Back to the Future!

Theatre Organ Marketing Conference, Saturday 20th February

The voices expressing concern about fading interest in the theatre organ seem to be getting louder by the month, as some long-established venues teeter on the brink of collapse. To address the issues involved, and to seek ways of trying to reverse downwards trends in audience sizes, representatives from theatre organ groups across the country have been invited to a free conference called 'Back to the Future', to hammer out the problems and to share thoughts and ideas.

The keynote speaker will be theatre organist Ken Double, President and CEO of the American Theatre Organ Society, a dynamic speaker who has been specifically tasked with raising the profile of the theatre organ to the music-loving public and fund-raising to make it possible.

Other speakers from the theatre organ world include Don Hyde (LTOT), John Heslop (NETOA) Gordon Whitehouse (COS Midlands and Wales), with a presentation from David Lowe and John Leeming, along with additional input from Len Rawle (ATOS London) and Ian MacNaught (SCOT). Ideas from outside the theatre organ business will come from Matthew Feldwick (Twyford Waterworks Project), Matt Stroh (Keighley and Worth Valley Railway) and Tim Wardley (Leisure industry as well as the Red Brick Barn) - and from the delegates themselves.

Lunch is included (donations invited!) and the day will be rounded off by a spectacular short Wurlitzer presentation by Ken Double.

The event is on Saturday 20th February from 11.00 to 17.00 at the superb Victoria Hall in Saltaire, West Yorkshire, sponsored jointly by the COS's English Districts.

Although the conference is mainly intended for those involved on the organisational side of theatre organ events, any interested COS member is welcome to come along, but please let us know if you're going to be there so that we know how many to cater for. Malcolm Phillips, our genial General Secretary, is the person to contact, at 7 Larch Way, Sleaford, NG34 7UG or by email to malcolm.phillips@cinema-organs.org.uk

For those who can stay on after the conference, there's a choice of entertainment in the evening, with dancing to Phil Kelsall at the Wurlitzer or a concert by Carlo Curley in Bradford Cathedral. The next day there will be a canal cruise in the morning (advance booking) and a full concert by Ken Double in the afternoon. There are specially reduced admission fees at these events for conference delegates. Overnight accommodation can be booked, if you need it, at the Ibis Hotel in nearby Shipley.

Saltaire is easy to get to by road or rail, and is only 14 minutes by train from Leeds. The Victoria Hall is a couple of minutes walk from the station. For more details of the event and how to get there, have a look at the latest news on the COS website, www.cinema-organs.org.uk