Page 17 - CinemaRecord #11R.pdf

WATER POWERED ORGAN.
The most unusual feature of Launceston's Albert Hall - a feature which certainly makes it a unique venue in
Australia, is the water powered Brindley pipe organ, which forms a backdrop to the stage. This rare instrument
is still used. The water drives a pump, compressing air into bellows, which in turn is fed 'to the organ pipes, as
the keys are played. An alternative electrically powered blower was installed several years ago to conserve the
water-powered motor, but is seems the gremlins didn't approve. When a special convention was being opened,
the new electrical system broke down and for the major part of the concert, once again, the old organ was
operated solely on water power. You can't trust this new-fangled electricity!

THE "MAJESTIC" AND THE "NATIONAL"
The vestiges of two other theatres in Launcesten remain today. The "Majestic", built in 1917, was designed as
a live theatre but was used as a cinema- initially to show silent films. In 1969, the theatre was dismantled, and
re-built as Pitt's Men's Wear Store. But if you can snake your way past the racks of slacks, jeans, shirts,
underwear and footwear, and climb the unobtrusive stairway to the upper floors, you will discover that much of
the original cinema is still intact, and behind the "Pitt's" electric sign on the facade of the building you can still
see the boldly emblazoned "MAJESTIC".

The old NATIONAL Theatre was built in 1895 as a live venue. It was sold by the Council in 1972 and is now a
printing works. But the printing works occupies only a small portion of the once impressive theatre, and behind
the complex paraphernalia of presses and paper, the stage, the proscenium and the dress circle are as they
were - a folorn dust-covered reminder of past glories.

THE "GAIETY" THEATRE, ZEEHAN.
Zeehan, on the west coast of Tasmania is today something of a ghost town, but at one time, it was a hive of
mining industry, with a population of 30,000. That explains the impressive "GAIETY" theatre in the main street.
The auditorium could seat 1 000 people, and the huge stage measured 48 feet by 38 feet. The ZEEHAN &
DUNDAS HERALD for the 15th October, 1898 stated, "The convent hall, which celebrates the opening of the
Gaiety Theatre takes place on 17th October. The hall will be lighted by the electric light, in addition to the
acetylene gas,and the floor, which has been planed during the week, will be in splendid dancing order". The
peripatetic Nellie Melba gave a concert from the Gaiety stage,and Houdini escaped from chains while suspended
from the balcony - hopefully not on the same night that Nellie was singing. She hated being "upstaged".

Gaiety Theatre, Zeehan

In 1996, from the outside, the Gaiety looks as it ever did, but the auditorium is now a venue for indoor sporting
activities. Apparently the "Zeehanites" of today prefer aerobics to arias! There are long term plans to restore
the theatre to its former glory, but with the dwindling population of the town, this may be just a pipe dream.