PATRONS : Dr Robert Boughen OBE and David Gray May-June 2018

Transcription

1 PATRONS : Dr Robert Boughen OBE and David Gray May-June 2018 Our thanks to Neil Jensen for donating his time at the Christie in April

2 TOSAQ DIRECTORY President: Lance Hutchinson (07) a/h Vice-President: Kevin Collins COMING UP: Sunday 1 st July from 2pm LEGENDS In Concert Kelvin Grove State College Theatre Treasurer: Kevin Purchase dipur@bigpond.com Executive Secretary: Brett Kavanagh info@tosaq.com.au Web Master: Rick Whatson greenfox4075@gmail.com Tibia Editor: Mike Gillies regent1929@gmail.com Committee Members: David Bailey Debbie Fitzsummons Robert Weismantel Alison Pashley Tim Larritt Christie Maintenance: Rick Whatson greenfox4075@gmail.com Postal Address (all correspondence): 51 Princess St, Mitchelton QLD 4053 TOSA QUEENSLAND was established on 26 Feb 1964 Unless otherwise noted, our daytime meetings are held from 2 pm at Kelvin Grove State College Theatre, corner of Tank Street & Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059 ALL WELCOME! Back by popular demand, Legends in Concert features a line-up of five highly talented musicians and entertainers who pay tribute to some of the most iconic entertainers in the world. Experience Brisbane s most electrifying variety stage show, featuring The Four Kinsmen s George Harvey, Robert Pearson and Debbie Fitzsummons along with the stunning singer Laura Doolan and cinema organist Bill Schumacher. See the ticket purchasing details inside. Practice Nights Monday 11 & 25 June Held at Kelvin Grove State College Theatre from 7.30pm. Come along and have a play all welcome! Enjoy a cuppa with fellow players. Listening/playing guests welcome.

3 FROM THE PRESIDENT S DESK If I was asked, there is no doubt in my mind that you can t beat some home-grown talent. We certainly experienced a fantastic concert with Neil Jensen at the Christie console. It had been nearly 10 years since his last visit and I can safely say he has still got it! The afternoon was filled with virtually non-stop music and Neil s arrangements were spectacular and his musicianship superb. To top it all off, Neil also donated his performance fee to TOSA Q and I would publicly like to thank him for his generous gift. Thanks also to the Christie brains trust the old girl is sounding better than ever. The small drawer to house the MIDI control box is now installed and it will make the unit more user friendly for recording and playback. Special thanks to Kevin Purchase and Stan Ellaway for their expert timber furnishing and finishing skills in the manufacturing of the MIDI drawer. least, all the way from the UK, Simon Gledhill on the 17 th of November. Put these dates in your diary. See you at the Legends concert. Lance TOSAQ is probably the most progressive and forward-thinking theatre organ society anywhere in the world. Neil Jensen in Brisbane, April Thanks to our Patron Dr Robert Boughen for organising another trip to QPAC to enjoy the Klais pipe organ in the concert hall. A great afternoon was had by all. If you haven t heard, TOSA WA is having a birthday celebration later this year. It will be held on the weekend of the 29 th of September with guest artists Tony Fenelon, John Atwell, Roseanne Hosking, Chris McPhee and a smattering of local artists. Looks like it will be a great weekend. Whilst everyone in TOSA Q s committee works hard in all aspects for the improvement of the society, occasionally I like to bring to your attention and showcase the efforts of individuals. In this case I would like to mention Mike Gillies. He has been the editor of the Tibia for some time now and we have seen it grow into a newsletter that all the other states admire. The content is always accurate and interesting and especially when you read articles like Tales of Two Christies you can really appreciate the effort that must go in to producing newsletter every month with such high standards. Thanks Mike! Don t forget the Legends in Concert on the 1 st of July. Come August 12 th we will have the pleasure of Tony Fenelon and John Atwell and last but not Sunday 1 July 2pm Legends in Concert Christie Cinema Pipe Organ Kelvin Grove State College Theatre Tickets $25 / Early Bird $20 Student $12 / Children $5 Book Now at Cover photo: Neil Jensen at the TOSAQ Christie on 29 April. Photo by Bill Schumacher.

