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Uploaded on: December 1, 2023

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Ron West at the Compton organ keys, from the Majestic Theatre’s Facebook post. Picture: Christine Hall - Text: Shirley Sinclair Dec 2, 2023.

Ron West - An outpouring of gratitude and sharing of happy memories followed the announcement of his retirement in mid-November as the beloved resident organist accompanying the silent films shown in the Majestic Theatre, Pomona.

As the Australian of the Year website states of the 2024 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year nominee, “Ronald (Ron) West has provided the soundtrack at the Majestic Theatre in Pomona, Queensland – the world’s oldest authentic silent movie house – for nearly 50 years.”

He told Sunshine Coast News this week that the decision to retire had come after he contracted a nasty virus that laid him low but “the continued support and affection of the people of Pomona and surrounding districts is fondly appreciated”.

Ron, who celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this year, and his late wife Mandy first encountered the historic Factory Street theatre in 1973. Just like the 1977 Australian movie,

Ron was a true ‘Picture Show Man’. The Wests introduced the Travelling Film Festival’s first-release and avant-garde films to Pomona audiences in the theatre, then owned by Ernie Bazzo.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -