SUNDERLAND THEATRE ORGAN PRESERVATION SOCIETY.
                           Looking after the Mighty Compton 3/9 Organ.

Next Concert...

Our Christmas Concert will feature Joanne Naulls at the console on Sunday 21st December 2014 at 2.30 pm.

Joanne Naulls is travelling from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire to play for our seasonal concert. Joanne is from a musical family and started with church organ lessons at an early age. She developed an interest in electronic organs and plays for dancing and public concerts up and down the country. We look forward to a super afternoon of popular and light music, together with Christmas favourites.
See her at the Ryhope Community Centre, Black Road, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX (use the side red door)

Joanne Naulls

Notification of our 2015 concert season...

The Society has a varied programme for 2015 and we start the new year  with Cameron John Lloyd on Sunday 22nd February. This concert is to support the work of the Community Association, which provides the home for the organ. Cameron travels from Wolverhampton to play for us, he is a popular organist for concerts and dancing all over the country.

Cameron John Lloyd will be with us on the 22nd February. 

Cameron at the Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer recently.

The concert programme for 2015 continues with..

Sunday 15th March.. Elizabeth Harrison.
Sunday 17th May.. Keith Beckingham.
Sunday 12th July.. Matthew Bason.
Sunday 6th September.. David Redfern.
Sunday 18th October.. Carl Heslop.
Sunday 13th December.. Stephen Austin.

Last concert review...

On Sunday 26th October we welcomed the ever popular Howard Beaumont to the Compton Organ console. Howard travelled from his home town of Scarborough to play for us. It is well remembered how Howard used to play and look after the organ when it resided in the Sunderland Odeon cinema, and indeed has been a former Society President. We enjoyed a truly wonderful afternoon of music and entertaining anecdotes associated with his many years giving concerts and demonstrating organs for different manufacturers. His musical delights included a fine Sousa march "King Cotton", an Irving Berlin selection, and Lionel Monckton's, lively "Arcadians Overture". There followed a George Formby medley of his saucy comic favourites, and Howard recreated to great effect the "banjolele" sounds on the organ...quite remarkable! Howard spoke about the distinctive Hammond organ sound and then played some tunes recreating the "tone-wheel" effect that was so much part of the Hammond identity. We were treated to some familiar toe tappers in the style of the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, followed by a sea shanty arrangement with some very patriotic stuff. Following on a "Singing in the Rain" selection and some Viennese Waltzes in Andre Rieu style. The afternoon reached the dizzy heights with Big Band Sounds so familiar with Tommy Dorsey. Keith our compere for the afternoon said as part of his closing thanks (and after Howard again played his signature tune "The Best of Times"), it had indeed been an afternoon in the spirit of the very best of times!

Howard at the console.

Howard in pre-concert discussion with the chairman.

The audience start to gather for the concert.

From the organ archives...

This is an organ newsletter celebrating 50 years of the theatre, and of course of the organ too. The concert in celebration of this event featured Phil Kelsall, the resident organist at the famous Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer. It gives a brief history of the theatre/cinema which opened in 1932, and in addition to the organ had a fine orchestra lead by J. Arnold Eagle. Click on the image to enlarge the text.

Organ newsletter "50 golden years"

Phil at the console for the celebration concert.

The cutting of the 50th birthday cake during the celebration concert. With Rank Organisation head of entertainment Bert Bartram left, the Mayor and Mayoress and the cinema manager Brett Childs. Both Bert and Brett were extremely helpful in securing the purchase of the organ from the Rank business.

Cutting the cake with the mayor and Mayoress and cinema manager Brett Childs.

Celebrating 50 years with the console in an iced profile.

 Following the conversion of the cinema to a bingo venue later in 1982, the organ was removed to storage until a permanent home could be found. The dismantling and removal was no mean feat and it was imperative that it was well ordered so that its re-assembly would be a little bit easier.

The dismantling job...

The organ console makes its way to the cinema exit...

Society membership details available use the address below to contact us.

Members Sunday afternoons are confirmed as 9th and 23rd of November, also 14th December. Come along and listen to, or play the Compton Organ.

posted by Neville
email... ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com