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Percy Tucker (10 July 1928 – 29 January 2021) was a South African ticket booking agent and author. He launched the first electronic theatre booking system in the world in 1971. He was regarded as a pioneer in the entertainment industry of South Africa. He was also nicknamed as South Africa's ticket master.

Early life and education

Percy Tucker was born on 10 July 1928, in Benoni, Gauteng. His family lived across the street from Benoni Town Hall and at the age of 10 he rented the lounge suite of his family home to a touring theatre company, receiving tickets to their production in exchange. He completed his primary education at the Benoni High School and pursued his higher education at the University of the Witwatersrand where he obtained his B. Com. In 1942, he became a backstage worker and later served as stage manager at the East Rand Theatre Club.

Career

In 1954, he opened Show Service which was eventually the first South African professional theatre office in Johannesburg. It was also the first centralised ticket-booking agency in South Africa. His decision to pursue his professional career as a ticket seller did not go well with his father as he was not pleased to see his son doing such a meander job after graduating from university.

Tucker travelled to the United States in 1969, looking for a computerised means of handling inventory. He and other investors purchased the Computicket software and an IBM System/360 Model 50. In 1971, Tucker launched Computicket which was the world's first full-fledged operative computerised, centralised ticket booking system which drastically changed the fortunes in the global entertainment industry. It also changed the complexion of the marketing strategy of entertainment tickets worldwide.

He retired in 1994 after serving as CEO of Computicket since its inception. After his retirement, he focused on his autobiography titled Just the Ticket - My 50 Years in Show Business about the history of South African theatre. It was published in 1997.

Later life and death

Tucker was partner to Graham Dickason for 50 years until his death in November 2020. Tucker himself died from complications of COVID-19 on 29 January 2021, at the age of 92, during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.

References

1. ^ Mikva, Keren (9 February 2017). "17 Things You Didn't Know Were Invented By South Africans". Moguldom. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
2. ^ Eloff, Herman. "Remembering Percy Tucker – South Africa's ticket master". Arts24. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
3. "In the Zone with MWEB Entrepreneur: The best seats in the house..." Biz Community. 30 August 2013.
4. Ngenyane, Andiswa (31 January 2021). "Computicket Founder Percy Tucker Dies". Daily Sun. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
5. ^ Motse, Olebogeng (30 January 2021). "'Just the Ticket': Tributes pour in for Computicket founder Percy Tucker". The South African. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
6. Budnick, Dean; Baron, Josh (2012). Ticket Masters: The Rise of the Concert Industry and How the Public Got Scalped. Penguin. ISBN 978-1-101-58055-4.
7. "End of an era for entertainment industry, say Computicket founder's family". Eyewitness News. 31 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
8. "Founder of Computicket, Percy Tucker, 92, dies". Big News Network. 30 January 2021.
9. "Computicket founder Percy Tucker dies from COVID-19 complications". Eyewitness News. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
10. "Founder of Computicket, Percy Tucker, 92, dies". channel24. 30 January 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
11. Maseko, Maxwell (30 January 2021). "Computicket founder Percy Tucker passes away". SABC News. Retrieved 1 February 2021.

• 1928 births
• 2021 deaths
• South African writers
• People from Gauteng
• People from Benoni, South Africa
• White South African people
• Deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa
• University of the Witwatersrand alumni