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The Granada Theatre Harrow opened in October 1937 and remained a cinema until 1996.  The theatre was equipped with a Wurltzer Theatre Organ (3 Manuals, 8 Ranks together with Grand Piano) and was opened by Harry Farmer.

Click here to hear Ena Baga play the organ

In 1988, the theatre was granted Grade II status by English Heritage.  It was taken over by Cannon Cinemas in January 1989 and operated by this company until it closed in 1996.  The Organ remained in place during this time.

Following its closure, the building was boarded up for several years until plans could be arranged for a suitable use.  It remained empty for several years,  but after much debate and hesitation, permission was granted to convert the building into a health club and gymnasium and it was reopened as a Gold’s Gym.  The proviso for the conversion application was that The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ should be retained and made available to be played to the public.  Much of the interior has survived in its original form with the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ sitting on the stage.

The Granada Harrow Wurlitzer Theatre Organ 

This photograph is reproduced with the permission of Mr. Len Rawle

Click here to hear Paul Kirner play this organ from a concert given in 1989

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Vic Hammett at the Console of The Wurlitzer Organ of the Granada Theatre Harrow

Vic Hammett at this Organ and playing Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia 

The photograph of Vic Hammett and the musical interlude were provided by Paul Bland.

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I received the following communication from Mr. Len Rawle M.B.E. regarding The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ at the erstwhile Granada Theatre Harrow:

“Following years of the chambers acting as a bird loft!!!!!!, we were called in to restore the Organ back to its original condition.  The restoration project took me nine months to complete.   You may have heard that far from the building being a cinema at present, it underwent a major conversion to a Golds Gymnasium.

The work has been tastefully done as the building is Grade II-listed and there have been severe requirements on retaining original features.    This includes the Organ, the console of which I have left in the up position. Sadly the building is in operation from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week; there are no seats in the building; and the cost of hiring the building is £1,000, all of which prevents concerts taking place there.

Our ATOS chapter keeps an eye on the instrument and we run the blower once a month. With rhythmic Disco-music being required by those in the Gym, the organ cannot actually be played.   It is all rather frustrating, but one never knows if the situation will change.“

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In November 2014, I visited the erstwhile Granada Theatre Harrow and was fortunate enough to be given a tour of the building by the manager.  I am very grateful to him for the giving of his time to do this. The fruits of the visit in terms of photographs may be seen by following the links here:

Click here to see photographs of The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ  and

Click here to see photographs of Golds Gym Harrow, the erstwhile Granada Theatre Harrow