Rod Blackmore's Australasian Theatre Organs

The author is the longest continuous member of the Theatre Organ Society of Australia, having joined in March 1960 (within 2 months of the society’s inauguration.) An early task with which I became involved was to document details of organs remaining in theatres, and to research the details of those that had been removed. Much of the information in this series comes from that work. Launched on 14 February 2006 with the New South Wales section, the work of compiling this website is almost complete, having now reviewed 65 organs in 131 locations.

The intention has been to provide a history of theatre pipe organs throughout Australia and New Zealand, concentrating on those most publicly recognized by their horseshoe-style consoles. These were the organs of the “golden era”. It is recognized that there were earlier organs in theatres, ranging from early WurliTzers with “straight” consoles, “pit” organs, Photoplayers, and even locally built “concert” organs. Other historians have documented these so far as they are able. The format I have adopted provides some history of the theatre which is best recognized as having been the location of a particular instrument, details of the organ itself and organists who performed on it, and what is known to have become of it. Some residence organs are also reviewed. The site is also pictorial, for which I thank numbers of sources additional to my own.

There remain some known organ installation projects at locations such as Geelong and Warragul (Victoria), Adelaide (SA), Brisbane & Toowoomba (Qld) – these will be added when final information comes to hand. I am happy to incorporate information which could be more accurate than I have discovered – please write to me at: enquiries@theatreorgansaust.info

Enjoy!

Rod Blackmore [March 2007]

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