RESTORED 1929 THEATRE PIPE ORGAN FINDS NEW HOME AT GALLERY

An historic pipe organ that was originally part of Brisbane’s Regent Theatre will be played publicly for the first time in decades at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) tonight (Thursday).

Arts Minister Rod Welford, who will officially launch the organ, said the restored 1929 Wurlitzer Style 260 (Special) theatre pipe organ was a significant addition to GoMA’s Australian Cinémathèque facilities

“This extraordinary theatre pipe organ will once again be played for the purpose for which it was created – to accompany silent film,” Mr Welford said.

“As its first performance in its new home, it will be played by Tony Fenelon to accompany the Queensland premiere screening of the 1906 silent film The Story of the Kelly Gang ­– one of the world’s first feature films.

“The main musical feature of Brisbane’s 2600-seat Regent Theatre when it opened in 1929 in Queen Street, the organ was purchased by Dr Keith King in 1964 before the theatre was redeveloped.

“The historic instrument was acquired from Mrs Betty King, wife of the late Dr King, in 2004.

“It was then transported to Queensland from the Kings’ property in the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, restored and installed pipe-for-pipe in Cinema A, GoMA’s main cinema.”

The Gallery of Modern Art, which opened on 2 December, was the first art gallery in Australia to have purpose-built facilities for showing cinema as an art form.

Queensland Art Gallery Director Doug Hall said the organ featured approximately 1100 pipes and was the only Special 260 model in Australia with a French style console.

“The organ can be raised and lowered using an electrically operated lift,” Mr Hall said.

The public will have their chance to see the theatre pipe organ in use when it accompanies The Story of the Kelly Gang at the Cinémathèque at 5pm tomorrow (Friday).

Filmed outside Melbourne, the original 1906 film, The Story of the Kelly Gang was long-thought lost. The surviving 17 minutes of the film, including seven minutes of newly rediscovered footage, is on loan from the National Film and Sound Archive.

No bookings are required for the screening, however seating is limited.

Media contact: Marnie Stitz on 3237 1000 or 0419 734 985