-oOo-

As with the Granada Theatre Dover, Sidney Bernstein equipped his second purpose-built Theatre with a Christie Theatre Organ, which was built by the British firm of Hill, Norman & Beard).  The playing of the organ remained a regular part of the Theatre’s daily programming until 1956.

The Auditorium showing the Orchestra Pit Console in the 1930s

The organ consisted of 12 Ranks  (of pipes) with two three-manual (keyboard) Consoles, one in the orchestra pit and another on the stage on a dolly, which was played on the theatre’s last night as a cinema on 3^rd January, 2003, as part of the programme, The Last Night as a Cinema.  Unfortunately, the console in the pit has not been played since the stage was extended to accommodate the Count Basie Orchestra when they appeared at the theatre in November 1957.  Despite flood damage later, this console still exists.  The organ was restored in the 1970s and is the only original Christie Organ still in place at the cinema where it was originally installed.  (Although there is a Christie Organ at the Curzon Clevedon, this is a recent installation and not original to the cinema.)

The Christie Theatre Organ
Top Left: the pit console in the 1930s; Top Right: the stage console;
Bottom: View from the Balcony
These photographs were provided by John Leeming,  Cinema Organ Society

The Granada Theatre Walthamstow opened on Thursday, 15^th September, 1930 with organist Charles Willis who had played the new Christie Organ.  Mr. Wills had played at other prestigious establishments including the New Gallery in Regent Street.  Miss Josie (Josephine) Bradley, a prominent pianist, vocalist and songwriter, was also present and sat at the stage console.  These two virtuosos were introduced in the programme and on the canopy as Mr. and Miss Smith.

Mr. and Miss Smith
Left: on stage on opening night (1930);
Right: advertisement with Mr. and Miss Smith
These photographs were provided by John Leeming, Cinema Organ Society

Mr. Willis was succeeded by Frank Matthew, who remained as the resident organist until May 1932.  Following was Harold Ramsay who became the highest paid organist in the world.

-oOo-

Andrew Gilbert at the Christie Theatre Organ, Granada Theatre Walthamstow 
in 1977 (top) and 1978 (bottom)
These photographs were taken by John D. Sharp

Listen to Andrew Gilbert playing the Christie Organ, Granada Theatre Walthamstow

-oOo-

The following information was provided, with thanks, by Mr. John Leeming:

The organ had fallen into disuse by about 1970, and Granada gave permission to a group of people, under the auspices of the Theatre Organ Club, to restore the instrument. The work took about three years of working at weekends, and the instrument was first heard again by the public in summer 1976, when it was used as a prelude to a week’s run of The Sound of Music. The organ was played on alternate nights by John Abson and Allan Newman in sound only, the console being played from the stage wings.  At this time, the staff lacked sufficient confidence to move the console on and off the stage for these musical interludes and so it was maintained in the wings.

With time, it was noticed that if the film to be screened was a non-CinemaScope production. that there was sufficient room to leave the console at the side of the stage without blocking the screen.  As a result, the organ was used occasionally to play in the audience before the screenings.  The last occasion, apart from the closing programme in 2003, that this was done was in November 2002, when it was played by Adam Evans for the screening of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Photographs provided by Mr. John Leeming, Cinema Organ Society

From 1976 until the closure of the theatre, Sunday Theatre Organ Concerts were held about four times a year, first by the Theatre Organ Club and later by the Cinema Organ Society.  The last such concert was a Farewell to the Granada, which took place on 29th December, 2002, and featured Simon Gledhill at the console.  From time to time during this period, the organ was used for broadcasting and recording.  In addition, the Theatre hosted a couple of Theatre Organ Workshops where demonstrations and guidance were offered for the benefit of aspiring young theatre organists.

The Last Night as a Cinema, 3^rd January, 2003
Left: Simon Gledhill at an organ
Please note that this is not the Christie Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Walthamstow

The McGuffin Film Society has produced a DVD (Right), The Last Days of the EMD Cinema

-oOo-

Simon Gledhill at the stage console in 2002
This photograph was provided by Mr. John Leeming, Cinema Organ Society

Richard Hills rehearsing at the Christie Theatre Organ in 2002
This photograph was provided by Mr. John Leeming, Cinema Organ Society

-oOo-

In 2000 English Heritage awarded the erstwhile Granada Theatre Walthamstow  Grade II* Listed Building status (i.e. an important building of more than special interest) in recognition of its outstanding architectural and cultural significance, placing it amongst the most important 8% of buildings in Britain.

The Granada Theatre Walthamstow as an ABC Cinema

Although the erstwhile Granada Theatre Walthamstow has sat empty for many years now together with the theatre organ console hidden in the orchestra pit, a battle has embroiled between the current owners, the Brazilian-based religious organisation, the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) who wish to turn the building into a church and the Cabinet of Waltham Forest Council with The McGuffin Film Society,Waltham Forest Cinema Trust and Curzon Cinemas,Soho Theatre wanting to see the building returned to being an entertainment centre.

Click here to hear Dudley Savage play the Christie Thatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Walthamstow

—ooOoo—

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS