Peter R. Beames  (beames@cis.dsto.gov.au)
---------------
 
 
Personal:
 
Born:          1954, Adelaide, South Australia
Occupation:    Information Technology Officer (Public Servant)
Member:        Theatre Organ Society of Australia South Australian,
               Victorian and New South Wales divisions. American
               Theatre Organ Society. Theatre Historical Society of
               America.
Computer:      486DX-33 (home), Assorted IBM and VAX systems.
Organs:        None personally.
 
 
Musical interest:
 
I learned piano for two years long ago. Current repertoire limited to
two notes an octave apart or in fifths. Musical taste is fairly
middle-of-the-road covering most styles except heavy opera, heavy
rock, heavy metal or extreme *modern* jazz or *modern* classical. Like
Spike Jones and PDQ Bach. Primary interest is in Theatre Organ with a
bias towards popular music but I will listen to small doses of light
classical. Tracker instruments are purely historical interest only. I
favour the Phoenix school of organist Ron Rhode, Walt Strony, Lew
Williams) along with Jonas Nordwall. In the great debate as to whether
theatre organ events should be ART or ENTERTAINMENT I favour the
entertainment side. That does not mean that the performance needs to
be devoid of artistic merit at the same time.
 
Direct Organ Interest:
 
I have been half the maintenance crew for the Theater Organ Society of
Australia 2/12 WurliTzer in Adelaide for about 20 years. This
instrument has so far been kept in *original* condition (original
relays but PVC plumbing).  I worked on the Capri Theatre 4/?? Hybrid
for 12 years including designing/building a multiplexed relay which
has been replaced with a Devtronix now there is more money) for it. I
have been away from that for 6 years.
 
Travel:
 
I have been to the United States 5 times. Each trip corresponded
with American Theater Organ Society and Theater Historical Society
of America convention times (what a coincidence!). Trips were in
1978, 81, 91, 92, 93. Visited organs and theatres in about 21 states
so far (Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona, Colorado,
Texas, Louisiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana,
Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia,
Delaware, Washington DC). Even squeezed in the Grand Canyon in 92
and Niagara Falls in 93. At least 40 of the 1000 slides from the
last trip were not of organs or theatres.
 
Computer/Organ Interest:
 
I have created an ACCESS database with all the data from the Judd
Walton WurliTzer OPUS LIST published in 1973 (updated 1976). For those
who do not know this work it is a list of all (known) WurliTzer
installations and movements with dates and places.  It was a great
achievement using punched cards but there were many errors and
omissions and the data is now 20 years out of date.  I am trying to
add whatever I can to it before memories are lost.  With the current
data handling facilities I hope to add more details of individual
rank, console, chest, relay etc. swaps, additions, movements and
changes as well as the complete instrument (there are not many left)
movements and deaths.  All contributions very welcome.  I have no
plans to make this into a commercial venture.