Blair Linnett at the Compton console (1979)]
[Photograph from Ian McIver, 'Encyclopedia of Australian Theatre Organs']
Blair Linnett at the Compton console (1979)]
[Photograph from Ian McIver, 'Encyclopedia of Australian Theatre Organs']
Historical and Technical Documentation by Geoffrey Cox
© OHTA 2012 (last updated August 2012)
This theatre organ was built in 1937 by the John Compton Organ Co., London, for the A.B.C. Regal Cinema, Chester, England. It comprises six ranks extended over three manuals and pedals, together with percussion.1 This was Compton's Opus A412, and it was one of a number of similar instruments they built for the Associated British Cinemas (ABC) circuit in Britain.
The instrument was removed to storage at this location in 1971, and the initial assembly was undertaken by Blair Linnett between 1975 and 1978.2 It is located in the garage, which was extended for the purpose and sound proofed. The two chambers are hidden by a proscenium arch and curtain to resemble a theatre setting. Wind pressures were not altered, but the volume output was reduced by use of sound-absorbent materials lining the inside of the building, and by reducing the swell shutter area. The inaugural public performance on the instrument was given on Sunday 19 April 1981 by Arthur Midgley, one of Brisbane's most experienced and popular theatre organists.3
Arthur Midgley at the console of the Compton organ in 1978
[Photograph supplied by David Vann]
The console was fitted originally with a glass surround that was illuminated by multi-coloured lights from within. There was also originally a "Melotone" unit that supplemented the six ranks of pipes and produced additional stop colours (including pitched percussion) electronically. Neither the illuminated console surround nor the "Melotone" unit was imported with the organ.4
Apart from the tonal and non-tonal percussions and effects, the six ranks are divided between two chambers as follows:
MAIN CHAMBER
Diapason
Viola
Flute
SOLO CHAMBER
Tuba (extended to 16 ft)
Muted Trumpet
Tibia (metal; extended to 16 ft)
The complete specification is as follows:
| GREAT Contra Tuba Contra Tibia Clausa Contra Diapason (TC) Tuba Diapason Tibia Clausa Muted Trumpet Viola Flute Clarion Octave Tibia Clausa Violin Flute Twelfth Fifteenth Flautino Tierce Quartane Xylophone Glockenspiel Orchestral Bells *Marimba *Vibraphone Solo to Great GREAT 2nd TOUCH Solo to Great 16 Solo to Great 8 Accomp. Traps to Great |
16 16 16 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 4 2-2/3 2 2 1-3/5 II 4 4 4 8 4 |
||
| SOLO Contra Tibia Clausa Tuba Tibia Clausa Muted Trumpet Clarion4 Tibia Clausa Tibia Twelfth Piccolo *Melotone *Melotone *Melotone Twelfth *Super Melotone *Krummhorn *Cor Anglais *Chimes Xylophone Glockenspiel Orchestral Bells *Vibraphone Sub Octave Octave Great to Solo Unison Off |
16 8 8 8 4 4 2-2/3 2 8 4 2-2/3 2 8 8 4 4 4 4 |
||
| ACCOMPANIMENT Contra Viola (TC) Bourdon (TC) Tuba Open Diapason Tibia Clausa Muted Trumpet Viola Flute Clarion Octave Tibia Clausa Violin Flute Twelfth Violetta Flautino *Marimba *Marimba Snare Drum Castanets Tambourine Chinese Block Tom Tom Sleigh Bells Sand Block Triangle |
16 16 8 8 8 8 8 8 4 4 4 4 4 2-2/3 2 2 8 4 |
||
| ACCOMPANIMENT 2nd TOUCH Tuba Tibia Clausa Tibia Clausa Traps Great to Accompaniment Solo to Accompaniment Solo to Accompaniment |
8 8 4 4 8 4 |
||
| PEDAL Acoustic Bass Tuba Bass Tibia Bass Tuba Open Diapason Tibia Clausa Violoncello Bass Flute Flute Bass Drum Tap F Bass Drum Tap P Bass Drum Roll Snare Drum Cymbal Tap Cymbal Roll Cymbal Crash Triangle |
32 16 16 8 8 8 8 8 4 |
||
PEDAL 2nd TOUCH |
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| EFFECTS Siren Auto Horn Fire Engine Steamboat Train Cymbal Roll Cymbal Crash Grand Crash Snare Drum Birds |
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| EFFECTS BY STOPKEY Surf Aeroplane |
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* Asterisked stops were derived from the eletrophonic "Melotone" unit, which was not imported with the organ.6
Further details of this instrument can be found at Ian McIver's Encyclopaedia of Australian Theatre Organs.
_________________________________________________________________________
1 Vox (December 1971), p. 5.
2 Personal communications to G. Cox from Blair Linnett, c.1975-78.
3 Notes by Blair Linnett in the Programme for the Inaugural Public Performance, 19 April 1981, during the 10th National Convention of TOSA (supplied by David Vann).
4 Notes by Blair Linnett, op. cit; Ian McIver, "Encyclopedia of Australian Theatre Organs," Theatre Organs under the Southern Cross
5 Specification from Programme for the Inaugural Public Performance, 19 April 1981, op. cit.
6 Details from McIver, op. cit.