Organist Directory :- Theatre Q to Z

Listeners to the West Regional programme will hear Alfred Richards at the organ of rho Odeon Theatres Weston-Super-Mare, this evening, at 6.30. He began the study of music at the age of five and was trained as a pianist and church organist.
He was solo organist to the Gaumont British Picture Corporation at three of their theatres in London until the early part of 1933.
Before going to the Odeon Theatre, West-super-Mare, he was organist at the Gaumont Palace, Wolverhampton.

Mr. Burt Ritter, who has been organist at the Odeon Cinema. Angel-row. Nottingham, for nearly two years, returns to his native London next week. He has been appointed to play the large organ of the Astoria Finsbury Park, another Odeon theatre.
I am a London man and I am naturally pleased to be returning, athough I have many friends here. Mr. Ritter told "The Nottingham Journal" yesterday

Mr DEREK RONALD, organist at the Odeon Cinema, is used to travelling, for travelling daily to and from his home at Southampton he covers about 36,000 miles a year.
But it looks as though he Is likely to exceed even that mileage in the future, for at the end of next week Worthing says good-bye to him and he goes on tour.
This is the result of a new policy on the part of Odeon Theatres, Ltd., who are only retaining four organists to tour their whole circuit.
It is a tribute to Mr Ronald that he is one of the four chosen to cover an area extending to Bolton
Llandudno, London, Winchester and Portsmouth, but his work at Worthing justifies the choice.
During his three years at Worthing Mr Ronald has proved himself a first class musician capable of adapting himself to every type of audience, and his topical Interludes have been immensely popular.
That opinion is shared by others, as instanced by his broadcasts on the B.B.C. theatre organ and the considerable amount of recital work he has done.
In future Mr Ronald will probably be playing at the Odeon. Worthing, about one week In every four months and there is little doubt that his return visits will be looked forward to eagerly by his many admirers here.
By the way, it is probable that Derek Ronald will keep in mind his affection for us in a very practical manner by making "Sussex by the Sea" his signature tune when lie visits the "Furriners."

Miss Frances Ross, who has been described - and with much justification - to be the world's foremost lady organist, takes up a permanent position at the Nottingham Hippodrome on Monday next.
Miss Ross is a Leicester girl by birth and a cousin of Mr. Ronald C Ross,chairman of the West Bridgeford District. Council.
Her first appearance In public was at the age of 11, her training having been undertaken by an American organist who specialised in the now famous Wurlitzer Cinema organ.
She played for fifteen years in the States and since coming to England has visited nearly all the P.C.T. houses, including, quite recently, the Hippodrame.
And now she Is coming back home to settle a great welcome will await her.
Her programme for Monday, she told me last night, will include some of the favourite English folk tunes and some of the best "Jazz."
There is only one other lady organist In Great Britain. Miss Ross is a real music maker.

