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Reginald Herbert Dixon, MBE, ARCM was an English theatre organist who was primarily known for his position as organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, a position he held from March 1930 until March 1970. He made and sold more recordings than any other organist before him, or since. He was in high demand throughout his tenure. During his fifty-year career he was one of the top-selling artists, his prolific output ranking alongside that of Victor Silvester and Bing Crosby.
Roderick Hallowell "Sandy" MacPherson was a Canadian-born theatre organist in Britain. As the second official BBC Theatre Organist, in succession to Reginald Foort, he achieved considerable broadcasting time during and after World War II.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1985.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1984.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1982.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1976.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1975.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1974.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1972.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1970.
This is a list of events in British radio during 1969.
The Playhouse Theatre, as of 2024 a community arts centre called the Niamos Centre, is a theatre in Hulme, Manchester, England. It is a grade II listed building. Originally built as the Hulme Hippodrome in 1902, the building has also been known as the Grand Junction Theatre, Junction Picture Theatre, The Playhouse, and the Nia Centre. Between 1955 and 1986 it was used as studios by the BBC and known as the BBC Playhouse.
Philip Julian Kelsall MBE ALCM is an English theatre organist who has been principal organist at the Blackpool Tower Ballroom since 1977. Born in Warrington, Lancashire, he was inspired to learn the instrument by Reginald Dixon, and was initially appointed as organist for the Tower Circus band aged 18 in 1975; he also deputised for Ernest Broadbent in the Ballroom itself. This followed his attending Rossall School in Fleetwood, an independent day and boarding school where he was taught by Robin Proctor, who subsequently became Director of Music at Cheltenham College. After Ernest Broadbent's retirement, he was appointed Tower organist in 1977.
A number of Wurlitzer theatre organs were imported and installed in the United Kingdom in the period from 1925 to just before the Second World War (1939–45).
Reginald John Foort, FRCO, ARCM, was a cinema organist and theatre organist. He was the first official BBC Staff Theatre Organist from 1936 to 1938, during which time he made 405 broadcasts on the organ at St George's Hall, Langham Place. 'Reggie' was a hugely popular broadcaster in his heyday in the late 1930s and 1940s in Britain and later settled in the United States, where he similarly enjoyed an illustrious career performing and recording.
Robin Richmond was an English cinema organist and BBC Radio presenter and performer.
Nigel Ogden is an English theatre organist, known for presenting and performing on the BBC Radio 2 programme The Organist Entertains between 1980 and the end of the show's run in 2018.
John Robert Bee was a British theatre organist who held solo positions at the Haymarket Theatre, Norwich, and The New Gaumont, Worcester. He broadcast regularly for the BBC in the 1930s and 1940s and toured extensively playing organ recitals in later life, being known as one of the 'Old Timers' of British theatre organists. His theme tune was ‘The Honeysuckle And The Bee’.
The BBC Theatre Organ has existed in various guises and locations since 1933, used for in-house, often live broadcasts of organ music from the British Broadcasting Corporation. In theatre organ circles there are just three "official" BBC Theatre Organs: the St George's Hall Compton, Foort's Travelling Moller replacement, and the Manchester Wurlitzer.
Doreen Chadwick was a British pianist and theatre organist. She was known for being the organist at the Odeon and Gaumont cinemas in Manchester, broadcasting organ recitals on BBC Radio, including on The Organist Entertains, and for her performances in the US, Holland, and Britain.
References
- ↑ "The Organist Entertains". Radio Times . Vol. 183, no. 2378 (London/South East ed.). BBC Magazines. 5 June 1969. p. 46. Retrieved 16 February 2018– via BBC Genome Project.
- ↑ 'Gala Performance of The Organist Entertains', BBC Radio 2, 12 November 1970
- ↑ "Nigel Ogden biography". BBC Radio 2: Presenters. BBC . Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ↑ Biography, philkelsall.co.uk, Retrieved 13 November 2010.
- ↑ "BBC Radio 2 announces schedule changes for Spring 2018". BBC Media Centre (Press release). BBC. 10 January 2018.
The Organist Entertains (Tuesday 11pm-11.30pm), presented by Nigel Ogden; [...] will all be rested.
- ↑ "Nigel Ogden Entertains". iPlayer Radio . BBC . Retrieved 19 January 2020.
Nigel Ogden is the featured organist for this, the final edition of The Organist Entertains as the show reaches the end of its 49-year run on Radio 2.