4 2018 CALENDAR Unless otherwise noted, our daytime meetings are held from 2 pm at Kelvin Grove State College Theatre, corner of Tank Street & Victoria Park Road, Kelvin Grove 4059 ALL WELCOME! Always check the web page for updates or changes January Monday 29 th February Monday 12 th Monday 26 th March Monday 5 th Sunday 11 th Monday 26 th April Monday 9 th Monday 23 rd Sunday 29 th May Monday 14 th Monday 28 th International Artist Rob Richards USA Practice Night Australian Artist Neil Jensen (Sydney) June Monday 11 th Monday 25 th July Sunday 1 st Practice Night Legends in Concert Australian Artists Saturday 7 th Silent Film GoMA 11 am Sunday 22 nd Silent Film GoMA 11 am Monday 23 rd Monday 30 th August Monday 6 th Sunday 12 th Monday 27 th Australian Artist Tony Fenelon & John Atwell (Melbourne) September Monday 10 th Monday 24 th October Sunday 7 th Monday 8 th Monday 22 nd Monday 29 th November Monday 12 th Saturday 17 th Monday 26 th December Sunday 2 nd Practice Night Silent Film International Artists Simon Gledhill UK Club Day & AGM Note: Items in red highlight are events with paid entry. All KGSC events commence at 2 pm unless otherwise stated. s commence at 7.30 pm in the KGSC theatre. July 1 at 2 pm Club Days As per recent years past, we have maintained the hall bookings for the first Sunday of the Month 2018, should any additional opportunities or member-driven events come up. This includes opportunities for private member playing sessions etc. Contact the Secretary for more information.

5 Sunday July 1 at 2 pm Kelvin Grove State College Theatre The Magic of Broadway, Billy Joel, Tony Bennett and more... You ve never heard The Christie played like this Two of Australia s most outstanding cinema organists, Debbie Fitzsummons and Bill Schumacher, will bring The Christie cinema pipe organ to life. These giant musical instruments, as much orchestra as organ and entirely mechanical, conjure sensational sounds as if you were listening to a sixty-piece symphony orchestra. The Christie will be supported by the brilliant Greg Doolan Band. The late Greg Doolan was the front man for one of Australia's most successful cabaret bands Wickety Wak. George Harvey is a man of many faces. For George, show business isn t just what he does, it s what he is. In 1981 George joined Australia s awardwinning variety group The Four Kinsmen. This took him all over the world from the concert stages of Australia to their own show in a major showroom on the Las Vegas strip. Joining George once again will be his long-time show business partner and fellow Kinsmen, Robert Pearson. PEARSON & HARVEY have established themselves as one of the finest double acts in Australia over the last 36 years. Legends in Concert features a line-up of five highly talented musicians and entertainers who pay tribute to some of the most iconic entertainers in the world. Experience Brisbane s most electrifying variety stage show, featuring The Four Kinsmen s George Harvey, Robert Pearson and Debbie Fitzsummons along with the stunning Laura Doolan and cinema organist Bill Schumacher. Debbie Fitzsummons (Legends Musical Director) is no stranger to the stage. At fifteen years of age, Debbie was awarded Cinema Organist of the Year. As Musical Director for both Wickety Wak and The Four Kinsmen she has performed in concert venues across Australia and America. Her musical talents continue to rise and rise. Laura Doolan adds further to the absolute uniqueness of this entertainment package. Laura is stunning and exceptionally talented. With a voice comparable to the sensitivity of Eva Cassidy and to the spine-tingling power of Celine Dion.

