skirtcafe.org

greenboots wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 2:48 pm That it came from Popsy Clothing.

Coder wrote: ↑Sun Nov 19, 2023 5:15 pm I'm not saying I'd be satisfied with being able to say, get a fun print in a shirt - but it would be a start.

Gerald Shaw was born in Scotland in 1911. While still a teenager Gerald had three organ lessons with the famous Dr. George Tootell at Marble Arch Pavilion and eventually became organist on a small Compton (2/6) in the Regal in St. Leonards in 1932. He played for the formal opening of the theatre and also gave a daily hour-long recital. He then moved to the Regal, Glasgow, with its larger Compton (3/12), where he gave his first broadcast. Later he moved south again for a short spell at the Astoria, Brixton, Compton (3/13). Shaw then moved back to Scotland to the Glasgow Paramount, later called the Odeon, Compton (4c/10) until he joined the army in 1940.
After the war, Gerald Shaw re-joined Odeon at the Manchester Paramount / Odeon WurliTzer (4/20) for a short period and finished this travelling existence with a residency at what became his base cinema for a time, the Odeon, Swiss Cottage. The instrument there was a Compton (3/8).
During this period the Rank Organisation, which owned these theatres, was expanding its empire overseas. Shaw was sent to open and play at the Rivoli, Cairo on a four manual, ten rank Compton, the only theatre organ in the Middle East, from which he broadcast weekly on Egyptian radio. He had many drop-in guests and it became a sort of "In Town Tonght" show. From Cairo he was sent to the Sao Jorge cinema in Lisbon, Portugal, where he played a three manual electronic instrument which was also made by Compton and called the Theatrone. When he returned to Britain he played at the Metropole in London's Victoria and at the prestigious Paramount / Odeon, Tottenham Court Road, London (Compton 4c/10).
In March 1953 he moved to the largest Cinema Organ (4/37 Christie) in Europe at the Odeon (formerly Regal) Marble Arch, to become its last resident organist. He soon got the instrument back on the radio after twelve years absence. He left in November 1958 to go to Odeon's premier cinema. The Odeon, Leicester Square (Compton 5c/16).
While at the Odeon, Leicester Square, which was England's number one theatre organ job, he could be heard playing for intermissions six days a week for sixteen years. He also played at all the premiers and the Royal Command Performances there. Members of the royal family often used to drop in incognito during the matinees and Gerald always played Queen Mary's favourite song for her. He had a regular series of broadcasts for several years on the BBC on Wednesday afternoons. When Gerald died in April 1974 he was England's last remaining full-time theatre organist, with over one thousand broadcasts to his credit.

Stu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:08 am They are absolutely gorgeous and something I would definitely buy for my wife. But they are WAY too feminine for me.

Stu wrote: ↑Mon Nov 20, 2023 10:08 am They are absolutely gorgeous and something I would definitely buy for my wife. But they are WAY too feminine for me.

rode_kater wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:40 am
So I'm curious: which parts scream femininity at you? The colours? The fabrics? The shapes? I think the colours are great, but many of the dresses are very high waisted which I think creates a "classic female look". But some of the pinafores for example don't have a defined waist and I think would work well.

rode_kater wrote: ↑Tue Nov 21, 2023 11:40 am So I'm curious: which parts scream femininity at you? The colours? The fabrics? The shapes? I think the colours are great, but many of the dresses are very high waisted which I think creates a "classic female look". But some of the pinafores for example don't have a defined waist and I think would work well.