Percival “Percy” Tucker has died at the age of 92. Tucker created Computicket, the world’s first computer theatre booking system. He flew to London, bought the system, and established contracts with every theatre and movie house.
When Computicket opened for business on 16 August 1971 in South Africa, it was the world’s first fully operative computerised, centralised ticket-booking system. Computicket had contracts in every shopping mall. It would be mandatory for all staff to see every show and movie screening so that they would be able to make recommendations.
Tucker was born in Benoni of Lithuanian parents.
According to cousin and theatre producer Hazel Feldman “He always had his finger on the pulse. He had an incredible memory until his last day, and knew every detail about every performance or show in South Africa, going back decades. He would travel extensively and when in London or New York, would see 15 shows in five days.”
“He revolutionised theatre in South Africa. He made it accessible. It was huge for us,” says producer Pieter Toerien.
Toerien says there wasn’t much for visiting actors to do in Johannesburg, and he would happily entertain stars at his flat in Killarney every week.
Musical director Bryan Schimmel says the industry has lost “a visionary, a groundbreaker, a mentor, and a friend.” Tucker worked with the likes of Jim Stodel, Luciano Pavarotti, Shirley MacLaine, Elton John, Liza Minnelli, Roger Moore, Johnny Mathis, Anthony Perkins, Marlene Dietrich, Basil Rubin, and Goldie Hawn.
Tucker was mad about sport. He was a tennis fanatic and loved golf.
Image by Igor Ovsyannykov from Pixabay