THE THEATRE ORGAN
Robert Hope-Jones (1859-1914) Father of The Theatre Organ
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PAGE TWENTY
THE PLAZA CINEMA SUTTON
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The Plaza Sutton was advertised as The Wonder Theatre of Surrey and was built for the promoter Lou Morris. As was his habit, Mr. Morris arranged to sell the cinema before it opened, and did so, to the Bernsteins in 1934.
A Compton Theatre Organ with an Illuminated Console was installed in the Theatre. The Organ was a 3m10R instrument, which was quite large for a Compton.
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According to the organist, Andrew Gilbert, who played this organ regularly ……. the only thing it lacked was the electrostatic Melotone unit …… which would have been the icing on a very nice cake!
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Once the Theatre closed, the Organ was sold and is now installed in a private home in Hove, Sussex.
Ryhope Compton 3m9R Theatre Organ
This is a slightly smaller version of the one installed at the Plaza-Granada Sutton
Andrew Gilbert at The Compton Organ of The Plaza Cinema Sutton in 1974
The photograph was taken by Ms Andrea Easton Gilbert
Click here to hear Mr. Gilbert play
The Theatre closed in 1975 following a fire and was later demolished and replaced by an office block.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Mr. Andrew Gilbert for his comment and to Ms Andrea Easton Gilbert for allowing her photograph to appear here.
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Click here to return to THE THEATRE ORGANS OF
THE GRANADA THEATRE CIRCUIT Home Page
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Click here to GO to PART FOUR:
THE ELECTRIC-PNEUMATIC SYSTEM OF THE THEATRE ORGAN
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Click here to return to the GLOSSARY
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