LEN RAWLE
THE PROFESSIONAL AMATEUR
& ORGANIST SUPREME
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ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES CONTINUED
TUNING & CONSULTING
THEATRE ORGANS IN OTHER COUNTRIES
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Len says that during his concert work abroad, he was occasionally asked to undertake some finishing work on the Theatre Organs he had been invited to play.
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1. THEATRE ORGANS INSTALLED IN
THE NETHERLANDS
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On visits to The Netherlands, Len worked on The Nederlandse Orgel Federatie (NOF) Compton Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 12-Ranks) in Haarlem and The Wurlitzer/Strunk Theatre Organ installed at the Tuschinski Theatre in Amsterdam.
The Nederlandse Orgel Federatie (NOF) Compton Theatre Organ (Lady Compton), Haarlem
The Lady Compton, as it is known, is a Theatre Organ that was originally installed in the Majestic Cinema in Rochester, Kent, in 1935 and was removed from here in 1961 and installed in a church in Orpington. Some time later, it was sent to a concert hall in Middelburg in The Netherlands where it remained for a number of years until the Local Authority decided to redevelop the hall and planned to remove the Organ. Fortunately, the NOF owned it, and since they had an alliance with the Draaiorgelmuseum (The Street Organ Museum) in Haarlem, installed it here where it remains amongst the Museum’s splendid collection.
The Organ had become known as the Lady Compton, since it was a more refined instrument in tone than Compton’s normal approach of living up to their reputation of giving even their smallest Theatre Organs the capability of sounding like a cathedral instrument with their particularly loud Tubas.
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George Blackmore F.R.C.O. at the Console of the Lady Compton at the Majestic Cinema Rochester
Len says that George Blackmore F.R.C.O. (1921-1994), who had studied for his Royal College of Organist Fellowship Examination at Rochester Cathedral, served as resident organist at the Majestic Cinema for a time. Mr. Blackmore told Len that one of the Compton Voicers took a special interest in the Majestic Theatre Organ and spent a huge amount of time refining its pipe Voicing. Len notes that the Organ, as it is now at the Museum in Haarlem, still retains a lot of that Voicing although apparently it was nearly destroyed when a monstrous second Tuba was added to the instrument during its time at Middleburg.
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Len says that the NOF has always had excellent technical teams to maintain their Organs in good order, however when they took control of the Lady Compton, they found themselves in need of a musician’s ear to guide things through the finishing stages, which is where Len was able to help out, and also with the Tuschinski Theatre Organ.
Len at The Wurlitzer/Strunk Theatre Organinstalled at the Tuschinski Theatre, Amsterdam in 2012
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2. THEATRE ORGANS INSTALLED IN GERMANY
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The Moller Organ (Opus 7432 and built in 1947) installed at
Messrs Aug Laukhuff’s Organ Factory’s Erection Hall, Wikersheim, Germany
In 1984, Frau Rosalinda Laukhuff, a director of the renowned 193-year old organ builders, Aug. Laukhuff GmbH & Co. KG in Wikersheim, Germany, happened to be visiting a fellow organ enthusiast, Mr. Frank Varley, in Sheffield. While here, Frau Laukhuff mentioned that her brother, Hans Erich Laukhuff (1944-2012), also a director of the Company, had purchased a redundant Moller Theatre Organ (3-Manuals; 11-Ranks) during a visit to South Africa. She said that the company engineers had installed the Organ in the factory’s Erection Hall, which is where their organs were assembled prior to dispatch as something of a curiosity for her brother. Apparently, following its installation, no one was pleased with the theatrical tone of the Organ.
After hearing this, Mr. Varley mentioned Len’s name as someone who could advise them on all the necessary finishing touches to help improve the instrument’s tone.
This recommendation led to Len being asked to spend four days at the Company’s factory at Wikersheim to help rectify and adjust matters of Voicing (i.e. Tonal Regulation) and Tremulation. Following Len’s work on the Organ, he was invited to give a concert on the instrument before a specially invited audience of some 300 patrons who apparently appreciated the Organ’s sound and his playing.
Len says that Hans Erich Laukhuff was a well-respected businessman who ran a magnificent factory that was one of the most highly-regarded in the Classical Pipe Organ world. He had apprenticed at the factory and had reached Journeyman status in 1965. In 1968, he completed a Master’s programme in Organ Building where his Master’s Project required him to build an Organ single-handed, which remains installed in the family home. In 1972, he was appointed Managing Director of the Company, a position he shared with his cousin, Peter.
Len adds that it came as something of a shock to him, that while demonstrating the full range of the Moller Organ to the guests, he discovered that Herr Laukhuff not only could not play the organ, but that he was not especially interested by the glorious tones of the Organ’s magnificent pipe work or the Saucer Bells, Xylophone, Piano or Vibraphone, but was completely enthralled by the wide range of Silent-Picture Effects associated that the instrument could produce, such as horses hooves, sounds of the sea, motor horns, bird whistles, steam train whistles etc etc! Apparently, Herr Laukhuff would often go into the Erection Hall at night and play on his very-much augmented range of buttons that controlled the Organ’s Special Effects Division!
