A Tape With A Story! "Trocadero Wurlitzer April 1959".

A Tape With A Story! "Trocadero Wurlitzer April 1959".
It's not very often I know the origins of the many hundreds of old tapes I have collected and acquired over the years but this one has a rather lovely story attached to it! So OK this is not the best recording you will ever hear for sure and a word of caution if listening with earphones on the Troc mighty Wurlitzer does blast out this 1950s tape-recorded microphone a few times! I was very sad last November to hear the sudden passing of Len Rawle. I had met Len on a number of occasions and been to umpteen concerts where he played over the years. I greatly admired his playing style but also his total dedication to the Theatre Organ cause. However, I knew his father Les Rawle even better it was on a trip to Wurlitzer Lodge at one time in the 1980s when Edith and Les had been having a clear-out and in their hallway were two piles of reel-to-reel tapes. I was collecting tapes back then so politely enquired about the tapes.
To which Les Rawle told me the story that in early 1959 Len had brought a new reel-to-reel tape recorder with a view to recording some organs and hence these were the tapes. And now in the 1980s was a time when reel-to-reel tapes had gone right out of fashion and they no longer had the means to play these tapes so Len had told Les and Edith to try to sell them. As there was an open day event at the Brentford Music Museum that coming weekend they were going to take them and try to sell them for London Chapter ATOS organ funds.
So I naturally asked if I could buy some there and then. I think Les was surprised that I was interested in the old tapes. I think they were only asking for 50p a tape so I doubled that up and as I was going home on the tube then the train I was limited to what I could carry! And when later that day I left Wurlitzer Lodge it was with two plastic bags full! But Les Rawle picked this tape up and said you must have this one as this was the first ever recording made with Len's new tape recorder! At this Trocadero Concert in April 1959, The tape box indeed has a NO1 on it and strangely enough, after reading about the sad passing of Len Rawle in November while sorting through more tapes I had put in a box many years ago I found this very tape.
For me they were very happy days Les & Edith Rawle's kindness and philosophy will never be forgotten by me it was more than just about the organ and organ music but about friendship and helping people. I feel so lucky to have met such a wonderful family.
I must add here that without the great work in time and effort of the Cinema Organ Society over all the years and in the first place raising the funds to buy the organ and then looking after this superb Wurlitzer organ and finding it two new homes after the Trocadero. We could have lost this organ but it remains in such wonderful condition to this day due to their hard work and commitment to this fine instrument.
Located in the southeast London inner city district of Elephant & Castle. The Trocadero Cinema was a colossal 3,500-seat cinema, built for Hyams and Gale (H&G Kinemas) and opened on 22nd December 1930.
The organ was a Wurlitzer 4Manual/21Rank organ which was opened by Quentin Maclean.
The Trocadero Cinema began sessions of Top Rank Bingo Club on Sunday afternoons from 1961. These had ended when it was closed as a cinema by the Rank Organisation on 19th October 1963.
The organists playing at this Sunday afternoon concert in April 1959 were Robinson Cleaver Jackie Brown, and George Blackmore. I have no idea who plays what but you can hear Robinson Cleaver's signature "An Earful Of Music" The organ today is looked after by the Cinema Organ Society and is in splendid condition and now resides here see the link for more details of concerts etc. www.troxy-wurlitzer.org/about/

[@user-ve1zf6fh4d]

Love and adore these old wurlitzer's. Great sound, fond memories

[@brianmarsden2187]

Thank You for these delightful reel-to-reel recordings and the lovely story about Len Rawle. Len had a remarkable 'gift' completely unassociated with his organ playing. He had the knack of removing the 'wrapping' on a CD Jewel Case in seconds, and even watching him, you hadn't a clue HOW he did it! A lovely man that I heard several times at the Compton in the City School Sheffield. May He Rest in Peace, Amen.

[@BramleyProductions]

Great story as you say both Les and Len Rawle were amazing. I chatted for hours with Les late on in his life! How I wish now I had recorded this as so many wonderful stories. I think the last count was he had a hand in saving about 49 cinema organs! Great story thanks for your lovely comment. Kev.

[@angelsone-five7912]

This was my dad`s local when he was young and he had fond memories of seeing Mac playing the Wurlitzer there.

[@BramleyProductions]

Yep, I seem to remember being told Mac left pretty quickly when the war started in 1939 and went to Canada. He even left his suit in the dressing room at the Troc! But a great organist I have a number of 78 rpm records of him on this Wurlitzer. somewhere! Must have been amazing for your dad to have this cinema as his local. What a place. Mind very scary when the bombs started to fall in the come September 1940 Blitz! Thanks, Kev.

[@lewwilliams9617]

@@BramleyProductions Actually, Quentin Maclean had previously been engaged for a six-week appearance at Shea's Theatre in Toronto. War broke out while he was en route and he decided to stay in Canada, never returning to England. All of his personal belongings remained in London until after the war, and he had them shipped over after he had naturalized as a Canadian citizen. A 1941 CBC broadcast from Shea's Theatre still referred to him as "the British organist, Quentin Maclean."

[@lewwilliams9617]

Any idea who the players are? I heard "An Earful of Music," so that must have been Robbie Cleaver.

[@BramleyProductions]

Yes, sorry, I should have put that in the description it's as you say Robbie Cleaver Jackie Brown and George Blackmore on that Sunday afternoon some 65 years ago. I have no idea who plays what! Like you, I got "An Earful of Music", Robbie Cleaver signature there are another 30 mins on the tape! I might try and get a bit more off as some is not too bad. Thanks, Kev.

[@user-ue1zv8be7j]

Where is the organ now

[@BramleyProductions]

Sorry again I must put this in the description so sorry I missed that out its here! At the link Thanks Kev. www.troxy-wurlitzer.org/