- Chronicles is made possible by a grant from the Erie Community Foundation, a Community Assets grant provided by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, support from Springhill Senior Living, and the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.

This is WQLN.

[jaunty holiday instrumental plays] - Welcome, everyone, to WQLN Chronicles Christmas Variety Hour.

I'm your host for the evening, Tom New.

- Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

I thought I was the host.

- They said they wanted Tom to host.

- Yes, Tom Fox Davies, the series producer of Chronicles.

You - Tom New - you retired.

How did you get in here?

- Chimney.

- You never gave back your key, did you?

- I did not.

- Well, as you are here, would you like to help us introduce the musicians?

- Why not?

I didn't buy this tux for nothing.

- Excellent.

Well, Erie's been called "The Flagship City" after Oliver Hazard Perry's flagship, Niagara, which has called Erie its home for over 200 years.

- And in 2021, the Flagship City Food Hall first opened its stores and has become a staple for great eats and entertainment in our city.

- So join us now as we head downtown for Life Thru Music and their rendition of "This Christmas", recorded live at the Flagship City Food Hall.

[Life Through Music plays "This Christmas"] ♪ Hang up the mistletoe ♪ I'm gonna get to know you better ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ And as we trim the tree ♪ How much fun it's gonna be together ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ Fireside, blazing bright ♪ We'll be caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah!

[upbeat jazzy music] [jazzy music continues] ♪ Presents and cards are here ♪ My world is filled with cheer and you ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ And as I look around ♪ Your eyes outshine the town, they do ♪ ♪ This Christmas ♪ Fireside blazing bright ♪ We'll be caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ A very special Christmas for me, ♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ Shake a hand, ♪ Shake a hand Anthony... [upbeat jazzy music featuring the saxophone] [jazzy music continues] [jazzy music continues] ♪ Fireside, blazing bright ♪ We'll be caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas will be ♪ A very special Christmas for me, ♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ Shake a hand, shake a hand Corey... [upbeat jazzy music Featuring the keys] [jazzy music continues] [jazzy music continues] ♪ Fireside blazing bright ♪ We'll be caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas, it will be ♪ ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah!

♪ Shake a hand, shake a hand.

- Come on, Darrell [upbeat jazzy music featuring bass and electric organ] [jazzy music continues] [jazzy music continues] ♪ Oh, fireside blazing bright ♪ We'll be caroling through the night ♪ ♪ And this Christmas, it will be ♪ ♪ A very special Christmas for me ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ C'mon shake a hand ♪ One love.

Happy Holidays!

Life Through Music.

- There is a lot of incredible musical talent in our region and even more - And even more incredible history to be shared.

- It's Mike Berlin, the executive producer of Chronicles.

Is Tom no longer around?

- Eh, he'll be back later.

We just sent him away for a little bit.

Chronicles is a big undertaking and a team has to wear many hats to make a show like this happen.

- So what's the latest project?

What are you doing now?

- Right now we are researching, writing, editing, filming, all the "fixins" which, you know, is made possible because of viewers like you.

- Well, Mike, seeing as we're all mic'd up, let's head off to 1020 Holland Street.

- I would love to.

Originally built in 1923 as the Armor Electric Motor Company, this building later became home to the Lake Erie Ballet, and most recently the 1020 Collective.

- A creative space for artists to exhibit their work, so please enjoy Bummer Country with "Walking in a Winter Wonderland".

- That sounds nice.

[Bummer Country performing "Walking In A Winter Wonderland"] ♪ Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?

(Doo) ♪ ♪ In the lane, snow is glistening ♪ ♪ A beautiful sight, we're happy tonight ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ Gone away is the bluebird ♪ Here to stay is a new bird (Ooo) ♪ ♪ He sings a love song as we go along ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ In the meadow, we can build a snowman ♪ ♪ And pretend that he is Parson Brown ♪ ♪ He'll say, "Are you married?"

We'll say, "No man" ♪ ♪ But you can do the job when you're in town ♪ ♪ Later on, we'll conspire ♪ As we dream by the fire ♪ To face unafraid, the plans that we've made ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ In the meadow, we can build a snowman ♪ ♪ And pretend that he's a circus clown ♪ ♪ We'll have lots of fun with Mr. Snowman ♪ ♪ Til the other kiddies knock him down ♪ - Take it away, Dave [lively fiddle solo] [fiddle solo continues] [fiddle solo continues] [fiddle solo continues] ♪ When it snows, ain't it thrillin'?

♪ ♪ Though your nose gets a chillin' ♪ ♪ We'll frolic and play in Erie, PA ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ Walking in a winter wonderland ♪ ♪ We'll be walking in a winter wonderland ♪ - You know, our broadcasting station has been home to WQLN PBS since its construction back in 1967.

- Ho ho, ho.

Is that when you started walking here?

- I'm not that old.

- Well... - [Chuckling] Hey everyone, it's Vlad Tchounga.

He's a big part of the WQLN Chronicles team.

- You're talking about my work, right?

- I'm talking about your work.

Sure.

- Has WQLN always done this type of musicians?

- Well, you know, WQLN has a rich history of showcasing and supporting our local artists and actually our show Sounds Around Town highlights a number of local musicians performing at our pavilion stage right here at the station.

- That's incredible and not shameless self promotion at all.

- It's a bit snowy out there right now.

So instead, let's stay in the warm and enjoy Chris Petit perform right here, WQLN PBS.

[Chris Petit plays "Charlie Meets The Erl-King"] [intense piano music begins] [intense piano music continues] [intense piano music continues] [piano music continues] [piano music continues] [slowing piano music] [slowing piano music] [softer piano music] [piano music] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] [softer piano music continues] - Ladies and gentlemen, here's Chris Petit and Ryan Dawley.

[Ryan Dawley singing "I'll Be Home For Christmas"] ♪ I am dreaming tonight ♪ Of a place I love ♪ Even more than I usually do ♪ And although I know ♪ it's a long way home ♪ I promise you ♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪ You can count on me.

♪ Please have snow and mistletoe ♪ ♪ And presents under the tree ♪ Christmas Eve will find me ♪ Where the love light gleams ♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪ If only in my dreams [piano instrumental] [piano instrumental] [piano instrumental] [piano instrumental] ♪ Christmas Eve will find me ♪ Where the love light gleams ♪ I'll be home for Christmas ♪ If only in my dreams ♪ if only in my dreams ♪ - Now, Ryan, who sang the last song, not only sounds great, but he's also the sound guy for Chronicles.

It is so cool getting to see him sing for the show.

- Do you sing?

- Not unless it's karaoke night.

- No desire to sing for us right here?

I- I sound better in a group.

- Well, the Maennerchor Club is the German Men's Choir Club built in 1889 with the help of a $10,000 loan from Erie Beer brewers Jackson and Fred Koehler.

Do you know anything about Koehler beer?

- All too well.

Let's head over to the Erie Maennerchor Club for a performance by Mambo.

[Mambo playing "Ginny's Place"] [festive Latin jazz music] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music Continues] [Latin jazz music continues] [Latin jazz music continues] - Hey, Kristen.

Is your band playing tonight?

- Not tonight, but myself, along with many other acts have played in many of the venues across the city, - And one of the most well known venues in our city was the Roadhouse.

- And after the Roadhouse had its final performance, they closed its doors and reopened as Basement Transmissions in 2011.

- So join us now at Basement Transmissions as we watch Ron Morgan and Ethan Foulk perform "Holly Leaves and Christmas Trees."

"A-hunka-hunka" [Ron Morgan sings "Holly Leaves And Christmas Trees" ♪ Somewhere in, in the distant night ♪ ♪ I hear Christmas bells ♪ Gentle snow keeps falling down on people ♪ ♪ Who are homeward bound ♪ That's the way it's always been ♪ ♪ The circle never really ends ♪ Christmas Eve seems to come and go ♪ ♪ Home's a place that I don't know ♪ ♪ Holly leaves and Christmas trees.

