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The Christie Theatre Pipe Organ 
Left: Built to the specifications of organist, Alex Taylor, in 1931
for the Regent Cinema Poole
and now restored and installed at the Curzon Community Cinema in Clevedon, North Somerset

The Granada Theatre Dover opened on 8^th January, 1930 with Hedley Morton appearing at a 3 manual 7 unit Christie Theatre Organ.  The organ was similar to those installed in at the Bernstein’s earlier theatres in that it was small and inexpensive.  Unlike many of the Christie Theatre Organs installed at these theatres, it was never rebuilt.

The units of the organ consisted of Tibia, Tuba, Diapason, Flute, Vox Humana, String and String Celeste with the third manual controlling the Chrysoglott only (see Glossary and The Virtual Radiogram).

The organ console was decorated in red Japanese lacquer by E. Keeble Ltd, Art Decorators and was maintained on a central lift with the single organ chamber at the right of the proscenium.

The Granada Theatre Dover Christie Theatre Organ Console decorated in Red Japanese Lacquer 

Hedley Morton was appointed as resident organist and was followed in this role by Derek Ronald, Harry Norman and Alex the Welsh Organist.  Sydney Amos who had been deputy organist since the theatre’s opening became the solo organist in July 1932 and held the position until at least 1935.

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Although the architect, Cecil Audrey Masey, and interior designer, Theodore Komisarjevsky, working in cooperation with Sidney Bernstein, were responsible for the Granada Theatre Dover, it perhaps cannot, in the true sense of the term, be considered a Granada Theatre like those that followed.  However, the theatre was a prototype or perhaps an experiment before the real building of the Circuit was to begin.

Although Sidney Bernstein considered the Granada Theatre Dover to be a success, it would seem that the success was not without some reservation.  It was claimed that one million patrons attended the theatre during its first year.  However, entrance prices were reduced in January 1931, which the authorities insisted was a birthday gift to the citizens of Dover rather than a way to attract patrons.  Be that as it may, it was soon made known to interested parties that Sidney Bernstein was willing to allow the theatre to pass out of his hands.

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The Granada Theatre Dover was built and owned by County Theatres (Dover) Ltd, which was a company registered by Sidney Bernstein in 1929.  In April 1931, the running of the theatre with a long lease passed to Granada (Dover) Limited, a new company of Nathan N. Lee.  Meanwhile, the ABC Cinema Circuit expressed an interest the purchase of the theatre and eventually acquired it in 1935.  Despite now being an ABC cinema, the Granada name was retained until 1960 when it was finally renamed ABC.

The theatre closed in June 1970 and became a luxury cinema until October 1982 when it was converted into a nightclub, which operated for a number of years.  Tragically, this once majestic building now lies abandoned and decaying.

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The organ console disappeared long before the theatre closed, but some of the pipe work was removed and put into storage in Norfolk.  Later, the pipe work was added to the giant organ built by Terry Hepworth at Fleggborough (also known as Burgh St. Margaret).

Fleggburgh was basically a Village Experience & Bygone Theme Park built especially as a tourist attraction.  The village included a theatre where a giant Theatre Organ had been installed by its owner, Terry Hepworth.   Mr. Hepworth produced his giant organ by combining parts taken from a number of organs that had originally been installed in cinemas.  The major parts of the giant organ came from two Compton Theatre Organs originally installed at the Savoy Cinema Leicester, and the Empire Cinema Aldershot (click here to hear and see this organ played at 9 minutes 48 seconds of the video).  Prior to this, both organs had been moved and installed separately at the Palace Cinema Gorleston-on-Sea.  In addition, Mr. Hepworth used parts of the two consoles from the organs to make a five-manual one.   He also collected various organ parts by searching throughout the country, which he used to add to the combined organ.

Terry Hepworth at the Console at Fleggburgh

Apparently the Giant Organ grew out of all proportion with him being the only one to know exactly where the various parts originally came from.  The organ eventually contained parts from Compton, Christie and Wurlitzer Theatre Organs.

The organ was moved to Fleggburgh and installed in its theatre where it was played daily, as part of the tour.  In addition, a Wurlitzer Theatre Organ from the Dominion Theatre Hounslow was installed in the theatre.  The village closed in 2004 and both organs were put into storage.  Later the land was sold for housing.  Unfortunately the Giant Organ was dismantled and various parts were sold off to enlarge other organs.  It is thought that the Wurlitzer Theatre Organ is still intact.

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