotiabank Place is to play this vid at the games leading up to Christmas.

Predators use Jib Jab to create a Halloween video

Brian Gainor points us towards a fun scoreboard video the Nashville Predators created using Jib Jab: "The Nashville Predators recently celebrated their Halloween matchup against the Dallas Stars by featuring a creative JibJab vignette on the jumbotron during the game. The clip centered around a Monster Mash thematic with the faces of Predator players incorporated into the mix."

Johnny Bower reads "In Flanders Fields"

The Toronto Maple Leafs put on a nice pre-game show on November 10, the eve of Remembrance Day in Canada. The high point was Johnny Bower reading "In Flanders Fields". Here's the vid from Leafs TV On Demand:

..and here's more from the Leafs pre-game ceremony.

We did a special ceremony in Ottawa too, featuring Ted Hibberd, one of the members of the 1948 RCAF Flyers team that won a gold medal at the 1948 Olympics. He got a standing ovation from the crowd and was clearly moved by the crowd response. Here's the vid from Sens TV:

Atlanta Hawks Halloween half-time show

Mascot & dance team dance to Thriller

A couple of Sens Halloween videos

Here are a couple of vids we produced for the video scoreboard, for today's game between Ottawa and Atlanta. Thanks to our editors/animators Jeremy & Dave for their work on these pieces.

VIDEO: Chicago Blackhawks - Halloween masks

Here's a brilliant video scoreboard piece from the Chicago Blackhawks from Halloween 2008.

All about the "Miracle Kid"

Puck Daddy has a great article about Josh Sacco, the 4-year-old who recreated the locker room speech from "Miracle", and created a bit of a YouTube sensation. Over 1.5 million people have watched the vid. We showed it on the video scoreboard at a recent Sens game too. Here it is:


Check out what the Nashville Predators did:

Montreal Canadiens players introduce themselves

Check out this video from opening night this year for the Montreal Canadiens. In particular, shuffle ahead to after the 4 minute mark, when the players introduce themselves.

It's a creative take on player intros, and I'm sure other teams will imitate it. It might not work for every team - but for the Canadiens, "je suis..." is perfect.