Silent film organist set to play key role

A FAMOUS silent film organist who has performed for royalty is due to play a concert at Hanley's Victoria Hall this weekend.

Donald Mackenzie, resident organist at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London, will use his talents to accompany the silent classic Steamboat Bill Jr, starring Buster Keaton.

The 39-year-old musician, who has played the world's largest working pipe organ in Philadelphia and performed in two Royal Film Performances in front of the Queen, is excited about returning to Stoke-on-Trent.

He said: "I'm looking forward to playing the organ at the Victoria Hall again, it's a fantastic instrument and I'm looking forward to meeting the audience."

Donald is keen to see some unfamiliar faces and wants those who have not experienced silent movies to come along.

He said: "Silent movies are great fun. Whether they're comedies, dramas or romances they leave you great scope to improvise on the organ and yet it never detracts from the screen, it just underpins it.

"It's a very different experience to modern cinema, where films have a soundtrack and all the rest of it.

"If you come along you're going to see one of the greatest silent comedy actors on a big screen with live music.

"It's not like sitting at home and watching it on TV. Sitting with two to three hundred people creates a whole different atmosphere and it's much more fun when everyone's laughing around you."

Projectionist Gerald Mee is also excited about the event.

The 84-year-old, from Leek, who has been president of the Stoke Cine and Video Society since 1973, said: "It's an annual event we've been running for four or five years, playing the original silent Phantom of the Opera, a couple of Buster Keaton's films and a compilation of railway footage.

"This is part of the Organ Society's monthly proms, but this one is special. Donald Mackenzie will perform Finlandia, Jesu Joy and Dambusters March and also do the film.

"I have always had an interest in films. Silent films are the classics that were never seen silent. "When films with sound arrived in 1928 it was completely different.

"There was no explanation, with more jumping from scene to scene."

Victoria Hall's resident organist Michael Rhodes is happy to take a back seat.

He said: "We're completing the season with an organ performance of a different kind. Donald Mackenzie is London's famous organist and is regarded as Europe's finest organist with regards to silent films."

The performance starts at 12.30pm and tickets cost £4.50, with concessions £4. Call 08448 717649.