Paul Grosnick

Paul Grosnick was the proud owner of the Organ that Leon Berry rescued from a Crystal Lake Theater in the Mid to late 1950's. That was the Organ we moved into the basement of Leon's home in Norridge, and became known as "The Beast in The Basement". Paul played for many competitive meets for the compulsory dance events at The Orbit Skate Center. He was also the regular organist at North Avenue Rollerway until it closed.

update: 2007 - The organ was sold and taken out of the house in Park Ridge. Last we heard, Paul has retired from playing the organ due to medical problems.

Here's a letter Paul wrote to Frank, the original webmaster of this site:

Dear Frank,

My name is Paul Grosnick, I was a student of Leon Berry and eventually became Freddy Arnishes relief organist the last few years the Hub was open. After the Hub closed I became the organist at the North Avenue Rollerway in Melrose Park. I was there three years when the management concented to install a pipe organ. We had some parts from the Hub Organ.

I was a close friend of Leon and his wife Mildred. When they passed they left me the house along with the pipe organ that Leon got from the Lake Theatre in Crystal Lake and had moved to his house on Gunnison in Noridge and later moved to his house in Park Ridge.

I do have a photograph of Leon standing in front of the original Hub organ console sitting in the lobby of the Hub before it was installed.

Hope to hear from you,

Paul Grosnick