Left: Hans Erich Laukhuff; Right: His Memorial (in the shape of an Organ Pipe)
Len says that he has been fortunate enough since his initial visit to return to the factory to both record and give concerts.
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3. THEATRE ORGANS INSTALLED IN SWEDEN
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The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ (Style E, opus 1254; 2-Manuals; 7-Ranks) of the R1 Recktor Hall, an underground facility at Stockholm University of Technology (KTH), had originally been installed at the Skandia-Theatern Stockholm in 1926.
The Skandia -Theatern
Unfortunately, once talking films arrived during the 1930s, the Organ was thought to be redundant. However, a number of volunteers attempted to maintain it in a playable condition and it continued to be played before and after each screening at the Cinema between 1944 and 1948. In addition, between 1930 and 1949, the Organ was played for Radio Concerts on approximately one hundred and fifty occasions. Between 1951 and 1965, when it sat idle until it was removed and sold to the City of Stockholm for installation in the City Hall.
Stockholm City Hall
During the 1970s, the Organ was coarsely dismantled at the City Hall and placed in storage in the attic of the building. In 2005, the City Authorities decided to clear all the material stored in the attic and have its contents removed from the premises. During this time, a number of volunteers sifted through the discarded matter and realised that there was sufficient Wurlitzer Theatre Organ parts amongst the so-called junk and that it would be worth attempting a restoration.
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Following the salvage, some parts were found to be either too damaged or else missing. This led to the volunteers to search for replacements. One such missing piece was a 7-note Diapason Pipe Chest. A replacement item formerly part of the Theatre Organ of the Gaumont Cinema New Cross was acquired.
Meanwhile, the Console had been separated from the rest of the Organ when it was removed from City Hall and had apparently been stored in various locations in Stockholm where it evidently suffered some damage. Fortunately, it was later discovered at the Musical Museum (Musikhistoriska museet) storage area outside the city.
Although there are a number of skilled organ builders in Sweden, apparently none of them knew how a Theatre Organ should sound. As a result, Len was contacted and asked to come and assist.
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Len recalls of his time in Stockholm:
Thanks to the cathedral-like acoustics of R1 Recktor Hall, the little Wurlitzer sounds sensational. He adds that the team there has done a really fine job of installing and repairing many damaged parts and the public have reacted most favourably.
I was invited to Stockholm to spend a week making fine adjustments to the Organ. I also had the opportunity of playing several concerts to different audiences, one of which included a group of music students, who enjoyed a lengthy question and answer session, something that I always enjoy. The following day whilst traveling on Stockholm’s Metro system and returning to my hotel after a delightful meal with Olof (Mr. Per-Olof Schultz) and his crew, I was surprised to meet up with some of the students who proceeded to ply me with additional interesting questions and treating me as if I was indeed one of their university professors. As a result of their enthusiasm and my wish to answer them, I all but missed getting off at the correct station. They would not stop shaking my hand! A lovely memory.
Len seated at the restored Console of the Organ of the Skandia Cinema
Reproduced from The Skandia Organ – The Restoration with the permission of Mr. Per-Olof Schultz
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In 2017, the Organ was now in a playable condition and was installed in R1 Recktor Hall, an underground facility at Stockholm University of Technology (KTH; Royal Institute of Technology; Kungliga Tekniska högskolan).
KTH; Royal Institute of Technology in 2012
Recktor Hall was Sweden’s first nuclear reactor site and was active between 1954 and 1970 and was disassembled in 1982. The Hall is now an experimental performance space where both scientists and artists may interact.
The Console of the Scandia Organ in Rector Hall
The large hole is where the Reactor was once positioned
Reproduced from The Skandia Organ with the permission of Mr. Per-Olof Schultz
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I would like to thank Mr. Per-Olof Schultz for his help in the preparation of this section.
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4. THEATRE ORGANS INSTALLED IN
AUSTRALIA
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Len has a long history of giving concerts and servicing Theatre Organs in Australia. Over the years, he and Judith have visited Perth in Western Australia some seven or eight times! The first time being when he was invited to play the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ installed at the Karrinyup Community Centre while on a National Tour of Australia.
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While here, Len learned of another Theatre Organ just across the Swan River (Aboriginal Noongar name is the Derbarl Yerrigan) in another part of Perth. He was told that this Organ was the Compton Theatre Organ (A212) that had once been installed in the Plaza Cinema in Worthing. It had been built in 1933 and, at that time, consisted of 3-Manuals and 10 Ranks together with an illuminated surround. The Organ was removed from the Cinema and sold in 1971 and shipped to Western Australia.