6 Arrive at the Kelvin Grove State College Auditorium, where the atmosphere is thick with excitement. Make your way to your seat (cabaret seating), ordering a wood fired pizza and a drink from the bar on your way in. Chat with friends as you wait for the curtains to go up along with the retro experience of The Christie rising out of the floor as the show begins. All of the amazing Legends are donating their time to TOSAQ with the proceeds going towards the ongoing maintenance and enhancements of Brisbane s magnificent Christie Cinema Pipe Organ. One show only Book today! Legends in Concert Tickets $25 / Early Bird $20 Student $12 / Children $5

7 LEGENDS IN CONCERT Sunday 1 July from 2pm Christie Cinema Pipe Organ Kelvin Grove State College Theatre The magic returns in 2018 with an all-new show, back by popular demand. Experience Brisbane s most electrifying variety stage show featuring the Four Kinsmen s George Harvey, Robert Pearson and Debbie Fitzsummons along with the stunning singer Laura Doolan. Immerse yourself in an entertaining afternoon of music and fun with five award-winning Christie. On this 1934-vintage instrument, Debbie Fitzsummons and Bill Schumacher conjure a symphony of sound, in a program of Australian entertainers as the auditorium dances with special effects lighting and vibrates with the thrum of exhilarating popular music supported by the talented Greg Doolan Band. The sensationally arranged music includes chart toppers by Billy Joel, David Bowie, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Joe Cocker, Natalie Cole and Tony Bennett along with hits from the Broadway shows Jersey Boys, Oliver and A Chorus Line. Our Legends will take you on an unforgettable journey. TOSAQ will present the Legends in Concert event in comfortable cabaret style seating. Enjoy lunch before the show with a wood fired pizza from Fire N Dough along with a drink from the bar. Book now and discover more at Tickets can be secured in the following ways: 1. Online at 2. Post a cheque / Money Order to the TOSA Q Secretary 51 Princess Street, Mitchelton, Qld Be sure to include a short note with your name and how many tickets you want. 3. Contact Brett on to process a Credit Card / Debit Card payment over the phone. Early Bird tickets must be paid for in full by Sunday 24 June 2018 tickets cannot be held without payment. Tickets: Adult $25 / Early Bird $20 Student $12 / Children $5

8 NEWS ROUNDUP We have received news of the forthcoming silent film program at GoMA. As part of a Detective Series, two Buster Keaton silent films will be screened with accompaniment by David Bailey at the ex-regent Wurlitzer. These are: Sat 7 11am Sherlock Holmes 1916 Sun 22 11am Sherlock Jr 1924 Sherlock Jr we all know, but the other appears to be the recently restored (once thought lost) 7-reel feature from 1916 not to be missed! Free entry. Cinema A Gallery of Modern Art, South Bank. The recent visit to QPAC Concert Hall to hear / play the Klais pipe organ was greatly appreciated by TOSAQ and OSQ members. Our special thanks go to Co-Patron Dr Robert Boughen for organising and hosting the visit. (See photos in this edition). As mentioned in Lance s report, TOSA Western Australia is celebrating 50 years this September. Over the weekend of 29/30 September, there is a meet and greet, followed by Chris McPhee playing their wonderful Compton with singer Rosanne Hosking. Sunday afternoon sees a joint concert by Tony Fenelon and John Atwell on both piano and Compton cinema pipe organ. Flyer details are enclosed. For bookings visit: More details: secretary@tosawa.org.au Gift Vouchers Share your love of cinema organ with your friends or loved ones with a TOSAQ gift voucher. There are a number of options available including tickets to a particular concert, membership or nominated values. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months adding flexibility. Alternatively, we would be delighted to work with you to create the perfect gift for a loved one. Contact Brett on or info@tosaq.com.au to discuss your specific requirements. Click here to Buy Now Oh Dear dept Obviously not a TOSAQ member from The Sunday Mail 25 Feb 2018: Carol Horvath passed away on May 3. Many TOSAQ members would remember spending many happy hours with Carol and her late husband Frank, playing their Technics organ and enjoying good company. A reminder of the upcoming Marrickville Town Hall 2/11 Wurlitzer 50 th Anniversary Concert, featuring John Giacchi in Sydney Sunday 3 June. TOSA NSW are arranging a big celebration of their ex-prince Edward Theatre Wurlitzer, now regarded as one of the finest two manual Wurlitzers in the world. See the flyer in this edition of Tibia. Already there are a few TOSAQ members who have booked flights to Sydney for this concert. A great opportunity to see a 2018 ATOS Convention artist too.

