'IHELIFE AND TIMES OF DON THOMPSON Transcribed and edited by Lloyd E. Klos Most of the writer's biographies "On my first trip I was taken to the whole evening listening to Horace have been about those whose careers Tower Ballroom to see the children's Finch on that 3/13 Wurlitzer, Ted graced the first big era of the theatre ballet, accompanied by the Tower Heath and his great band, plus singers organ - the exciting teens and twen­ Band and the organ. After the perfor­ and other acts. ties. We now bring you, largely in his mance, we stayed while Reginald Dix­ "I became utterly fascinated with own words, the story of Don Thomp­ on played the 3/13 Wurlitzer for Dixon's playing and discovered one son, a man whose pipe organ activi­ dancing. I was enthralled, my parents of his records at home: 'Blackpool ties date from the forties to the pres­ told me, and I declared that I wanted Song Mixture 2.' This record was ent. This does not mean that his life to do this when I grew up. No one played a great deal and among the has been less colorful than the others. thought any more of it, considering it numbers was 'Shuffle Off to Buffalo' Far from it! He has been a friend of a childish whim. However, on subse­ with train effect, which I used at Tor­ many theatre organists who were es­ quent visits, my sole desire was not to onto's Organ Grinder quite often. tablished stars when Don met them. ride the attractions on the fairground '' At the age of seven I decided to '' I was born in Kendal in northern with the others but to hear Reginald learn to play. Pipe organs were not England in 1934. There were no musi­ Dixon play the organ. It cost sixpence available, and home organs were out cians in the family; no musical back­ in those days. of range for our modest working­ ground at all. At the age of four, my "I also discovered the Empress class family. Therefore, I bought a parents took me to the seaside resort Ballroom, situated a few hundred piano which cost 45 pounds with of Blackpool, which became a family yards away. Admittance was also six­ money I'd saved from christening, tradition for 18 years. pence, which enabled me to spend the gifts and so on. My first teacher, a Miss James, 80 years of age, gave a lesson a week for half a crown. I took for two years, but didn't get very far as she was rather decrepit. I was also a boy soprano with the school choir and gave my first broadcast at the age of nine, singing 'Jerusalem.' ''The same year, I engaged another teacher, Margaret Hine, who was more experienced and well known in town. However, she didn't have much interest in me because I didn't care to take examinations and get my name in the papers as a student of hers. I wanted to learn, not have to prove it! So, at ten, I terminated lessons and studied on my own. At 12 I made my first recording, a private release on 78 rpm playing 'Medita­ tion' from Thais and the first move­ ment of Rubinstein's concerto on piano. '' At 16, I asked the vicar of a little church near home if I could practice on its pipe organ. He gave me permis­ sion and I'd go in during the after- 11 organ, the first one I'd seen. I was asked to do a concert, and I played classical numbers exclusively, using the left hand for the difficult pedal passages. This was my first solo con­ cert. "I tried for Oxford and Cambridge and much to the surprise of everyone was admitted to the latter, no one from my school having been accepted for generations. Within a few days of my arrival in Cambridge in October, 1953, I discovered an eight-rank Christie in the Victoria Cinema in Market Square, the first theatre-type instrument I'd seen other than those in Blackpool. Gilbert Handy was the organist, and I was disappointed in him as he didn't get good results. He Kentmere Church in the English Lake District , where Don Thompson had his first job as organist in 1950. was a touring organist and on in (Thompson collection) years. However, the following week I noons, lock the door and play such Kendal became pregnant and I was heard Reginald New there, one of the things as 'The Desert Song,' which is recommended to the choir director by great names on the British theatre or­ very unliturgical. Little did I know a friend. The organ was a three­ gan scene, and I was absolutely daz­ that the church janitor often sneaked manual Blackett & Howden, as I re­ zled by his