Stories Of London

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Jackie’s daughters, Amanda and Julie, told me that their father was able to play a number of musical instruments in addition to the Theatre Organ and Piano.  These included the Trumpet, the Clarinet, the Banjo and the Accordion and Julie tells me that she still has her father’s Trumpet amongst her belongings.

Jackie’s Trumpet with assorted Mutes

There is no question that Jackie was an accomplished musician, and as earlier pages have clearly shown, was also an arranger and composer. He wrote, arranged musical pieces for films, radio and television, as well as often performing them. He also worked on a number of gramophone records where he either conducted an orchestra or appeared as a musician.  Although Jackie was indeed a versatile musician, it would seem that his first musical love was playing the Organ, and remained ……. a Theatre (and Electronic) Organist at heart!

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Jackie was highly thought of as a Theatre Organist by both fellow organists, as well as the general public. Other organists have praised his style of play and their admiration is well described by the words of Mr. Keith Beckingham who first heard Jackie playing the Theatre Organ of the Trocadero Elephant & Castle in December 1957 at a gathering organised by the Cinema Organ Society (COS):

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There are two long established Theatre Organ Clubs in the U.K., The Theatre Organ Club (TOC) and The Cinema Organ Society (COS). Both Clubs are open to Theatre Organ enthusiasts and organise concerts in cinemas and halls where Theatre Organs remain installed.  In addition, the clubs keep members informed with the latest organ and organist news.

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Robinson Cleaver (1906-1987)

The TOC was founded in 1938 as The Robinson Cleaver Radio Club although, despite its name, was never restricted to just Mr. Cleaver’s music, but served in general to promote the Theatre Organ and its players.  This eventually led to a change in its name to The Theatre Organ Club in 1956.  Meanwhile the COS was founded in 1952 by Messrs. Hubert Selby and Tony Moss.

Many of the concerts organised by the clubs were held on a Sunday morning once a month or occasionally on Sunday afternoons with the proviso that they ended promptly since many of the venues had to be made ready for the screening of films.  Concerts were organised in such a way that club presentations did not clash.

At these concerts, a well-known organist was invited to play for members without payment.  However, prior to this, enthusiastic young organists were selected from the many hopefuls in attendance and given the opportunity to play the instrument for fifteen-minute periods.

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Jackie was a member of both the TOC and the COS and was regularly invited to play to members. He was voted Patron of the TOC in 1964 by members with William Davies (1921-2006) as runner up and Charles Smitton (1925-1997)  and George Blackmore (1921-1994)in third and fourth place, a position which is held for one-year duration.

As was the way of the Clubs, no fee was offered to the visiting organist. However, this never seemed to bother Jackie since it was apparent to the audience and to everyone who knew him that he really enjoyed playing the Theatre Organ. During this time, Jackie was working at the BBC on The Billy Cotton Show, which was broadcast live on Sunday Lunchtimes and following the programme, he would drive to the venues and play for appreciative audiences.

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The Theatre Organist, Mr. Keith Beckingham, often heard Jackie playing at a number of Club Meetings and remembers them well with much pleasure. He kindly offers a list of venues where he heard Jackie play, and which is given below, however, Mr. Beckingham says that the list is most certainly not complete:

Trocadero Elephant & Castle, Gaumont State Theatre Kilburn, Empire, Leicester Square, Granada Theatre Tooting, Granada Theatre Clapham Junction, Granada Theatre Welling, Granada Theatre Woolwich, Granada Theatre Greenwich, Gaumont Cinema Bromley and the Troxy Stepney.

Jackie at the Abbey Hall Abingdon

Other venues where Jackie was known to have given concerts include the Buckingham Town Hall, the Abbey Hall Abingdon, Ritz Richmond and the Regal Kingston. Again, this list is most certainly not complete.

Jackie at the Console of The Theatre Organ of The Ritz Cinema Richmond

Jackie was also part of the entertainers that took part in the Keyboard Gala held at the Assembly Rooms, Tunbridge Wells (1971) and two concerts entitled Musical Notes with other organists at the Gaumont Chelsea and also at the Troxy Stepney (discussed earlier on Page 2).

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During Jackie’s early years as an organist, he was employed by The Granada Theatre Circuit and spent time as the resident organist at the Granada Theatre Slough and Granada Theatre Woolwich.

Jackie Brown at a number of London’s Granada Theatres
Top Left: at the Granada Theatre Slough; Top Right: at the Granada Theatre Wandsworth
Bottom Left: at the Granada Theatre Woolwich; Bottom Right: Granada Theatre Clapham Junction

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The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Wandsworth was sold to Messrs Les and Len Rawle and was installed for sometime at Mr. Les Rawle’s home, Wurlitzer Lodge.

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The Console of the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Tooting

Jackie also gave concerts playing The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (4-Manuals; 14-Ranks) of the Granada Theatre Tooting.

Jackie seated at The Console of the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Tooting

Jackie gave his first solo Theatre Organ BBC Broadcast on this instrument before a live audience. At the beginning of the programme, Jackie is heard speaking with some emotion to the audience, as he informs those present that this was the realisation of an ambition.

A recording of the Broadcast may be heard here.

(In 1976, an album of Jackie playing the Theatre Organs of the Granada Theatre Tooting and of the Buckingham Town Hall was released by Deroy Records, as part of the series, Cinema Organ Encores (Volume 78) (see below), and some of the pieces played here are included in this album.)

Beryl with Jackie and their children, Amanda & Julie, seated before the Console 

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Jackie playing Can I forget you on the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Tooting

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A concert was given at The Granada Theatre Kingston and several of the pieces that Jackie played may be heard in the following link:

Jackie playing the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 11-Ranks) of the Granada Theatre Kingston
The programme is introduced by Sam Costa (1910-1981)

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In March 1962, Jackie gave a concert at the Granada Theatre North Cheam, which was recorded and may be heard here:

Jackie playing the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 8-Ranks) of
the Granada Theatre North Cheam

Jackie seated at The Console of the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Empire Leicester Square (1961)

Jackie played the Theatre Organ at a number of prestigious events including at the Farewell Concert held in 1961 to mark the closure of the Empire Theatre Leicester Square and the removal of The Empress, as the Theatre’s Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (4-manuals; 20-Ranks) was known.

The Console of the Empire Leicester Square Wurlitzer Organ sitting on its turntable.
The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ was installed at the Empire Theatre in November 1928.
It was the first 4-manual Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, and the largest organ,
to be exported to the U.K. up until that time.

The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Empire Cinema Leicester Square was installed at the Theatre in November 1928.  The Organ (4-manuals; 20-ranks) was the first 4-manual Wurlitzer Theatre Organ, and the largest organ to be exported to the U.K. up until that time. Jackie performed at this concert together with fellow organist, George Blackmore (1921-1994).

A second photograph of Jackie seated at
the Console of the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Empire Leicester Square (1961)

Included in Jackie’s programme were the following pieces:

Chloe, I hear music when I dance with you, I’m forever blowing bubbles,
a selection of Ballet music & Music from My Fair Lady

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(Note: The name of Empress is not universally accepted by all Theatre Organ enthusiasts for this particular Theatre Organ, since some prefer to reserve the name for the  3-manuals/13-ranks Organ installed at the Empress Ballroom, Blackpool in 1935 and subsequently acquired by the BBC in 1969.)

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The Farewell Concert was suggested and organised by Mr. Len Rawle with the help of Mr. Ralph Bartlett (the Theatre Organ Club Southern Secretary) and the blessing of the Theatre’s General Manager, Mr. Albert Sidi.  According to Mr. Rawle, the Concert was a rousing success.

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Click here to read more about The Empress its new home

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In 1963, Jackie together with William Davies (1916-2006) and Robinson Cleaver gave the Inaugural Concert sponsored by the Club at the Buckingham Town Hall to commemorate the installation of its Theatre Organ.

Jackie at the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ once installed at the Buckingham Town Hall in 1963

The Concert was recorded and released as an album in mono in 1963
& then released in stereo in 1986

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The building was the seat of the Borough Council until the mid-1960’s after which the Council moved to another venue. Today, the ground floor of the building is now occupied by a group of Solicitors while the Assembly Room where Jackie gave his concert, is still used to stage events.

Buckingham Town Hall

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The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-manuals; 11-ranks) that was installed at the Buckingham Town Hall in 1963 and had been purchased by the TOC. The Organ had previously been installed in several cinemas.

It was originally installed in the Fulton Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio in 1923 where it remained until 1935. The Organ was then installed at the Metropole Cinema in Victoria when it remained until 1963 when it was removed and installed in the Buckingham Town Hall. However, after concerns were raised that its playing might be causing structural damage to the building, the Organ was removed and then transferred to the Assembly Hall in Worthing in 1981.

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Photograph taken in 1963 at the Inaugural Concert given in the Buckingham Town Hall by Jackie.
From the Left to Right: John Foskett (a member of the team responsible for bringing the Theatre Organ to the Town Hall), William Davies, Jackie, Robinson Cleaver, His Worship The Mayor,
Mr. John Cornwall and Ralph Bartlett (the Theatre Organ Club Southern Secretary)
before the Buckingham Town Hall Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (1963)

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In 1976, an album of Jackie playing the Theatre Organs of the Granada Theatre Tooting and of the Buckingham Town Hall was released by Deroy Records, as part of the series, Cinema Organ Encores (Volume 78).

