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This Theatre was not part of the original group of Theatres planned by Granada, but was one to be built for the Denman (London) Circuit.   Sidney Bernstein was interested in the site and it was agreed that Granada would operate it.

The Granada Theatre East Ham opened on 30^th November, 1936 and was the fourth largest of the Granada Theatres built up till that time, after the Granada Theatres at Walthamstow, Tooting and Clapham Common, and with roughly 2,400 seats.

The Wurlitzer Organ of the Granada Theatre East Ham

A Wurlitzer Theatre Organ with 3 Manuals and 8 Ranks had been installed at the Theatre, which presumably was played at the opening, but I have been unable to determine the name of the organist.  In 1975, the Organ was removed and is now installed in a private home in Cannock. Staffordshire.

In November 1974, the Theatre closed as a cinema, but re-opened in January 1976 as a Granada Social Club.   In May 1991, it became a Gala Bingo Club and remained so until 2014.

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In November 2014, I visited the former Granada Theatre/Gala East Ham.  It had recently been purchased by a company who were in the midst of refurbishing the building and planned to re-open it in the near future as a Function Venue.  I am grateful to one of the owners that I met for giving me a tour of the building.

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Click here to hear Robert Wolfe play the Lowry Organ

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