performance! I got to in to listen with her friends. She told call, and had stop tabs instead of know this kind, simple man with a me this 25 years later! drawknobs. I played such numbers as strong cockney accent. He let me have "My family and I used to visit 'Ave Maria' with all the trems on, a go at the Christie and was most friends in a farm house in one of the which is not in keeping with the Meth­ helpful. remote lakeland villages. They knew odist Church, but the congregation "I mentioned to the organist of the of my organ practicing and, as their seemed to like it. college chapel that I played, and he church organist was in need of a vaca­ "In 1952 I went on vacation to Ger­ was grateful to have me subbing for tion, it was suggested that I might many with a church youth group and him every six weeks at services. substitute. I played a service in her had opportunity to play some rare or­ "I listened to radio broadcasts of presence, followed by a month while gans in churches and cathedrals. In organ music a lot, basically Dixon she was away. This was my first job. Bad-Kreuznach was a U.S. Army who was on three or four times a "Shortly after, the organist at base with a large chapel and theatre week. Another whom I thoroughly Stricklandgate Methodist Church in combined, in which was a Hammond enjoyed was Stanley Tudor, playing in the Gaumont, Manchester. He had a lively style like Dixon, and I loved the sound of that Wurlitzer. Most of the other broadcasts were done on the HOTEL BBC Moller and I found the sound of lr1Ht AND the organ as well as most of the play­ CONVENTIONCENTER ing very boring. A lot of British or­ ganists played delicate novelty pieces Albuquerque, New Mexico and tried to educate their audiences. lflSSIC But Dixon and Tudor played lively, danceable music. That is what I liked. "Shortly after my appearance at the Victoria, I discovered the Cinema Organ Society, a very small group in Cambridge which came to hear Reg New. Upon meeting them, I became a member of this good-hearted bunch. From then on, I attended many meet­ HOMEOF THE FORMER NEW YORK ROXY ings of the COS and the Theatre Or­ KIMBALLORGAN CONSOLE gan Club. The procedure was to fea­ Organrestoration by Hockmuth-StanktyOrgans, Inc., New Lenox,Illinois ture several organists at a concert, THECLASSIC then afterwards have open console 681 S MenaulNE for the noodlers. By 1957, I had Albuquerque,New Mexico87110 worked up to feature artist. At these (SOS) 881-0000 Reservations:1-800-528-1234 programs I was privileged to play all Five Manual Kimball Roxy Theatre Console with 27 ranks now owned by Phil Maloof. the great cinema organs in the Lon- 12 THEATRE ORGAN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 1983 The Cinema Organ Society at the Trocadero Elephant and Castle in 1953. A . General Secretary Tony Moss ; B. Chairman Douglas Badham . Organists 1. Nelson Elms, 2. John Howlett, 3. Bryan Rodwell , 4. Jack Banbury , 5. Eric Spruce , 6. Reginald New, 7. Robin Richmond, 8. Don Thompson. (Thompson collection) don area. It was an education to hear senior college organist. Without a de­ "In 1956 I got my degree in litera­ the great artists and to pick up some gree or formal training, I got away ture specializing in Shakespeare, and of the things they did. with it - except the time the chorus went to Oxford to get a degree in edu­ "I practiced a technique of Dixon's and I did different pieces of music at cational psychology. During summer where he played the melody with his the same time! The college head was vacation, I took a job at Morecambe, left hand while his right hand impro­ upset over this, and in the future I a seaside resort only 20 miles from my vised. I found this difficult to do, and made sure of every selection to be home in Kendal. It was a six-night-a­ when I mentioned to him how easily used. week job, with some matinees, for he did it he replied, 'Yes, but I'm left­ "It was encouraging to see how dancing in the ballroom, and it lasted handed!' many of the big names went out of five months. I played a B-2 Ham­ "About 1954 I had been appointed their way to be kind and encouraging mond for weekly talent shows. Trans- to me. Reg New, of course, was good fun, considerate and helpful. 11.&10~'1 Another good friend was Clifford Birchall who worked the ABC circuit, fillllil~fil a highly literate and witty man.