9 LEGENDS IN CONCERT Fundraiser for your Christie Hello fellow TOSAQ Members and friends, Sunday 1 July will see the third Legends in Concert event spring to life. Although not a traditional Cinema Organ concert, you will hear plenty of her, as the Christie will star in almost every song. This concert is actually all about the Christie! Professional musicians, singers, comedians and dancers will all donate their time and talents for our quest... to raise money for the ongoing maintenance and improvement of our beautiful instrument. Most of the performers had never seen a cinema organ before being asked to help me with this concert, but after meeting the Christie, they were just enraptured with her musicality, versatility, and orchestral power... and eagerly signed up to perform again this year! This concert will truly have something for everyone. Music from all eras and genres from the 1930's onward, fabulous lighting, and amazing performers. But the most important thing is... it s a fundraiser for your Christie. Every dollar raised goes directly to the instrument, for her preservation and improvement ticket sales, drinks, tea & coffee, and even a portion of profits from the pizzas sold, is all donated to TOSAQ. So, come along and enjoy the show, bring some friends and help TOSAQ at the same time! If you can t make the concert, perhaps you could consider making a donation of your ticket price for the day, or a little more? Your donation is even tax deductible! This is all about your Christie, so let s get behind it and make this the best it can be! Debbie Fitzsummons TOSAQ Committee A REMINDER: Donations of $2 or more to benefit the TOSAQ Public Fund are tax deductable for the end of financial year. Assistance Required Your organisation requires assistance with upcoming events. TOSAQ is still seeking two (2) catering assistants to support Di Purchase in the kitchen on concert days. These assistants could be TOSAQ members, partners, friends or neighbours. A love of volunteering for community organisations and an understanding of food handling are important. Without this assistance we will not be able to continue offering sandwiches as an option within our amazing afternoon teas. Contact Secretary Brett Kavanagh on or info@tosaq.com.au for further information.

10 Neil Jensen Dancing Keyboards April 29 Well, they certainly came out of the woodwork for the Neil Jensen concert! It was almost like a journey back in time to those Club Days of the 80s and 90s, when a fulsome audience was de rigueur And Neil Jensen delivered to the faithful and to the new, with a spellbinding afternoon of musical greats and some entertaining rapport to go with it. Neil flew up from Sydney on Saturday morning, so his practice time was limited. But to Neil, sitting at the Christie was like putting on a favourite, well used glove it fitted so well! It was hard to believe it had been ten years since he last played the Christie Over interval and the delicious afternoon tea prepared by Di Purchase, Brett Kavanagh and the committee, Neil mingled with the crowd and I am sure there were many fond memories rekindled. The large crowd saw several long-standing Life Members in attendance as well as many TOSA members we have not seen for ages. Neil s console up number was Wake Up and Live. He recalled a hilarious moment (perhaps not for the grieving family!) when he played this number during a funeral service when a sudden glitch in proceedings occurred. The deceased was apparently a fan of the composer Stairway to the Stars was next and this showcased the Christie s every-changing moods via registration. As promised in the pre-concert promotion, Neil performed a medley of Fred Astaire dance numbers, all instantly recognisable. This included Dancing Cheek to Cheek, A Fine Romance, Something s Gotta Give, The Continental and Just the Way You Are. It was wonderful to have Neil s mother Beryl, aged 93, in the audience, and he dedicated the next tune to her, Memory from Cats. Judging by the applause, everyone thought it most fitting. At this stage, I would like to comment on the almost ethereal lighting effects displayed during the concert. With the new lighting array now installed in the theatre, our lighting guru Paul Bailey has worked wonders the soft pastel lights on display mean we can now open the stage curtains to tasteful effect, giving the Christie acoustics more depth. His opening number was the fitting That s Entertainment and a foretaste of what followed that afternoon. This was followed by Georgia on My Mind, before Jensen launched into a magnificent Cole Porter medley featuring Another Opening, Night and Day, Wunderbar, Why Don t You Behave, I Got You Under My Skin, My Heart Belongs to Daddy and From This Moment On. By now the audience had got the message and this was to be a most interesting organ concert! The afternoon was drawing to a close. No cinema organ performance would be complete without at least one Gershwin number, and Neil Jensen complied with a medley of Gershwin s finest: Of Thee I Sing, Swanee, Embraceable You, ending with But Not for Me. Neil left the stage to rapturous applause loud calls for more, more erupted! A most leisurely Blue Prelude followed, before the uptempo Comedians Gallop was delivered with that now famous Christie sparkle of registrations. Neil s rendition of Cry Me a River built up the stops ready for another big medley. This time it was a Rodgers and Hart theme, with Falling in Love with Love, Where or When, No Other Love and ending with the very orchestral and majestic Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. This ended the first half of the program.

