The former Rex Wurlitzer Organ was originally built in 1927 and installed in the Almira Theatre, Cleveland, Ohio, in the USA.
This installation was short lived, due to the introduction of the 'talkies', and the organ was shipped over to England in 1934 to be installed in the Rex Cinema, Stratford, London, where it was opened by the organist Sandy Macpherson.
Being a divided (the pipes were in two chambers) 'Style E Special', having two manuals and seven ranks of pipes, it is unique to the UK.
The organ had mixed fortunes at the Rex, the console being buried at one point, when a new much wider screen was built over the orchestra pit.
A later change to bingo allowed the organ to be restored by a team of enthusiasts led by David England and played once again. It was used for concerts and several commercial LP recordings were made on it by the well known organist David Shepherd. In the early 1970's the bingo era ended and the organ was removed. Fortunately, it was rescued by organ enthusiast Charles Davidson, who had the organ in storage until it came into the possession of the Furness Theatre Organ Project group, led by Mark Latimer.
The group purchased the organ in the January of 2010 after raising the neccessary funds through donations, sponsors and fund raising events.
With the passage of time the organ's condition had deteriorated and much needed restoration is currently taking place. The organ console is finished and housed in the Royalty Cinema's auditorium. The two organ chambers have been built under the stage, however five of the seven ranks are in need of professional restoration which is being undertaken by Booths of Leeds.
With the continued help from donations and fund raising events, we hope to have this wonderful Wurlitzer entertaining audiences in the cinema from 2012 and for many more years to come.
This installation was short lived, due to the introduction of the 'talkies', and the organ was shipped over to England in 1934 to be installed in the Rex Cinema, Stratford, London, where it was opened by the organist Sandy Macpherson.
Being a divided (the pipes were in two chambers) 'Style E Special', having two manuals and seven ranks of pipes, it is unique to the UK.
The organ had mixed fortunes at the Rex, the console being buried at one point, when a new much wider screen was built over the orchestra pit.
A later change to bingo allowed the organ to be restored by a team of enthusiasts led by David England and played once again. It was used for concerts and several commercial LP recordings were made on it by the well known organist David Shepherd. In the early 1970's the bingo era ended and the organ was removed. Fortunately, it was rescued by organ enthusiast Charles Davidson, who had the organ in storage until it came into the possession of the Furness Theatre Organ Project group, led by Mark Latimer.
The group purchased the organ in the January of 2010 after raising the neccessary funds through donations, sponsors and fund raising events.
With the passage of time the organ's condition had deteriorated and much needed restoration is currently taking place. The organ console is finished and housed in the Royalty Cinema's auditorium. The two organ chambers have been built under the stage, however five of the seven ranks are in need of professional restoration which is being undertaken by Booths of Leeds.
With the continued help from donations and fund raising events, we hope to have this wonderful Wurlitzer entertaining audiences in the cinema from 2012 and for many more years to come.
The 1927 built Royalty Cinema, Bowness-on-Windermere.
The Wurlitzer Organ console is situated on the left hand side of the stage whilst the two organ chambers are under the stage.
Main Chamber(left) :
Diaphonic Diapason
Concert Flute
Violin
Violin Celeste
Solo Chamber (right):
Tibia Clausa
Vox Humana
Trumpet