When such a man-as George Senior has recently been solo organist for such fabulous stars as David Whitfield, Dickie Valentine, Johnny Ray, Cogan and Ruby Murray, one might dare to wonder why he should leave the undoubted glamour the big cities and come to the small, seaside town Leven.
Mr Senior, a Yorkshireman, and our Pavilion Personality this week explained it as being "a change," and an opportunity to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life which he has been experiencing for most of his twenty-one years the entertainment business.
Mr. Senior has been playing his own Hammond organ for many years now. Coincidence is that his full name is George Hammond Senior-and he has his birth certificate to prove it!
His is a "local boy makes good" story. He worked for two years down a coal mine learning surveying at Rotherham Main Colliery but didn't like It much. In his spare tune he tinkled about at the piano and then, at the age 18, started to learn play the organ. He became organist and choirmaster at Parkgate Congregational Church and held this position for 15 years until he was offered a job as organist at the Regal Cinema Rotherham. In those days the organ provided an interlude tunes lust before the main feature film.
George Senior continued in this role for many years, travelling all over England and winning the hearts of audiences wherever he went. For he loves work, "I thrive on it," he told the 'Mail' last week, "and I am getting plenty it Just now with rehearsals and a change of show every week. But I'm not complaining."
Recently Mr Senior has been extremely busy man. He had four years as organist-compere for well-known impresario. Jack Payne two years as organist-compere at the swimming stadium, Morecambe, and two years as orchestral and solo organist at the New Royal Theatre, Bournemouth. It was at the New Royal that George had the good: fortune to meet some of Britain's singing stars, and be made personal solo arrangements for their acts.
And he Is stranger to radio listeners. "At Bournemouth I broadcast three times," he continued, "and have also broadcast many solo dates from the Gaumont Palace, Cheltenham, the Regent Theatre. Poole, and the Westover Cinema. Bournemouth. "
1942, Mr Senior had the honour of playing at the famous Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, on six occasions. Strangely enough, the famous organist. Reginald Dixon was born quite near Mr Senior, and they met while in the Air Force.
He has also been on T.V. and newsreels. This occurred when' he was organist and compere last year at Morecambe Stadium when a £1.000 bathing beauty competition run by a National Sunday newspaper, was running. He was seen on the newsreel playing while the Judging was going on.
And last August, while appearing In "Blackpool Night" from Norbreck Hydro with the company from "Aqua Cascades.' George came under the discriminating eyes of T.V, viewers.
When Fraser Neil asked Mr Senior to come and take part in one of his summer shows, he wondered why he had never, been given an audition. Quizzing Mr Neil on this point. George got the reply, "You were recommended by Jack Payne." No more needed to said than that.
And George would like to ask the people of Leven that if they have any request they would like hear him play on his 'interval Solo Spot,' they should drop him tine and he will be most pleased to do so.

Leslie Simpson, popular organist at the Classic Cinema, Belfast, will give a short organ recital at 6 o’clock on Sunday, April 23. Leslie Simpson’s childhood ambition was to a pianist, and it was not until the advent of the new electric unit organ that he looked on organ playing as anything more than a hobby and a relaxation. As a boy he sang in a choir in a North Country church, where his success gained for him the free gift from gentlemen of the church of organ tuition under William Granger at St. Mark's Church, Broomhill, Sheffield. He. has held cinema appointments at the Regent Cinema, Stamford Hill, at the Picture House, Leicester at. the Grange Theatre, Kilbum, and as guest organist at the various leading London cinemas, including the Trocadero, Elephant. and Caslle.

Popular Cinema Organist's Fate Near Ivybridge
Mr. Wilfred Southworth, a well-known Birmingham kinema organist, lost his life while bathing at Challaborough, near Ivybridge, on Tuesday. It is considered that deceased had a heart attack while in the water, a few minutes after he had entered the water Mr. Southworth was seen to be in difficulties and raised the alarm by throwing both hands above his head. Master Douglas Scott, son of Dr. Scott, of Plymstock, with the assistance of Mr. Lucas, of the Shirley Tower Hotel, Torquay, who was not out very far, launched a boat and brought Mr. Southworth ashore. Artificial respiration was carried on for over one hour, but without result.

ORGAN RECITAL AND A WEST COUNTRY CHOIR

ERIC SPRUCE will broadcast an organ recital from the Palladium Cinema, Paignton.
When he was 22 he had his first appointment as a solo cinema organist at the Rink Cinema, Smethwick, and two years later went to the Gaumont Palace, Birmingham. Then to the Wolverhampton Super-Cinema. Further appointments followed at Birmingham and Bournemouth. And in 1937 he was elected warden of the cinema organists' section of the Incorporated Society of Musicians.
While at Birmingham he did s considerable amount of broadcasting and this will be his first broadcast from the Palladium organ at Paignton.
The Mousehole sixth summer festival of music will be broadcast from St. Clement's Hall. Mousehole, when those taking part will be: The Mousehole Male Voice Choir, Heddle Nash (tenor). Bernard Fishwick (baritone and Leonard Collins (conductor).
Western Daily Press
08 August 1938
Image © Trinity Mirror.
Image created courtesy of
THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)

