Wurlitzer organ's keeper will pull out all the stops

Terry Creighton was named Baycourt's Mighty Wurli organ keeper in a ceremony yesterday. Photo / Ruth Keber

Terry Creighton has been named Baycourt's Wurlitzer organ keeper.

The Mighty Wurlitzer has been kept at Baycourt since late 1988 after being shipped from the US in 1926, being housed in the De Lux Theatre in Wellington, then in a honey-packing shed in Tokoroa and the Tauranga Town Hall.

Historically, the official role of Keeper of the Organ has been bestowed on a member of the Tauranga Theatre Organ Society willing to take on the responsibility of ensuring the organ's upkeep.

The last keeper was Norm Freeman, who passed away just over 12 months ago.

Mr Creighton also a member of the society, said he had always loved theatre organ music: "Since forever, when I was 14 or 15, I remember being a big fan for that sort of thing."

He was intrigued by the wind, electrics and mechanics of the instrument and the interaction of those three things within it.

The organ's consol still had its original wiring, he said.

"This particular instrument was for right at the end of the silent-movie era, before talkies came in. Before it they had an orchestra of about 30 people who would play instead," Mr Creighton said.

"The leader of the orchestra was the highest-paid musician in Wellington at the time but when they bought this in, the orchestra had to go down the street to find other jobs.

"This does all the work - if there is a performer who can play it," Mr Creighton said.

He had been surprised by the number of people who attended the ceremony yesterday but said that enthusiastic young players were needed in the club to keep the tradition going.

Megan Peacock Coyle, manager of Baycourt, said she was delighted to recognise the contribution of the Tauranga Theatre Organ Society, and of Mr Creighton in particular.

"We're also fortunate to have such a dedicated group of volunteers who are as passionate about this incredible piece of musical history as we are, and I thank Mr Creighton for taking on this vital role."

-The next Mighty Wurli concert, Music that Got Us Through the War Years, is on Sunday, May 17, from 2pm.

Wurlitzer History

The 1926 Mighty Wurli (2/10 Wurlitzer Model H Opus 1482) is a theatre organ consisting of an organ console that dramatically rises from beneath the stage. The organ is connected to hundreds of pipes, a piano keyboard, a xylophone, castanets, bells and drums.

There are only three Wurlitzer organs in New Zealand and Baycourt's is the only one in such an original condition.