Ambridge music museum to close & go up for sale; items to be relocated

AMBRIDGE - Fans of local music history must sadly wave goodbye to the PALM, the Western Pennsylvania music museum in Ambridge.

The 15-month-old museum — displaying artifacts from regional musical legends like The Jaggerz, The Granati Brothers, The Vogues, The Marcels, The Skyliners and B.E. Taylor — will close permanently by the end of the year. The brick structure, located at 1426 Merchant St., in the Ambridge historical district, will go up for sale.

Elbie Yaworsky, founder of the PALM — short for Performing Arts Legends Museum — explained on Facebook, "It is clear that my 24/7 caregiving for my wife Denise is much more than a full-time responsibility. This caregiving does not provide me the opportunity for any additional responsibilities. I must make time to care for myself so that I can provide the care that my wife deserves. It is with a heavy heart that we are selling the PALM."

Center Township businessman Gene Rees, who owns much of the PALM's artifact collection, will join Yaworsky in searching for another venue where the museum's more than 300 items can be displayed. Rees originally had purchased a large number of those artifacts from the former Nick's Fat City concert venue on Pittsburgh's South Side, which is now a dance club.

The PALM plans to stay open on weekends for the next five or six weekends.

"Ideally, we'll stay open on Saturdays and Sundays, noon to 4 p.m., (closed Thanksgiving weekend) to match Old Economy until early December," Rees said.

Located a short walk from the Old Economy Village historic site, the PALM is designed with themed rooms based on decades.

The 1950s room includes items like Elvis Presley's yearbook, Perry Como gold records for "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom") and "Round and Round," and an authentic '50s diner booth, straight outta TV's "Happy Days," with a tabletop jukebox.

In the 1960s room are instruments, outfits and autographed photos from Pittsburgh jazz and blues aces like Walt Harper, Harold Betters, Joe Negri and Chizmo Charles, plus a stage jacket from The Vogues ("5 O'Clock World").

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Yaworsky, a drum aficionado, displays a collection of drums that includes a set from the 1950s, and a 1983 Black 9 ply Maple Pearl GLX 6-piece drum kit valued at over $20,000.

The PALM exhibited memorabilia from Beaver Valley music luminaries like Henry Mancini, Lou Christie (the chart-topping "Lightnin' Strikes"), Melvin and Mervin Steals (writers of the Spinners' multi-platinum "Could It Be I'm Falling in Love"), Mars Scarazzo (Frank Sinatra's drummer in Las Vegas), and George Perilli (drummer for Reba McEntire, Michael McDonald and Donna Summer).

The PALM also features a built-in studio and stage with garage doors that when opened allowed fans to stand outside and watch Beaver County bands perform.

The PALM's summer concert series booked local acts like Eldorado, Donna and Mark Groom, The Hat Trick Band and The Villain.

"As a musician who was inducted into PALM with the Sidewinder Band on July 2, 2021, and having financially donated and performed benefit shows there, I hope somebody purchases the museum and keeps it going," Jimi Miller of the Hat Trick Band, said.

Understanding Yaworsky's need to devote time as a caretaker, Miller thanked the PALM's founders, including local rocker David Cipriani, "for giving it a go and trying to do an amazingly positive venture for Beaver County.

"The concept was a good one," Miller said. "The venue was nice, the people involved did a really good job."

Yaworsky, a band member with The Hot Metal Horns, said, "I smile with such pride and satisfaction seeing firsthand what we achieved and remembering every moment, including the first show we held live with David Granati in the 1980s room."

Earlier, he posted on Facebook, "We want to thank so many individuals that have contributed their time, musical talents and financial support over the past several years. A big thank you to everyone who has supported the Performing Arts Legends Museum."

Scott Tady is entertainment editor at the Beaver County Times and easy to reach at stady@timesonline.com.

This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Ambridge music museum to close; items to be relocated