11 He eventually did return to his home instrument the Christie, for an encore. It was to be Sabre Dance, the famous piece by Khachaturian and one which Neil Jensen used to win an organ competition many, many moons ago, and a piece he had not played in public since until now Bravo Neil Jensen! TOSAQ would like to acknowledge the wonderful gesture of Neil s in waiving his performance fee for his concert, with the money saved diverted to the ongoing expenses of maintaining our wonderful Christie cinema pipe organ! As a sign of it being such an enjoyable event, a lot of the audience stayed back and milled around the console, meeting up with old friends, while some took tours of the organ chambers. The Christie performed impeccably thanks to Rick and Tim, and Neil s use of the piano, orchestral and mixture stops, his expert blending of harmonies and countermelodies had everyone enthralled. Our thanks to Brett Kavanagh for the publicity, committee and members for hall setup and catering. Don t go away there s more of this coming soon! MG Just part of the very large audience (above) Neil with Howell Whitehouse (left)

12 TOSA NSW Sunday June 3 John Giacchi, Marrickville Wurlitzer, 50th Anniversary Concert Sunday September 9 Scott Harrison, Marrickville Wurlitzer Sunday November 18 Simon Gledhill, Orion Wurlitzer Sunday December 9 Tony Fenelon & John Atwell, Orion Wurlitzer, 30th Anniversary Concert MTO (TOSA Victoria) Sunday June 17 Tony Fenelon & John Giacchi (Vic), Malvern Town Hall, 2.00 pm Sunday July 29 Thomas Heywood (Vic) Malvern Town Hall, 2.30 pm Sunday September 16 John Atwell & Hetty Kate (Vic), Kingston City Hall, 2.00 pm Saturday November 10 Simon Gledhill (UK), Kingston City Hall, 2.00 pm TOSA SA Sunday June 17 John Slater & Friends, Capri cinema Sunday July 29 Tony Fenelon & John Atwell, Capri cinema Sunday September 16 John Giacchi, Capri cinema Monday/Tuesday October International Youth Silent Film Festival, Capri cinema Sunday November 11 Simon Gledhill (UK), Capri cinema Sunday December 2 Bill Schumacher & Debbie Fitzsummons, Capri cinema TOSA Western Australia Saturday September 29 Monday October 1: TOSA (WA) 50th Anniversary featuring Tony Fenelon, John Atwell, Chris McPhee and Rosanne Hosking + others Karrinyup (WA) Sunday June 17 John Pound (WA) Sunday August 12 David Johnston (Vic) Sunday October 7 Ray Clements & John Fuhrmann (WA) Sunday November 4 Simon Gledhill (UK) TOSA Gold Coast 3 rd Sunday of the month Members Afternoon (For more information, contact the relevant Club see last page) More nostalgic Neil Jensen photos (then and now): Top row: Judy Vale, Neil Jensen, Glenda Kubler. Front: Neil s mum Beryl and Paul Bailey. Neil with hair and a mo!

