![]() The organ console and the light console were symmetrically positioned facing each other, to one side of the lake. The music was provided by the famous cinema organist Quentin MacLean on a Compton Theatrone (which was not my one). The feature was described as the 'Kaleidakon' and it seems it was just as Stephen described. The light show described by Stephen Hancock was the centrepiece of the 1939 exhibition, in front of which Lord & Lady Harmsworth declared the exhibition open. Hence I e-mailed the present-day organisers, and have been sent copies a few pages from the 1939 programme and also from a book about the exhibition over the years. In a roundabout way, I learned that Compton had some involvement with the Ideal Home Exhibition circa 1938, and wondered if my organ could have been there. There seems to be very little written material about these organs, less than 20 were made, and I am exploring various leads in the hope of finding out more information. My special interest is in the early Compton Theatrone electronic organs, as I own what is possibly the first, dating from 1938. See also Nick Hunt's excellent resources on the Light Console installations. ![]() The 1945 Strand Catalogue includes a large section on the Light Console The document 'Technology of the Light Console' by Brian Legge (see below) goes into great detail about how to operate a Light Console. 1955: Plaza, Caracas, Venezuala (121 ways) 1954: Caracas University, Venezuala (94 ways) 1954: Adelphi Theatre, London (152 ways) 1954: Her Majesty's Theatre, London (152 ways) 1951: Royal Festival Hall, London (84 ways) 1950: Stoll Theatre, Kingsway, London (176 ways) 1950: Theatre Royal Drury Lane, London (216 ways) 1950: Empress Theatre, Earls Court, London (90 ways) 1949: Palace Theatre, Manchester (108 ways) 1949: National Opera House, Ankara, Turkey (136 ways) 1949: London Palladium (152 ways, replacing the 1935 original) 1946: South Short Icedrome, Blackpool (64 ways) 1940: National Opera House, Lisbon (108 ways) It was replaced with a larger model in 1949 (below). The console was situated at the stage left / auditorium right end of the Grand Circle with a good view of the stage. Moved to London Palladium in 1941 following bombing of King Street. ![]() 1935: Original / Prototype: King Street Strand Electric Theatre (demo theatre). The recently discovered specifications from 19, for installations which never came to fruition, show the efforts made to customise every detail of the console to each situation.Ī specially-made church organ console remotely controlled banks of resistance dimmers which were connected to constant-speed, motor driven shafts via magnetic clutches Installations: The Light Consoles lasting legacy was to progress the technology of lighting control from a complex on-stage mechanical device to a remote control which could be located where the operator could actually see what was being lit. This revolutionary lighting control, and the ubiquitous Pattern 23 spotlight became synonymous with Fred Bentham and Strand. The Strand Light Console is designed to give an operator, seated in full view of the stage, absolute control of all the lighting circuits that make up a modern stage installation, whatever the size of the theatre. Revolutionary lighting control, based on a Compton organ console, giving the operator a view of the stage for the first time.
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