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The Granada Theatre Woolwich opened in April 1937 and remained a cinema until 1966 when it was converted into a Granada Social Club.  In 1991, the building was sold and became a Gala Bingo Club.  After forty-three years as a Bingo Hall, the Gala Woolwich closed its doors for the final time on the 30th August, 2011, which has been captured on You Tube.

A Wurlitzer Theatre Organ with 3 manuals and 9 Ranks was installed at the theatre, which was played at the opening programme by Reginald Dixon and who was billed as The Ace of Organists at The Mighty Wurlitzer. 

Reginald Dixon at The Mighty Wurlitzer of the Granada Theatre Woolwich

This photographs appears with the permission of Mr. Wayne Ivany

The Back Cover of the Souvenir Brochure showing Reginald Dixon

Click here to hear Reginald Dixon play The Mighty Wurlitzer 

The organ was played often by a number of renowned organists, as part of a series of programmes produced by the BBC.  Lloyd Thomas being the first to play it to the listening public in August 1937.  These radio concerts continued for a number of years and were very popular with listeners.  I remember listening to them as a child and remember once having a request played!

Lloyd Thomas at The Wurlitzer Organ of the Granada Theatre Tooting 

This photograph appears with the permission of Mr. Wayne Ivany

Lloyd Thomas playing Donkey Serenade 

The playing of the organ became an integral part of the programme presented at the theatre for many years, but in 1971, the organ console was removed from the auditorium and stored backstage.

Unfortunately, the organ was later removed and sold before the theatre became a listed building by English Heritage in 1974.  The organ was used in part to enlarge another Wurlitzer Theatre Organ in Carlisle with the remaining pieces going into storage.

In 1992 the owner advertised the organ for sale and Mr. John Smallwood bought it together with a Bluthner Grand Piano, which had been partially modified to be played from the organ console.  Between 1992 and 1996, Mr. Smallwood along with some friends set to work to overhaul the organ and return it to working order.

Following the restoration, Mr. Smallwood arranged with the Tywyn Town Council in Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales, which at that time operated the local Community Hall, Neuadd Pendre, on behalf of Gwynedd Council, to install the organ in the Hall.  The first concert given at this venue was in May 1996.  More recently the Hall was sold to a Trust, which has been actively involved in an expensive refurbishment.  The organ remains the property of Mr. Smallwood, but he has generously allowed it to be on permanent loan to the Trustees.

The Tywyn Wurlitzer Organ

Installed at the Granada Theatre Woolwich until 1971 and then moved to Tywyn, Gwynedd, Wales

This photograph appears with the permission of Mr. John Smallwood

Click here to hear the organ played by Peter Hayward

Additional pieces played by Peter Hayward on the Tywyn Wurlitzer are:

The Dancing Tamborine and

Deep Purple & Stardust 

In addition,

I wanna be happy  played by Mark Laflin

For more pieces played on this wonderful organ, go to You Tube, where many more may be found.

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Photograph of the Console in 1971 when it was disconnected from electrical power
and moved to the back of the stage for safe storage
Reproduced with permission of Mr. Ian McIver

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS