WURLITZER ORGAN BLACKPOOL MANUAL

Organist Phil Kelsall has been resident organist since 1975. Repairs were carried out and it re-opened in 1958, with the Wurlitzer organ again played by Reginald Dixon until his retirement in 1970. The Tower Ballroom was damaged by a fire in December 1956. The organ console is on a lift on the front of the stage.

WURLITZER ORGAN BLACKPOOL MANUAL

The Tower Ballroom was equipped in 1935 with a Wurlitzer 3 manual 14 ranks instrument, with a grand piano, opened by organist Reginald Dixon. In 1935 this instrument was removed to the towns' Winter Gardens Empress Ballroom. In 1929 the Tower Ballroom was equipped with a Wurlitzer 2 manual 10 ranks theatre organ which was opened by organist Max Bruce. If used for theatre use, it has 1,100 seats, and for concerts it has a capacity for 2,500.

Within a year, the Tower Ballroom was stripped out and a new Baroque style interior was built to the plans of famed theatre architect Frank Matcham, which re-opened in 1899. In 1897 the Tower Ballroom was a venue which screened some of the first films to be shown in the town.

It contained many attractions, including an Aquarium, a Zoo, a 1,300-seat Circus (interior designed by famed theatre architect Frank Matcham) and a magnificent 3,000 capacity Ballroom. The building at the base of the tower was designed by architectural firm Maxwell & Tuke in brick & Terra Cotta. It was inspired by the famed Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. The 518ft tall Blackpool Tower was opened on 14th May 1894. Repair and service work was additionally carried out to the lift which brings the console up into view.ДЄ concert programme has been in place since 2008, and the organ has been used for the Royal Variety Performance in 2009, the 70th Anniversary Show of the Opera House (and the organ), Silent films, film festivals and shows.Located in the seaside resort of Blackpool, Lancashire.

The organ continues to remain on its original 1939 starter motor, which was required to be meticulously examined, restored and greased by electrical engineers, in addition to the blower. In the winter of 2007/2008, in conjuction with Blackpool Winter Gardens, Cannock Chase Organ Club spent many weeks under the stage, where the pipe chambers and mechanisms for the organ are situated, undertaking restoration work, repairing wind leaks, completing repairs to wind lines, pipes, belows and tremulants. Steve approached Blackpool Winter Gardens management and on hearing of it's state of disrepair, discussions began with regards to restoring the organ back to a playing condition deserving of public presentation. In late 2007, Cannock Chase Organ Club President, and Wolverhampton City Organist, Steve Tovey, came to learn that there was a possibility of the Opera House Wurlitzer being removed from the theatre to be utilized as spare parts for the Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer. During this time it received some maintanance work, however after lingering unused between 20 the organ had slipped into a state of disrepair and had become unsuitable for serious playing. Throughout the years the organ was featured as an element of shows, cinema interludes, radio broadcasts and recordings by organists including Reginald Dixon, Horace Finch, Sidney Torch, Watson Holmes and Ernest Broadbent. The Wurlitzer was unveiled in July 1939 on the same night the Opera House Theatre opened, with Horace Finch and Reginald Dixon at the console. Therefore, it's unique specification coupled with it's place as the very last new Wurlitzer in the UK marks a significant place in our cultural and musical history and simultaneously, marking the end of an era. It is also the final new instrument installed by the Wurlitzer Company in the UK, and the second last new instrument installed by the Wurlitzer Company anywhere in the world. It was designed by Winter Gardens organist Horace Finch and is unique in it's specification, in the UK, to include a Tibia Plena. The Wurlitzer organ of the Opera House, Blackpool was installed in 1939 by the Wurlitzer Company.

Wurlitzer organ blackpool