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The Granada Theatre Bedford after being Twinned

The architects of the Granada Theatre Bedford were William T. Benslyn and James Morrison with Theodore Komisarjevsky being responsible for the interior design.  The theatre opened in December 1934 with a fanfare of buglers from the Scots Guards and a living tableaux where Heads of Departments responsible for the construction were introduced to the audience.

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The Granada Theatre Bedford received the first of the Standard Granada Wurlitzers and had 3 Manuals and 8 Ranks.  In addition to the various accoutrements including tibia, clarinet, violin, concert flute and vox humana etc (see Glossary), a grand piano attachment was included.  In addition, the console installed was unique and was the first to be of Granada’s own design by James Morrison.  The organ remained in place until 1975 when it was removed due to the alterations taking place at the theatre.

The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ once installed at the Granada Theatre Bedford 

This photograph is the property of the Lanbaurgh Theatre Organ Society and appears here with permission of Mr. Colin Day

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The organ was sold and installed at the Pier Ballroom, Redcar where it remained until 1981 when the pier was deemed unsafe.

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The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ was next moved and installed at the James Finegan Hall, Eston by the local Organ Society, whose name was later changed to the Langbaurgh Theatre Organ Society.  The organ had become known as the Eston Wurlitzer and regular concerts were given at the Hall and remained here until 2012.

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The Granada Bedford-Eston Wurlitzer was sold to Mr. Kevin Grunill and I have read that it is being renovated and will be installed in a new hall, Coatham Bowl, Redcar, which is to be built.

Click here to watch a video about The Wurlitzer Theatre Organ of the Granada Theatre Bedford and hear Chris Powell playing it

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Click here to hear Chris Powell playing the Wurlitzer Organ of the Tower Ballroom Blackpool

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JUST SAY GRANÃDA

With 1936 came another announcement from Granada stating that it was to build eight new theatres, which later in the year was increased to sixteen.   Despite the announcements, only nine theatres of this group were actually built and would form what was to be a new circuit.  Unfortunately I can find no reason for Granada calling these nine theatres a new circuit rather than simply including them with the earlier ones.