ORGANIST'S FAN MAIL
Appreciation Of Palladium Broadcasts
From far countries and distant lands, as well as Devon comes the fan mail of the Paignton Palladium Cinema's popular organist, Mr. Eric Spruce, A.R..C.M. Every broadcast brings him letters and telegrams from hosts of admirers anxious to express in words the pleasure he has given them, and to make him realise that the wide audience he strives to please is becoming more and more aware of his artistry
These letters and telegrams make fascinating reading, so diversely are they worded. Some touching and others unconsciously humorous, for some of them are in dialect, and some even in broken English when a writer from abroad has felt so moved that lie must write, whether he knows the language or not.
A telegram received seems to sum up in a few worth the thoughts of all, it reads: "Intelligence, culture, artistry, musicianship. Organ a revelation. Thank you, Eric."
This is typical of the many more Mr. Spruce has received, from such divergent places as Belgium, Belfast, Cumberland, C. Durham, Kent, Aberdeen, Cornwall, and Devon, in fact all over the British Isles and abroad. A great deal of his time Is taken up in replying to the letters. He will be on the air on Friday. February 10, February 24, and March 8, in each case from 6 to 6.30 p.m.

Torbay Express and South Devon Echo
Thursday 09 February 1939
Image © Trinity Mirror.
Image created courtesy of
THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD.

TWELVE-YEARS-OLD Kenneth Stroud, of Woodside-green, Woodside, claims to be the youngest cinema organist in the world.
He has just taken part in an amateur talent competition at a West End cinema, and amazed the organisers by the way in which he handled the huge instrument,
It is not the first time he has played on a cinema organ, however, for he has already done so at a Croydon cinema, and it is his ambition to become a cinema organist.
He first began to play the piano at the age of eight, and, within a short time started to play the organ, so that by the time he was eleven he was an accomplished instrumentalist. Though he has played church organs, having had experience at two churches in Croydon. he likes cinema organs best.

Mr. James Swift plays his last organ interlude at the Paramount, Leeds to-dat. He has presided at the mighty Wurlitzer there for nearly two years, and is leaving to take a similar appointment at the Troxy, Stepney.
Mr. Swift was taught by his father, who lost his sight when he was eight years old. The disability did not prevent him continuing his studies however, and at 17 he became organist at Bedale Parish Church. Later he went to St. Georges, Camberwell, and James Swift, who was then eleven, assisted him.
Apart from four and a half years spent with the colours during the war, Mr. Swift has had an unbroken career as an organist since he was nine. He has played all over the British Isle, and now goes back to the city in which he got his first important cinema appointment.

Donald Thorne, well known as a broadcasting organist and pianist since the 1930s. died in Mount Vernon Hospital. Northwood. Middlesex. on Saturday. December 23, after a long illness. He was 65. At the height of his successful career as an organist with Granada cinemas, Donald James Dean Thorne had a big following, due as much to his inimitable style of presentation of his interludes as to his musical prowess. In those days he was billed as &The Cheeky Chappie of the Organ,& but after war service in the army he toured the Granada circuit as the pianist in " We Two in Harmony, " with Harold Britton at the organ, and his billing then was " Radio's Maestro of Melody. "
Shortly after the war he also gave a number of two-piano broadcasts with Winifred Atwell.
For a time on leaving the cinema world he played an electronic organ at the Empire Pool. Wembley, and in more recent years he has appeared at various seaside resorts and in clubs and other establishments.
Donald Thorne had a number of successful compositions to his credit, including the march &Empire Games.& a novelty intermezzo called &Dots and Dashes,& &Paradise Island.& And various other light pieces. A hymn tune which he composed was played by Harold Britten at the funeral service at Pinner Parish Church on Monday afternoon.
He was twice married, and leaves two sons and a daughter.