The Erstwhile Plaza Cinema Worthing as a Gala Bingo Club
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The Theatre Organ Society of Australia (TOSA), Western Australia Division (WA) , which had been formed in 1968, had purchased the Organ 1971 when it went up for sale and had arranged to ship it to Freemantle in Western Australia. However, upon arrival at the Australian Customs, the authorities considered the Organ to be NEW and so imposed a hefty Import Duty (Customs Duty; Tariff) on the instrument. Sadly the TOSA-WA had not budgeted for the increased amount in Duty and so were unable to transport it to where it was to be installed. As a result, the Organ languished at the Port for sometime.
Fortunately the Organ was finally brought into Perth thanks to the generosity of Mr. Bob Purvis, a prominent music industry and sound system businessman. Mr. Purvis purchased the Organ from the TOSA-WA and also paid the Import Duty. The Organ was to be installed in his factory, Purvisonic Sound, at Myaree by representatives of the TOSA-WA who were also going to be responsible for its maintenance and the planning of concerts.
Len met Mr. Geoff Knaggs, a Committee Member of TOSA-WA, during his first visit to Karrinyup, and he had invited Len to come and play the Compton during his next Australian Tour that was to be in 1985.
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When Len visited Myaree, he said that he found that the Organ had not been played too often and that maintenance had been less than ideal. He noted major problems associated with the Tuning and Pipes along with an inadequate wind supply. Len says that he spent four days in the Organ’s Chambers prior to giving his Concert in an attempt to bring the instrument into a playable condition. He says that thanks to considerable reliance on as many musical jokes that he could recall and a significant amount of audience participation, everyone was treated to an evening to remember!
Len seated at the Compton Theatre Organ in Myaree
Len’s visit started a long-time working friendship with Mr. Knaggs whom he encouraged to find a better home than the current warehouse for the Organ.
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When Mr. Purvis passed away in 1986, it became necessary for the Organ to find a new home. After some discussion with the authorities of the City of Nedlands arrangements were made to install it in The John Leckie Music Centre, which had previously been known as The John Leckie Sports Pavilion Hall.
In 1988, the first concert was given at the Music Centre by Father James Miller and ownership of the Organ reverted back to TOSA-WA.
The John Leckie Music Centre in College Park, Nedlands
This is also the TOSA-WA Chapter home of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS).
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The Organ Pipes are contained in two Chambers at the rear of the Hall. Extensions and upgrading of the Organ occurred in 2000 with the replacement of the original metal Tibia Pipes with a rank of wooden ones, and the addition of Salicional and Salicional Celeste Ranks.
Len believes that the original administrative team under the leadership of Mr. Stan Higgott, together with his long distance technical advice, has resulted in a fine Organ in the delightful Community Hall of The John Leckie Music Centre overlooking a cricket pitch! He says that the Organ is considered now to be the best Compton Installation down under!
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In 1994, members of TOSA–WA offered Len the Patronage of the Society, and he, gratefully and happily accepted this honour. Len continued as Patron until 2018.
Len seated at the TOSA-WA Compton Theatre Organ
In 2008, Len was invited to come to Nedlands to take part in an Anniversary Concert to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Organ’s installation at The John Leckie Music Centre and the 40th Anniversary of the founding of TOSA-WA.
The TOSA-WA Compton Theatre Organ
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In 2018, at the time of the 50th Anniversary of the founding of TOSA-WA, Len decided to retire from the position of Patron. However, he said that the Society, and the Organ, are i both in good hands.
Click on the link to view the Booklet produced by the Society at this time:
Fifty Glorious Sounding Years Booklet
and here to hear the Organ being played.
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Today, The Organ is played regularly at TOSA-WA monthly meetings and has also been used for concerts by organists of local, interstate and overseas and continues to give pleasure to all who come to see and hear it.
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After some thought, Len came up with a list of other Theatre Organs that he, together with his father and a group of willing friends and volunteers, were able to remove from their original installations and were oftentimes involved in their preservation elsewhere.
Some of the venues where they were able to remove the Theatre Organs and see preserved are included in the list here:
Gaumont Cinema Exeter, Tivoli Cinema in the Strand, the Lido Cinema Ealing, Gaumont Bromley, Odeon Theatre Wealdstone, Granada Theatre Kingston, the Rutt Organ of the Super Cinema Oxford, The Compton Theatre Organ installed at the Twickenham College, which had once been installed at the Gaumont Cinema Wood Green, Granada Theatre Woolwich, Regent Cinema Poole, Regent Cinema Stotfold, Orpheum Cinema Finchley, Granada Theatre Leytonstone, West End Cinema Birmingham, Troxy Cinema Stepney, Leicester Square Theatre, Essoldo Cinema Canning Town, Grand Cinema Edgware Road, Regal (ABC) Cinema Uxbridge, The Electrone Organ at Southall School, The Conacher Theatre Organ installed at Northampton Boys School and Odeon Theatre Manchester.
Len sends his thanks to the considerable number of helping hands offered by friends, and to anyone and everyone, who joined him for the love of it, and on an entirely voluntary basis.
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