18/06/2022
TOSA TASMANIA was formed in Hobart by Geoff Long, and Colin Crawford on the 10th of September 1971. The first President was
John Pyrke.
The Showroom of Long Langlois and Johnston was used for meetings before moving to the Prince Theatre.
The first member’s Inaugural concert was held at the Prince Theatre on
Sunday afternoon Nov 21 1971, and local Organists were Colin Crawford
(Hammond), Graeme Terry (Lowrey), and Peter Richmond (Conn).
The concert was compared by Richard Greville
FOLLOWING PRESIDENTS
1974 Nigel Bills
1975 Owen Mc Dougall
1981 Albert Hudson
1985 Nigel Bills
1994 Ian Eadie
2020 Albert Hudson
3/10 WURLITZER OPUS 1716 MODEL F. - HISTORY
Our Wurlitzer Organ was deported from the U.K. and arrived June 1976. Packing was done by Mr. Manning, a renowned organ builder. The Organ was to be installed in two chambers at the back of the stage in Linmor Hall and to be completed by 1977.
Built 29th August 1927, 17 model F's were built, this was No.9,
and the 16th of 99 Wurlitzers to go to the U.K. It had 9 ranks.
1928, JUNE 21, The organ was installed at Madame Tussauds Waxworks Cinema,
Marylebone Road next to the Baker St. Underground, after re building after a fire.
Resident Organist was Edward O' Henry.
Tussauds was bombed during the second world war, as they were screening ‘Night Train To Munic’. One side wall was blown out, and the console was damaged, but the pipes were not harmed. It was decided to replace the Cinema with a Planetarium. The Console was rebuilt in a French style, with a third Manual being added, which shared existing Stops. It was used as a demonstration Model by Wurlitzer, (U.K. Div.).
1951 -Bought by the Blackpool Tower Company, installed in the Palace Ballroom, and an English Horn was added, with provision for an extra future rank of pipes. Organist for the opening performance was Watson Holmes.
1960 -The Palace Ballroom was demolished, but the organ was rescued at the last moment by Alan Hickling, a Theatre Organ enthusiast. He removed the English Horn and included it with his own organ Opus 2081 installed in his own residence in Sedgley
1972 -Bought by Yeovil Cinema Club minus the English Horn.
The Organ had been in England for 48 years.
1975 -Bought by TOSA TASMANIA and installed over the next ten years.
1985 -The Inaugural Concert was given by English Theatre Organist
Len Rawle, on Wednesday Nov 20.
