THE THEATRE ORGAN
Robert Hope-Jones (1859-1914), Father of The Theatre Organ
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PART TWO:
BUILDERS OF THE THEATRE ORGANS
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THE CONACHER THEATRE ORGAN
INTRODUCTION
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PETER CONACHER & COMPANY
William Hill (1789-1870)
Reproduced from the website of St. Bride’s Episcopal Church
Peter Conacher was an organ builder who was born in Scotland in 1823 and had trained as an apprentice organ builder and voicer in Leipzig. He was later employed with William Hill & Sons, the most prestigious Organ Builders of the time, and then with J.W. Walker & Sons who sent him to Huddersfield where, in 1854, he took the opportunity to start his own company.
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In 1873, the Peter Conacher & Company moved to the Springfield Works in Huddersfield where it produced over twenty-five organs each year, which were installed in halls, churches and other sites.
The Company Logo
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During the silent film era, the Peter Conacher & Company manufactured a number of Straight Organs which were installed in cinemas to accompany the screenings. Of these organs, apparently only the one has survived. This organ, which has 3-manuals, was originally installed at the Central Cinema Harrogate and was removed in 1955 and re-installed at the Church of St. John The Divine at Rastrick.
St. John The Divine at Rastrick & its Conacher Organ
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The Peter Conacher & Company was acquired by the Organ Builders, Henry Willis & Sons Limited, but still survives, but as a specialist concern and is now involved with the maintenance and conservation of historic instruments.
Henry ‘Father’ Willis, founder
It is of interest to note that the Henry Willis & Sons Limited, which was founded in 1845, has a reputation as a prestigious Organ Builders and built the Pipe Organs present in a number of Cathedrals including St Paul’s Cathedral in London, Lincoln Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Truro Cathedral and Glasgow Metropolitan Cathedral. The company also built the Pipe Organ for installation at Windsor Castle, which, unfortunately, was destroyed by the fire of 1992.
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REGINALD FOORT
During the 1930’s, Reginald Foort, who was the Musical Director of the thirty cinemas of the County Cinemas Circuit, became associated with the Peter Conacher & Company where he advised them on the construction of nine Unit Organs for installaton into cinemas.
Reginald Foort (1893-1980) seated at the Conacher Theatre Organ of the Regal Cinema Hull
Click here to hear Mr. Foort demonstrate the versatility of The Conacher Theatre Organ
Mr. Reginald Foort was both a renowned organist and an innovator who helped popularise the Theatre Organ. Through his appearances, broadcasts and recordings (playing The Wulitzer Theatre Organ), he demonstrated the Theatre Organ to be the One-Man-Orchestra that had been claimed.
After spending time playing the organ at a number of cinemas, in 1930, he took up the position of solo organist at the Regal Cinema Marble Arch where a Christie Theatre Organ had been installed. In 1932, he became the first resident organist at the Regal Cinema Kingston-upon-Thames where a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ had been installed and which is now present at the The Musical Museum at Kew Bridge.
In addition to playing the Theatre Organ, Mr. Foort collaborated with the Organ Builder, Peter Conacher of Huddersfield, on their installation at a number of regional cinemas and also designed their consoles.
Reginald Foort was a person of talent and vision, and this is but a small part of the achievements of this great Organist. Click here to read more about his life.
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Peter Conacher of Huddersfield produced nine Theatre Organs and each had a full range of percussions together with consoles decorated with Illuminated Surrounds and mounted on lifts.
Seven of these Organs were installed in cinemas of the County Cinemas Circuit while the remaining two went to the Philpot Circuit in Coventry.
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CLICK HERE
TO READ ABOUT THESE NINE THEATRE ORGANS
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank those that have contributed to this piece.
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Click here to return to the GLOSSARY
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Click here to return to PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE ORGAN
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Click here to return to the PART TWO: THE THEATRE ORGAN HOMEPAGE
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Click here to return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS
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