Daily Activities

Homegrown Country Self-Guided Tour

Dates: September 5, 2019 –  January 5, 2020

In celebration of Country Music Week coming to Calgary for a record-breaking 9th year, we have country-fied our exhibits with a limited edition tour featuring artifacts from the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collection.

Starting on September 5, 2019, visitors will receive a free copy of the Homegrown Country Self-Guided Tour with admission. This limited edition tour guide can be used by visitors to explore all 5 levels of Studio Bell through the distinct lens of Canadian country music and history. Artifacts included on the tour will be branded with the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame icon seen here. The tour is expected to take one hour and is recommended for those ages 12 and up.

Exhibit Highlights

• Shania Twain’s red Greta Constantine gown worn on the 2018 CCMA Awards broadcast
• Artifacts from the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame collection, including performance outfits from
  • Hank Snow, Colleen Peterson, King Ganam, Earl Heywood, Carroll Baker, Myrna Lorrie, The Mercey Brothers, Hank Smith, Dallas Harms, Ray St. Germain, Rita MacNeil and Patsy Cline
• A selection of highlighted instruments, including:
  • Sylvia Tyson’s autoharp, Joyce Smith’s guitar, Ray St. Germain’s guitar, and Brian Sklar’s fiddle
• A textile display in the 4^th floor collections workshops featuring artifacts from:
  • Ray Griff, Gary Buck, k.d. lang, Kidd Baker, Shirley Myers, Brian Sklar, The Good Brothers and Ronnie Prophet
• Video interviews and performances from Canadian country artists, including:
  • Corb Lund, Lindsay Ell, Paul Brandt, k.d. lang, Terri Clark, the Road Hammers and Laura Vinson

Kimball Theatre Organ Demonstrations

One of the largest artifacts in NMC’s collection, the Kimball Theatre Organ is located on Level Three of Studio Bell. This particular theatre organ was manufactured in 1924 by the Kimball Piano and Organ Company to accompany silent films. Its unique electro-pneumatic relay allows various components of the instrument to be placed in different locations! 

With the advent of “talkie” films in 1927, the use of the theatre organ declined and many fell into states of disrepair, along with the theatres in which they were housed. Luckily, our Kimball Theatre Organ survived.

* Kimball Theatre Organ demonstrations are included with your admission. All demonstrations are dependent on musician availability and subject to change.