13 P r e s e n t s from Victoria (ex Sydney) John is a multi-award-winning Australian musician, originally from Sydney, where he played theatre organ from a young age on the world-famous Marrickville Town Hall Wurlitzer. John last played for Sydney audiences in 2000 so his return to play for us in Sydney is widely anticipated. For TOSA NSW John will present an outstanding concert of a variety of well known and loved tunes from theatre, popular standards and maybe a few surprises. This is also a special day for TOSA NSW as they celebrate 50 years since the opening of the ex-prince Edward Theatre Wurlitzer in its home at Marrickville Town Hall. The organ has been in the hall for nearly 10 years longer than it was in its original home! To help the celebration, seating will be in "cabaret" style with tables and chairs. Complimentary snacks will be provided. BYO extra snacks and drinks are welcome. (Beer, wine etc is OK). Enhanced afternoon tea service will also be available, with a small selection of cakes or gourmet biscuits for purchase. The 2/11 Wurlitzer is recognised as a worldclass musical instrument. Celebrating 50 years of the Marrickville Town Hall Wurlitzer Corner of Marrickville and Petersham Roads, Sydney Sunday 3 June :00pm 4:30pm Tickets : Adult $ 35; Conc $ 30; Members $25. Family i.e. 2 Adults incl. 1 or more children $65; Adult Group of 10 or more $22/person. For the best reserved seats, you can book securely on Trybooking.com (link below). Visa & Mastercard accepted. Please go straight to our Trybooking page to book your tickets for this special event: PERTH 29 September 1 October, 2018 TOSA WA FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY Fifty years ago, a small group of theatre organ lovers met for the first time in Perth. Back then, membership cost $6. Now, fifty years later, Western Australia known for its warm weather and colourful wildflowers will be host to an exhilarating theatre organ spectacular featuring Australia's finest musicians. They have a weekend of events and concerts arranged. Special guest performers include Chris McPhee and Roseanne Hosking on Saturday. Tony Fenelon and John Atwell perform on the Sunday. As well there is an open console and local artists will perform of the Compton cinema pipe organ. Afterglow on Monday includes a Swan River cruise. COSTS: The cost for the weekend package is $155. This cost includes entry to all concerts, the gala dinner, as well as lunches and morning and afternoon teas on the Saturday and Sunday. Tickets to individual concerts and the gala dinner are also available for those who are unable to attend for the whole weekend. Admission to individual concerts is $20. Contact TOSAQ Secretary for further details. Mick Ross Mick photo Ross photo

14 LOCAL ORGAN CLUBS Don t forget that the Organ Society of Queensland (OSQ) has interesting events on. Visit their web page: Conn-Sole Club meets at: St Joachim s Catholic Church Hall 24 Crown Street HOLLAND PARK pm on the 4th Sunday of each month. President: Glenda Kubler Secretary: Helen Bray TOSA Gold Coast meets at: Maher Hall Matilda Street BURLEIGH HEADS /19 Olympic Digital Theatre Organ 3rd Sunday each month at 2.00 pm. Secretary: Bill Schumacher TOSA CONTACTS TOSA ACT (Canberra) 3/8 Compton Albert Hall, Canberra Contact: tosasec@ me.com.au TOSA Gold Coast Olympic VTPO. Club Musical Afternoon 3rd Sunday of each month (except December). Contact: Bill Schumacher TOSA New South Wales Orion Theatre Wurlitzer 3/17; Marrickville Town Hall (TH) Wurlitzer 2/11; West Ryde Anglican Church 2/8 Christie Events Contact: Geoff Brimley (02) TOSA Victoria - MTO Kingston TH Wurlitzer 4/21; Malvern TH Compton 3/17; Dendy Cinema Wurlitzer 3/15; Coburg TH Christie/B & H 2/9; Regent Wurlitzer 4/36. Contact: Margaret Sutcliffe on (03) Warragul Theatre Organ Society (VIC) Wurlitzer 3/10. Meetings held first Saturday of the month. Events Contact: Di Yuill (03) TOSA South Australia Tuesdays and weekends TOSA (SA) members play the 4/29 Wurlitzer in their Capri Theatre, Goodwood Road, Goodwood (08) TOSA Western Australia 3/12 Compton. John Leckie Music Centre 25 Melvista Ave, Nedlands. Member s days first Sunday of the month at 2pm. Contact: Rodney Raymond (08) Stirling Productions (WA) Wurlitzer 3/21 Karrinyup Community Centre, Perth, Western Australia. Interstate TOSA Members get a 50% discount to concerts. All concerts are on Sundays at 2pm. Prior bookings are essential with John Fuhrmann on (08)