THE THEATRE ORGAN
Robert 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)
-oOo-
PAGE THIRTY-THREE:
THE COMPTON THEATRE ORGAN
SURVIVING CONTINUED
John Compton, Pioneer, Innovator and Organ Builder
-oOo-
THE COMPTON ORGAN
OF THE ODEON THEATRE
WESTON SUPER MARE
-oOo-
The Grand Pier at Weston Super Mare
Oscar Deutsch, the founder of Odeon Cinemas/Theatres, commissioned the architect, Thomas Cecil Howitt, to design four new cinemas at Clacton-on-Sea, Bridgewater, Warley and Weston Super Mare during the early 1930s. Each of his designs were of a squat main building with a square tower and a slab roof surrounded by twelve small round columns. The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare opened to the public in May 1935 with the film, Brewster’s Millions, with Jack Buchanan.
The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare
This photograph was provided by Paul Bland
The cinema’s decoration was in Art Deco style. The facade was covered with cream coloured tiles, or faience, together with three thin horizontal bands of green faience and some neon lighting fixtures.
Detailing the Three Thin Horizontal Bands of Green Faience
The auditorium was plain without ornate grille coverings and with concealed lighting in troughs across the ceiling and in recesses around the Proscenium. Seating for about 1,800 was available in the stalls and circle.
Original Odeon in its Original Style
In December 1973, the cinema was converted into Three Screens with the erstwhile circle forming the main screen and with two smaller screens being formed by the division of the stalls. A fourth screen was later formed in the front stall area in 1991.
In 1986, the Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare was granted Grade II Listed status.
The Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare Today
These photographs were provided by Paul Bland
-oOo-
Mr. Frank Fowler seated at the Console of
The Compton Theatre Organ of the Odeon Theatre Weston Super Mare
This photograph was provided by Fred Smedley
-oOo-
Tragic news was heard recently: the Odeon Theatre Weston-Super-Mare is to close on the 5th June, 2023.
-oOo-
Oscar Deutsch (1893-1941) had only nine Theatre Organs installed in his cinemas, which included the one at Weston Super Mare. The Compton Theatre Organ installed here had 3-manuals and 6-ranks and included a Solo Cello and was opened by Alfred Richards. The Organ’s Console Case was illuminated and in the Cascade Style. The Organ chambers are on the roof of the building and sound escapes into the auditorium through decorative plaster coves above the Proscenium.
The Compton Theatre Organ with Robert Wolfe at the Console (2007)
Lower Left: this photograph was provided by Fred Smedley
The Organ remains in place today and may be seen from the former circle. It is the only Compton Theatre Organ still installed in an Odeon Theatre outside London. In addition, it is only one of two working Theatre Organs still present and performing in their original installations, and which are still in a commercially operating cinema. The other such cinema is the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square.
Although The Organ is no longer played daily, as it once was, however, it is played at four concerts each year and is maintained by the West of England Theatre Organ Society.
-oOo-
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I would like to thank Mr. Ian McIver for providing information and photographs. I would also like to thank Mr. Stephen Dutfield for allowing the reproduction of some photographs from The Compton List here and for the information provided there.
I should also to thank Mr. Fred Smedly of the West of England Theatre Organ Society for his kindness in providing photographs and information about the Organ of the Odeon Weston Super Mare.
Very special thanks are given to Mr. Paul Bland for providing photographs, musical interludes and information and without whom this piece would not have been possible.
——oooOOOooo——
——oooOOOooo——
——oooOOOooo——
Click here to return to PART ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE ORGAN
——oooOOOooo——
Click here to return to PART TWO: THE THEATRE ORGAN HOME PAGE
——oooOOOooo——
Click here to go to the TABLE OF CONTENTS
——oooOOOooo—-
I have visited your website many times in the past. I visited your website again today due to some very sad news I am very sad that the Odeon Cinema in Weston-Super-Mare, with its super, original, Compton organ, is to close on 5th June 2023. as this news broke I am glad to report that Michael Wooldridge already was engaged to play a concert there for the Theatre Organ Club, perhaps the last concert for many years, or forever, who knows at this stage, at 2 pm on Sunday 21st May 2023, so do join us to say au revoir to this lovely instrument. I hope this information helps to keep your great website up to date. Keep up the good work with your site it provides a very vital resource of information.
Peter: Thank you very much for writing to my website and posting the very sad news that the Odeon Weston-Super-Mare will close. Besides losing such a beautiful cinema, since the building is listed, it will mean that the wonderful theatre organ can not be removed. I hope that it can be maintained and not start to rot away like those of the Granada Theatres Tooting and Walthamstow.
Sadly, I can not attend, as I live in the U.S.A now – however, I will be adding something to my website about the closure and Michael has said that he will send me some photographs. Another sad day for lovers of the old cinemas and beautiful theatre organs.
The great news is that the former Odeon has been purchased by Merlin Cinemas and has re-opened with a Prelude at the Compton organ by Cameron Lloyd. The Odeon is now known as the Plaza.
The new owners are saying that they have plans to return the two frontal box offices to there original state and wash and repair the ornamental tile work to the outside of the building. Plus repairing storm damage to the structure of the building .
This sounds as though the cinema could not be in better hands and we all look forward to the result .
There are assurances that the Compton 3/C organ will continue to give concerts although as yet there are no diary dates for that.
It’s wonderful to have some good news for a change after all the uncertainty.
My photo of the Compton console taken a few years ago but still relevant, has been viewed many thousands of times and now appears on many organ web pages. Sad to say often either without credit or even credited wrongly to another. It’s all good publicity for theatre organs.
Further to my comment on the Compton organ now at the re-named Plaza cinema Weston-super-Mare.
Pleas advise how I send you the photo.
The pic at the top of the letter is my own four manual Hauptwerk 8 digital Paramount set up and not connected with the Plaza.