at the Organ of the Gaumont Palace
Cinema, Birmingham
John Bee showed his musical mettle by playing the National Anthem at the age of two and a half. When he was twelve he held an appointment as church organist, and he gave a pianoforte recital a year later. At fifteen he was organist at the Lincoln Methodist Church, playing to a congregation of over 1,000 people. Then came the war. He joined up in his teens, rose to the rank of lieutenant, and won the M.C. in 1918. On being demobilised he resumed his organist work and gave many recitals in the Northern and Eastern counties. He was solo pianist and accompanist for the Lincoln Musical Society, playing such important works as the Grieg concerto. He has been playing in Gaumont cinemas since 1930, and is now solo organist at the Gaumont, Worcester. He broadcasts from Birmingham as the acoustics are so good there, and on September I last year gave his first broadcast on the organ that listeners will hear today.