Savoy Cinema Hayes
From the Tilly Family collection

At the 3/9 Compton organ
Forum Theatre, Uxbridge Rd. Ealing
From the Tilly Family collection

Uxbridge & W. Drayton Gazette - Friday 23 June 1939

THE BRIGHT lights are to go up again outside a Scarborough cinema which screened its last film more than half a century ago.
The North Bay Cinema, which originally opened in 1914, became a garage in 1928. Now Scarborough hotelier Arthur Turner, a former cinema organist, and cinema organ collector, has bought the property and intends to reopen it this summer as the 300-seat Hollywood Plaza complete with American soda fountain.
From 1946 to 1956 Turner played the organ at the Art cinema in Bury, Lancashire. Later he and his wife owned a couple of village cinemas in the Bolton area before becoming hoteliers in Scarborough.
They intend to run the new Holly wood Plaza as a family cinema.

AN HOUR to spare before a Blackpool show was the best "waste of time" that Raymond Wallbank ever spent. For it led to a seaside entertainment story that is now in its 15th season.
Organist Raymond is the one constant factor of the Blackpool summer. The stars and the shows come and go but Raymond is there every year on the North Pier, playing for the holiday crowds in the Sun lounge.
But his success story might never have got under way if Raymond and his wife Thelma had not had an hour to spare before a Blackpool show in the winter of 1965. To kill time they decided to pop into the Washington Hotel to see an old friend, organist Eddie Nelson, who was providing the music at the Hammond organ. Several times Eddie offered to vacate the chair and let Raymond play a few tunes. Raymond, on his night off from the Dalmeny Hotel, in neighbouring Lytham St Annes. finally agreed. After his brief session, Raymond was approached by Blackpool impresario, the late Ernest Colclough. Would he be interested in a residency in the new Merrie England showbar on the North Pier? Raymond wasn't interested. It wasn't really his style. But Ernest Colclough persisted. How about a season in the pier's Sun Lounge? "That was more to my liking," recalled Raymond. "They auditioned me at the Dalmeny and booked me for the following summer season. And I've been there ever since."
Raymond Wallbank may not be as famous as Blackpool's legendary Reginald Dixon but some of his fans go to bizarre lengths to hear him play. "On Saturday mornings I even see them struggling down the pier with their luggage for a last session in the Sun Lounge. Then they haul their bags down to the promenade and off to the railway station for the trip home," Raymond explained.
Raymond's first organ lessons were on a Rushworth and Draper model at St Annes Parish Church. His tutor was Robert Atherton, conductor of the Blackpool Symphony Orchestra and father of famous conductor David Atherton.
The start of Raymond's 1980 season has coincided with the release of his third LP. produced by the small, Blackpool based Progress Records. It features 16 great tunes from the shows, played on a Wurlitzer 950

LAST Saturday evening saw the last interlude Arthur Williams as the popular Regal Cinema organist, who, in the past three years, has made many friends virtue of his charming and merry personality, and has earned the appreciation of music-lovers from all over the country by his ability as an organist. From to-day he takes over the position of assistant manager at the Regal.

In front of the stage is the console of the great cinema organ. This console is illuminated, and it rises above the level of the stage. As this would interfere with projection, and also with stage entertainments, the console is caried on a rising platform, which can he lowered out of sight in an orchestral well, simply by the operation of a switch by the organist.
The organ is a notable instrument, and is fitted with a "melo-tone, " one of the latest devices for sound reproduction, and one that those concerned with sound effects set great store by. This organ requires ten miles of electric cable. and it is capable of being played as a cathedral organ, or of reproducing the music of a dance band or a full symphony orchestra. The " melo-tone " is an electric apparatus, of British invention, and by means of it varying tone colours can be obtained without the use of pipes or wind. Its sound effects are very beautiful, and the organist, Mr. Harry Wingfield. will demonstrate it specially.
Mr Wingfield, who has arranged a special musical programme. Hello. Bangor!" for the opening week, with appropriate Coloured slides to illustrate it, has had considerable experience with cinema organs. He recently opened the Regal organ. Stockton-on-Tees, and has been organist for Odeon Theatres and for Associated British Cinemas. The organ grilles are placed one on each side of the auditorium, and are formed with fibrous plaster decorated in the same manner as the walls.