The Album Sleeve Notes

Unfortunately I have no recording of Jackie playing the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Buckingham Town Hall.

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Vic Hammett (1918-1974) and Jackie

Vic Hammett playing Brazil at the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Buckingham Town Hall.

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Jackie seated at the Console of the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of The Trocadero Elephant & Castle

The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (4-Manuals; 21-Ranks) of The Trocadero Elephant & Castle and was the largest Theatre Organ exported by The Wurlitzer Company to Europe and was installed in 1930. It was a favourite instrument of many organists and was often used for BBC Radio presentations and concerts. Jackie gave a number of concerts at this venue including part of the one recorded in 1959 and included here:

Part of a Concert Given By Jackie Brown at the Trocadero Elephant & Castle in April 1959

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In 1960, it was announced that the Trocadero would close. Its Theatre Organ was purchased by the COS, and prior to its removal in 1961, a Farewell Concert was organised and a number of organists was invited to play the instrument a final time in its original setting.

Jackie was among the organists invited to play at this special concert where he performed, the tune most associated with the first resident organist of the cinema, Quentin Maclean (1896-1962), Knocked ’em in the Old Kent Road:

Jackie playing the Theatre Organ at the Farewell Concert at the Trocadero Elephant & Castle

The COS put the Organ into storage until it was able to find a permanent home for the instrument. It was eventually installed at Southbank University in Edric Hall where it was first played in 1979 and where it remained until 2004 when it was once again removed and put back into storage. In 2010, agreement was reached to install the Organ at the newly renovated Troxy Cinema Stepney and the first concert of the Organ (now with 25-Ranks) was featured in 2015.

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Jackie gave a number of concerts at the Regal Cinema Kingston. The cinema was equipped with a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 12-Ranks) that had been installed when it was opened in 1932 and had been played by a number of famed organists, including Mr. Joseph Seal, the Musical Director of the ABC Circuit, who was the current resident organist at that time. The organ was removed in 1972 and later installed at the Musical Museum Bentford where it is played often.

Left: The Regal (ABC) Cinema Kingston; Right: The Musical Museum Bentford  

Writing in the VCOS Journal (1985), Mr. Alex Campbell-Gifford wrote:

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In May 1964, Jackie gave a concert sponsored by the TOC at the Rialto Theatre Enfield. The Theatre had been equipped in 1927 with a Christie Theatre Organ (2-Manuals; 7-Ranks), which had been rebuilt in 1935 into a 3-Manual, 9-Rank Organ.

Part of the concert given by Jackie in May 1964 at the Theatre Organ of the Rialto Theatre Enfield

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Jackie gave recitals/concerts at a number of other venues and on a variety of organs. One such instrument that he played for an audience was the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of The Decca Record Company Limited once installed at The Decca Studios in London. The organ had been removed and installed in a venue in High Wycombe. Jackie and several other organists were invited to play the instrument on that occasion.

Jackie at the Console of the erstwhile Decca Record Company Theatre Organ

Mr. Len Rawle wrote about his experience when taking part in this concert:

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In April 1972, Jackie played a Conn Organ at a Keyboard Gala Concert, sponsored by Keyboard Magazine held at the Assembly Hall in Tunbridge Wells.

Part of Jackie’s performance at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells

The concert included a number of other artists playing a variety of Keyboards and included (Alberto) Semprini (1908-1990)  playing a Bösendorfer Concert Piano and Harold Smart (1921-1980) playing an Electronic Organ.(/p>

A review of the Concert in the Keyboard Magazine included the following account of Jackie’s playing:

Jackie (Right) taking a bow with Derek Cadde, the compere

Jackie’s encore

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In May 1974, Jackie gave a recital playing the Christie Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 9-Ranks) that was housed in the detached Concert Room in the garden of the organ builder, Mr. Tony Manning and his wife, Margaret, in their home in Farnborough, Hampshire.

Jackie at the Console of the Farnborough Christie Theatre Organ

The organist, Mr. Michael Woodridge, played the instrument when he was young, and says that it was a superb installation and was used to feature regular concerts by some of the world’s finest players. The Organ was sold a number of years ago and is now installed in a different private home, but no longer used for concerts open to the public.

(It has been suggested that this Theatre Organ was once installed at the Granada Theatre Willesden, but this has yet to be confirmed.)

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As Mr. A. Campbell Gifford said in his obituary at the passing of Jackie in the  Cinema Organ Society Journal:

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