Reginald New
UK theatre organist (1902–1958)
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Career
New was first a chorister and then assistant organist at St George's, Catford[2] later organist at Christ's Church, Chislehurst [2] before he became a cinema organist.[2] When cinemas started using organists to accompany silent pictures, New was among the pioneers at various London cinemas in 1920.[2] On 28 November 1929 he made his first BBC radio broadcast from the Beaufort Cinema, Washwood Heath, Birmingham.[3] After broadcasting 468 times,[2] he transferred to the Regal Cinema at Kingston-on-Thames in 1933 making another 200 broadcasts[2] from there.[4]
In 1932, New attended the opening of the Broadway Theatre, Catford, Lewisham alongside the then Duke of York and future King George VI.[5] New did a demonstration on the Broadway Theatre Compton organ.[6]
He often gave concerts on the Cheltenham Town Hall organ and broadcast from there on 8 December 1935.[2] In August 1940 he was appointed organist of the Regal Cinema, Beckenham.[2] New was unique in that he used two signature tunes - signing in with "Jolly Good Company" and signing out with "Old Father Thames".[2][7] During his time at Dartford, he composed the "Dartford March".[2] This became a soldiers' marching tune and was sung by many who came back from Dunkirk.[2] Reginald New made over 800 broadcasts in his career.[2]