♪ ♪ It's that time of year ♪ Lights aglow and mistletoe ♪ Don't mean a thing when you are not here ♪ ♪ As I walk, walk this lonely street, ♪ ♪ The sound of snow beneath my feet, ♪ ♪ I think of how, how it used to be ♪ ♪ When holly leaves and Christmas trees ♪ ♪ Used to mean so much to me ♪ Holly leaves and Christmas trees ♪ ♪ It's that time of year ♪ Lights aglow and mistletoe ♪ Don't mean a thing when you are not here ♪ ♪ As I walk, walk this lonely street, ♪ ♪ The sound of snow beneath my feet, ♪ ♪ I think of how, how it used to be ♪ ♪ When holly leaves and Christmas trees ♪ ♪ used to mean so much to me ♪ Holly leaves and Christmas trees ♪ - He's got a good set of pipes.

And speaking of pipes, did you know that the original organ of the Warner Theater now resides at the Grays Armory in Cleveland, Ohio?

- No kidding.

I've always loved organ music.

- Well, it's such a classic sound.

- Well, that's as organ-ic... - Stop!

- a transition as we are gonna get.

- [Chuckling] Stop that!

- Oh, pipe down.

The first Presbyterian church in Erie was established in 1815 and later unified multiple congregations into the First United Presbyterian Church of the Covenant in 1929.

- Here is the First Presbyterian Church of the Covenant organ and bell choir performing "Joy to the world" [Leslie Weber & The Covenant Bells play "Joy To The World"] [rich organ and bright bell music] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music Continues] [organ and bell music continues] [organ and bell music continues] - So Vlad, what do you actually do around here?

- I'm the editor and colorist for the show.

- What does that mean?

- It means I can do this, I can do this.

Pretty cool, right?

- Pretty... - And I can do...This.

- Uh... What does that mean?

- It means I have to get back to work.

- Get back to work.

Well, while Vlad works his magic, why don't we drop in on the King's Rook Club.

Originally home of Erie's own, World War I 313th Machine Gun Battalion Club, it now hosts performances of artists from all over.

Tonight, it's Brooke Surgener with this tropical holiday classic.

[ukulele music] ♪ Mele Kalikimaka is the thing to say ♪ ♪ on a bright Hawaiian Christmas day ♪ ♪ That's the island greeting that we send to you ♪ ♪ From the land where palm trees sway ♪ ♪ Here we know that Christmas will be green and bright ♪ ♪ The sun to shine by day and all the stars at night ♪ ♪ Mele Kalikimaka is Hawaii's way ♪ ♪ To say Merry Christmas ♪ A Merry, Merry Christmas ♪ A Merry Merry Merry Merry Christmas to you ♪ - How do you think they filmed the surfers on the water?

- Hey, they never said making art was easy.

- That's true, but it is made a little easier thanks to our next location.

- In 1899, the Mayer Building was constructed by Henry Mayer, a Civil war drummer of the Pennsylvanian 91st regiment.

- The building was home to a food market, a paper company, and was even a typhoid ward in 1913.

- But now thanks to Mark Tanenbaum, it's the home to PACA, the Performing Artist Collective Alliance.

- So from PACA, here's Mala Sangre performing "Merry Christmas, I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight".

[Mala Sangre performing "Merry Christmas...

...I Don't Wanna Fight Tonight"] ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight with... ♪ - Uno, dos, tres, quatro!

[energetic punk music] ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want ♪ to fight tonight with you ♪ Where is Santa and his sleigh?

♪ ♪ Tell me why it's gotta be this way?

♪ ♪ Where is Rudolph?

Where is Blitzen, baby?

♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, merry merry merry Christmas ♪ ♪ All the children are tucked in their beds ♪ ♪ Sugarplum fairies dancing in their heads ♪ ♪ Snowball fighting, it's so exciting, baby ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, merry merry... ♪ ♪ I love you and you love me ♪ And that's the way it's got to be ♪ ♪ I loved you right from the start ♪ ♪ 'Cause Christmas ain't the time for ♪ ♪ breaking each other's hearts ♪ Where is Santa and his sleigh?

♪ ♪ And tell me why it's got to be this way?

♪ ♪ Where is Rudolph?

Where is Blitzen, baby?

♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, merry merry merry Christmas ♪ ♪ All the children are tucked in their beds ♪ ♪ Sugarplum fairies dancing in their head ♪ ♪ Snowball fighting, it's so exciting, baby ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas ♪ I love you and you love me ♪ And that's the way it's got to be ♪ ♪ I loved you from the start ♪ 'Cause Christmas ain't the time for ♪ ♪ breaking each other's hearts ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight with ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want to fight tonight with ♪ ♪ Merry Christmas, I don't want ♪ to fight tonight with you - Hey, it's Braden.

Introduce yourself.

- Hi everyone.

I am the director of photography for the show.

- So then why aren't you behind the camera?

- Oh, I, I am - Huh... - What can I say?

I do whatever role needs to be done.

Speaking of multiple roles, we're gonna head back to the King's Rook Club where Tyler McClain is getting ready to perform "O Holy Night".

[Tyler McClain performs "O Holy Night"] ♪ O holy night!

♪ The stars are brightly shining; ♪ ♪ It is the night of ♪ Our dear Savior's birth.

♪ Long lay the world ♪ In sin and error pining ♪ 'Til he appeared ♪ And the soul felt its worth ♪ A thrill of hope- ♪ The weary world rejoices, ♪ For yonder breaks ♪ A new and glorious morn!

♪ Fall ♪ On your knees!

♪ O hear the angel ♪ Voices!

♪ O night ♪ Divine, ♪ O night ♪ When Christ was born!

♪ O night ♪ Divine ♪ O night ♪ O Night Divine ♪ Fall ♪ On your knees!

♪ O hear the angel ♪ Voices ♪ O night ♪ Divine ♪ Oh night ♪ when Christ was born!

♪ O night, ♪ Divine ♪ O night ♪ Oh night divine!

- This next performance is a unique blend of both audio and visual artistry.

- The television's used in the TV wall behind our performers with salvaged from the former Avalon Hotel.

- The TV screens are modulated by instruments as the musicians play.

How much do these things weigh?

- I mean, your average violin weighs about... - The TVs.

- Oh, the TVs?

Yeah.

No, they weigh a lot.

And the team moved many, many TVs to make this next performance possible.

[wind gusting] [TV shatters] [Mike Screaming] - Oooh... - Oh dear.

- Yeah, it's okay though.

They moved far more TVs than we ended up needing.

- This next venue was originally the Epp's Furniture Building and the original rehearsal space for the Maennerchor.

Now known as FEED, established in 2022, it's the media art center for the community.

- So let's go now to listen to Opus 216 as they're accompanied by the visual artistry of Feed founder, Benton Bainbridge.

[Opus 216 Performs Vivaldi's Winter (l'Inverno)] [driving string quartet music] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [driving music continues] [Opus 216 performs "O Come, O Come Emmanuel"] [soulful string quartet music] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] [soulful music continues] - And this brings us to our final performance for you this evening.

- Before we close out the show, we wanted to wish everyone out there a very blessed holiday season and to say thank you to everyone who's tuned into Chronicles for this and every other episode.

- Your support and support from our underwriters allows us to keep our region's history alive and will help preserve our history for generations to come.

So to everyone out there who has joined us for the journey, thank you.

- So as we say goodnight, please enjoy Dillon Shidemantle as he performs "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

[Dillon Shidemantle sings... ..."Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"] ♪ Have yourself a merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Let your heart be light ♪ From now on our troubles ♪ Will be out of sight ♪ Have yourself for merry little Christmas ♪ ♪ Make the Yule-tide gay ♪ From now on ♪ Our troubles will be miles away ♪ ♪ Here we are as in olden days ♪ Happy golden days of yore ♪ Faithful friends who are dear to us ♪ ♪ Gather near to us once more ♪ Through the years we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ Hang a shining star upon the highest bough ♪ ♪ And have yourself ♪ A merry little Christmas now [lively flugelhorn solo] [flugelhorn solo continues] flugelhorn solo continues] ♪ Through the years we all will be together ♪ ♪ If the fates allow ♪ Hang a shining star ♪ Upon the highest bough ♪ And have yourself ♪ A merry little Christmas now ♪ - Chronicles is made possible by a grant from the Erie Community Foundation, the Community Assets Grant provided by the Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority, support from Spring Hill Senior Living, and the generous support of Thomas B. Hagen.

We question and learn.