October 28, 2018 - Ken Double
On Sunday, October 28, 2018 at 2:30 PM, the Rochester Theater Organ Society presents Ken Double. Ken's program will include a theatre organ concert and silent film presentation.
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Ken Double, a Chicago native, grew up with five brothers in a sports-loving family, but Ken was more enamored of the play-by-play announcers than he was the athletes.
Ken parlayed that interest into a degree in Radio-TV from Butler University in Indianapolis, and began his broadcast career that included NBA and Big Ten basketball, NHL, IHL and AHL hockey, the worldwide radio broadcast of the Indianapolis 500, and hundreds of other events. The award-winning broadcaster finished his career with 17 seasons of hockey play-by-play, including a brief stint with his hometown team, the Chicago Blackhawks. |
However, Ken's parents made sure all six of the boys were introduced to some kind of music, and for Ken, it was organ lessons starting at age eight. About the time he was getting bored with that, and a high school radio station was providing broadcast opportunities, a school field trip took him to the Pickwick Theatre in Park Ridge, IL and a chance to play the Wurlitzer theatre organ, and it was for him as it is for so many, that “WOW!” moment.
Several weeks later, the same teacher who guided students on the field trip took a group to hear Gaylord Carter at Chicago’s famed Oriental Theatre and Ken was truly hooked. He steered lessons in the theatre organ direction, including a year of study with legendary organist Al Melgard.
While Ken pursued his broadcast career, he continued playing the organ. He provided music for sporting events at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis; worked summers as the organist at the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in Wisconsin Dells; subbed at the Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis; and helped install the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Long Center in Lafayette, IN.
Broadcaster, musician, entertainer, MC, administrator, PR man, and even “crooner” occasionally, Ken has enjoyed “having fun and getting paid for it, not once, but twice!” As the song says, “Nice work if you can get it.
Several weeks later, the same teacher who guided students on the field trip took a group to hear Gaylord Carter at Chicago’s famed Oriental Theatre and Ken was truly hooked. He steered lessons in the theatre organ direction, including a year of study with legendary organist Al Melgard.
While Ken pursued his broadcast career, he continued playing the organ. He provided music for sporting events at Market Square Arena in Indianapolis; worked summers as the organist at the Tommy Bartlett Water Show in Wisconsin Dells; subbed at the Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis; and helped install the Mighty Wurlitzer at the Long Center in Lafayette, IN.
Broadcaster, musician, entertainer, MC, administrator, PR man, and even “crooner” occasionally, Ken has enjoyed “having fun and getting paid for it, not once, but twice!” As the song says, “Nice work if you can get it.