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Taken on: June 16, 2023

Uploaded on: June 15, 2023

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Ellie Jones, organist at the Wintergarden Theatre, Queen St Brisbane -

Photo courtesy of Lost Brisbane

Tribute Ellie Jones -

Notes supplied by VintageHammond.Com - In December, 1931, came Queenslander Ellie Jones, whose playing, according to historian Gordon Berry “was always spectacular”. She remained until 1935, when the use of the organ was discontinued.

“Once when Ellie Jones was seated at the console of the Wurlitzer, up came a huge bunch of ostrich feathers, draped like a fan behind the back of the organ console, with lights and the Bren-ograph changing colours. It sure looked effective.”

During the period when Ellie Jones was organist, the console was relocated in the centre of the orchestra pit (the orchestra was disbanded in 1932, and the roll-player console had long fallen out of use). After she left, the organ was silent, its console stored in the Irish Club building in Elizabeth Street, until it was sold and removed to the Plaza, Sydney in approximately 1937. After many travels, it now forms the nucleus of TOSA(SA)’s 4/29 organ at the Capri, Goodwood, Adelaide.

Contributed by Greg Lynch -