THE THEATRE ORGAN

Robert Hope-JonesRobert Hope-Jones (1859-1914), Father of The Theatre Organ

PART TWO: BUILDERS OF THE THEATRE ORGANS

THIS PAGE IS WRITTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH GLEN TWAMLEY (FRIENDS OF BEER WURLITZER)

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PAGE FOUR: WURLITZER ORGANS IN SCOTLAND

There were four Wurlitzer Theatre Organs installed in Scotland and these were at:

The first Wurlitzer Theatre Organs installed in the U.K. were at The Picture House Walsall and The Palace Cinema Tottenham.  As a result of their success with the cinema-going public, The Provincial Cinematograph Theatres (PCT)the first national cinema chain in the U.K., decided to order Wurlitzer Theatre Organs for their Picture Houses in Glasgow and Edinburgh.  These Wurlitzer Theatre Organs were 2-manual, 8-ranks instruments and of the Style F type.

Style-F CollageWurlitzer Theatre Organ Style F

The organ at The Picture House Glasgow was opened by Jack Courtnay on the 8th October, 1925.  The organ was removed in 1957 and, unfortunately most of it was broken up and sold for scrap.

Glasgow PicHse Frank Olsen red. borderThe Wurlitzer Organ installed at The Picture House Glasgow with organist Frank Olsen – awaiting permission to reproduce this photograph from Scottish Cinemas

Gaumont-Picture House GlasgowThe Facade of the erstwhile Picture House Glasgow now a part of the Savoy Shopping Centre – awaiting permission to reproduce this photograph from Scottish Cinemas 

The organ installed at The New Picture House Edinburgh opened a month later with Reginald Foort at the console.  Owning to a lack of funds and perhaps a lack of use, the instrument was sold back to The Wurlitzer Organ Company.   At the factory, two additional ranks were added, and along with a new console, was then sold to The Granada Theatre Circuit and installed it at the Granada Theatre Kingston on the 23rd August, 1939.  This installation is renowned for being the last to be undertaken in the U.K.

New Picture House Edinburgh from Clive Pollard - 2New Picture House Edinburgh from Clive PollardThe New Picture House Edinburgh: Top, Exterior; Bottom: The Auditorium

These photographs appear here with the permission of Mr. Clive Polden

Today, this organ resides in a private residence in Cornwall.  Unfortunately I have not been able to find a photograph of this organ.

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The final two Wurlitzer Theatre Organs installed in Scotland were at the Kings Cinema Dundee and the New Victoria Edinburgh.

The organ installed at the Kings Cinema Dundee had 2-manuals and 6-ranks with a Style-165 console,  which was the successor to the Style-D.  This was opened on the 24th September, 1928 by the organist George Hunt.  In 1961 the interior of this cinema was renovated and was re-opened as the Odeon Cinema.  During the renovation, the organ was removed and was sadly broken up.

165 red. bord.Console Style-165 (the organist is unknown)

The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ installed at the New Victoria Edinburgh had been previously installed at the Embassy Theater Baltmore in 1926.  However The Wurlitzer Organ Company repossessed it, and following this, it was reconditioned and, as a 2-manual, 10 rank organ together with a Style F ‘Special’ console, was opened by Leslie James at the New Victoria Edinburgh on 25th August, 1930.

F pic1 eg New Gallery redConsole Style F

In 1964, the New Victoria Edinburgh was renamed as an Odeon and the organ was removed and sold to a private buyer in Kincaldy who added an additional two ranks to it.  In 1978, the organ was installed at the Civic Centre in East Kilbride where another rank was added and the console replaced with a larger 4 manual one.  This modified organ was removed from the Civic Centre in 1999 and was unfortunately broken up and the numerous parts were sold separately and used as additions to other organs throughout the U.K.

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The only Wurlitzer Theatre Organ that may be heard played today in Scotland is installed at Pollokshaw’s Burgh Hall in Glasgow.

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ABC Ritz Cinema_Stockport (For Sale 1987)The Ritz Cinema Stockport, 1987

The Pollokshaws Burgh Hall Wurlitzer Organ was originally installed in the Ritz Cinema Stockport in 1937, as a three manual, eight rank instrument and was opened by Wilfred Southworth.   Following its removal from the cinema, The Scottish Cinema Organ Trust (SCOT) installed it at Clydebank Town Hall where the organist Doreen Chadwick opened it in September 1998.

At the Clydebank Town Hall, the organ suffered repeated damage from the flooding by the River Clyde.  Eventually, the organ was removed from the Town Hall and following work to restore it, it was installed in Pollokshaws Burgh Hall.  Today the organ now has 21 ranks and 3 manuals and is played regularly at concerts.

PKW Robert Wolfe CollageRobert Wolfe  at  the   Pollokshaws  Wurlitzer  Organ  during  a  concert  given  in  October  2014  

The photograph of Mr. Wolfe at the organ appears by permission of Mr. Duncan Sinclair on behaif of the Scottish Cinema Organ Trust.  The photograph of the Wurlitzer Organ (Top Right) was taken by Mr. Aaron Hawthorne and it appears here with his permission.  The photograph of Mr. Wolfe (Bottom Right) is from his wesbite.

Click here to listen to the Pollokshaws Wurlitzer Organ being played

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SCOT Wurlitzer red borderThis photograph appears with permission of Mr. Duncan Sinclair (S.C.O.T.)

Click here to see the photographs of The Organ & The Hall by Mr. John MacDonald

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Click here  to go to

PAGE FIVE of PART TWO:
WURLITZER ORGANS IN THE NETHERLANDS

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would especially like to thank Mr. Andrew Hawthorne, Mr. Duncan Sinclair and Mr. Clive Polden and all others for their help and kindness in producing this page.

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4 thoughts on “THE THEATRE ORGAN – PART TWO: BUILDERS OF THE THEATRE ORGANS – 2/4

  1. Ian Macnaught

    Hi – Well done. Just a wee correction. Pollokshaws Burgh Hall is in Glasgow, not East Kilbride. Regards – Ian

    Reply
  2. Daniel Hopper

    Robert Wolfe Thursford Collection at Last 2015 Migthy Wurltzer organ at the L owery organ at the thursford
    Collection Thursford Collection Migthy Wurlitzer organ Robert Wolfe at the Thursford Collection at the
    blackpool Tower Ballroom Migthy Wurlitzer organ Migthy Wurlitzer organ at the Thursford Collection
    david Robert Wolfe Thursford Collection Migthy Wurlitzer organ at the thursford Collection
    Thursford Collection Migthy Wurlitzer organ

    Reply
  3. Daniel Hopper

    I hope to see you again soon With Nan , We Wish you Both happy touring and holiday
    thank you For all your Kindness to us all 2015 season. Daniel hOPPER

    Reply

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