THE THEATRE ORGAN
Robert Hope-Jones (1859-1914), Father of The Theatre Organ
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PART TWO:
BUILDERS OF THE THEATRE ORGANS
THIS PAGE IS WRITTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH
GLEN TWAMLEY (FRIENDS OF BEER WURLITZER)
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PAGE TEN:
IMPORTING THE U.K.’s FIRST 4-MANUAL
WURLITZER ORGAN
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The Empire Theatre Leicester Square opened in 1884 as a theatre of variety and ballet. It became a Music Hall and was renamed the Empire Theatre of Varieties in 1887. In 1896, it was the first commercial establishment in the U.K. to show projected film by the Lumière Brothers to the public.
The theatre was acquired by Loew’s (later Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM) in 1925 and was closed in 1927 and refurnished and reopened as a full-time cinema in November 1928.
The Empire Cinema Leicester Square – one time home of MGM Pictures
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The Console of the Empire Leicester Square Wurlitzer Organ sitting on its turntable
The Wurlitzer Organ installed at the Empire Cinema Leicester Square arrived in the U.K. in November 1928. The Organ had had been constructed with 4-manuals and 20-ranks and was the first 4-manual Wurlitzer Organ to be exported to the U.K. and was the largest to arrive in the U.K. up until that time.
The Console was mounted on a turntable at the left end of the Orchestra Pit and was opened in November 1928 by the organists, Sandy MacPherson and Reginald Foort. Sandy MacPherson was the resident organist at the cinema from 1928 until 1938.
Reginald Foort (Left) & Sandy MacPherson (right; at the Empire Wurlitzer)
Click here to hear Sandy MacPherson play the Empire Wurlitzer
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Readers please note that Europe largest Theatre Organ was installed in 1928 at the Regal Cinema Marble Arch.
This organ will be discussed in the section dealing with The Christie Theatre Organ.
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In 1933, the organist, Jesse Crawford, known as The Poet of the Organ, resigned from his position as organist at the Paramount Theatre New York and came to the U.K. He toured the country and appeared at the organ of the Empire Theatre Leicester Square where he was to make a number of short films, radio broadcasts and gramophone records.
Jesse Crawford
Click here to hear Jess Crawford play Going Home
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In May 1961, the cinema was closed and once more refurbished, which included the removal of the organ. It was purchased by the organist, Len Rawle with the hope that he would gain permission from the relevant authorities to install it in a suitable Hall. When these efforts failed to come to fruition, Mr. Rawle decided to install the organ in his home.
Len Rawle & The Empire Leicester Square Wurlitzer Organ
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Today the erstwhile Empire Theatre Leicester Square remains in place at Mr. Rawle’s home where it has been fully restored and extended to 25 ranks, making it once more Europe’s largest Wurlitzer Organ (see immediately below).
Click here to go to the section on Mr. Rawle’s Wurlitzer Organ
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Click here to watch a documentary on Mr. Rawle’s Wurlitzer Organ (begins at 4 m 50 sec)
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Click here to see photographs of the erstwhile Wurlitzer Organ of the Empire Cinema Leicester Square before and after installation in his home.
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CLICK HERE
TO READ ABOUT MY VISIT TO TONAWANDA,
THE HOME OF THE FORMER WURLITZER ORGAN OF THE EMPIRE LEICESTER SQUARE
OR
CLICK HERE
TO RETURN TO
IMPORTING THE WURLITZER THEATRE ORGAN TO
THE NEW GALLERY CENTRAL HALL
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Click here to return to PART ONE:
INTRODUCTION
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Click here to return to the GLOSSARY
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Click here to return to the THE THEATRE ORGAN HOMEPAGE
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Click here to return to the TABLE OF CONTENTS
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