Sydney Torch plays Orient Express at the Edmonton Regal

Sydney Torch was one of the great manes in British light music. Starting out as a pianist he became organist at the Regall Marble Arch in 1932. He was the first organist to develop a real jazz rhythm and from 1934 became a popular broadcaster from the Edmonton Regal Christie organ.
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Category:

Music

Tags:

• cinema
• organ

[blackpoolbarmpot]

In my opinion, Sydney Torch was the greatest Organist of all time.

It was such a shame he moved away from the Organ, after the war.

[A60stock]

The reason he moved to conducting light music was that post-war cinema organs were in rapid decline. The organ had been introduced in the age of silent cinema and with the advent of talkies its primary purpose of providing a sound track was redundant.

[MrTilaws]

can we have more of this oranist -the greatest in m mind

[EccentricRichard]

@blackpoolbarmpot - greatest cinema organist of all time, maybe, alongside his old boss Quentin Maclean, but greatest organist of all time of any kind?

[bundleHastings]

Hear another version at

youtube.com/watch?v=d8qfH46hfW­I 

[Squarerig]

What a pleasure to hear this really great organist under a fullhead of steam.A60Stock;do you know where one can obtain a recording of Sidney Torch at the Regal accompanying Les Allen singing Little man you've had a busy day?I would be grateful for any info.

[lomanchun]

I can't believe why he is so underrated !

[MrTilaws]

can anybody find more torch music like hot dod etc--iconsider him among the greatest of his kind without any doubts at all !!!

[chamade16]

The best. Thank you for uploading

[deancook652]

Plus, also, Mr. Torch had always wanted to get into conducting since he was a dance-band pianist in the late 20's. He moved to the organ at the Regal Cinemas, Marble Arch & Edmonton, all the while pining to move into orchestras. According to an interview with him on a Doric double LP release in the 70's, once he got the gig with the BBC Orchestra, retired from the organ, and never touched one in public again, and quite happily, too, from all accounts.

[DavidRayner1947]

Thanks for the info, jazzboyfin. I'm very pleased to learn that it didn't end up among all the rubble at the Regal. I hope all the projection room equipment was saved, too. Such a waste if it wasn't.

[jazzboyfin]

The Regal Christie was not in the cinema when it was demolished. It had already been removed and was installed in a concert hall in Barry South Wales, where it still is.