THE SUNDERLAND THEATRE ORGAN PRESERVATION SOCIETY BASED IN RYHOPE COMMUNITY CENTRE SUNDERLAND SR2 0RX. LOOKING AFTER THE Ex SUNDERLAND ODEON JOHN COMPTON (3/9) ORGAN.

         Season's Greetings to all our readers.

Next Concert...

Sunday 18th February 2018 Cameron Lloyd.

Cameron is a firm Ryhope favourite and makes a welcome return to play for us in a concert not to be missed. He was born in 1980 and became interested in music and the organ from an early age. Following a family visit to Blackpool Tower at age 12, he was captivated by the mighty WurliTzer and became hooked on that fantastic sound. He much admires the playing of Reg Dixon who was the famous organist there for 40 years. Guided by Wolverhampton City Organist the late and much missed Steve Tovey, he began to develop his own distinctive style and sound. In 1999 he fulfilled his ambition to play that famous organ in Blackpool Tower and has returned several times to play there since. With his technical skills, he is part of the team that has returned a WurliTzer organ to the Empress Ballroom in the Blackpool Winter Gardens.
Cameron plays for concerts, ballroom and sequence dances all over the British Isles and we welcome him warmly back to the Ryhope Compton Organ.

Cameron at Ryhope in 2016

The ever smiling Cameron...

Cameron at the Astoria Barnsley (KG)

Cameron at the  Blackpool Opera House WurliTzer (DC)

Venue Ryhope Community Centre
Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX
The concert starts 2.30pm enter by the red side door on Black Road. (doors 2pm) Complementary interval refreshment included.

Review of our Christmas Concert...

On Sunday 10th December we welcomed back to the console the popular Elizabeth Harrison for our Christmas concert and our last event for 2017. She had been playing at Maryport the previous evening, stayed over in Carlisle, and came to us from there. She opened with a lively seasonal selection including a few carols and then had a chat with her audience. She spoke of life on the farm at both Chipping near Clitheroe, and also a dairy farm near Barrow. She now has 8 "Marshall" heritage tractors and with family and friends takes them to agricultural shows. There followed another mix of music including "Tavern in the Town", Hello Dolly selection,  "Ain't she sweet" and "Cockneycapers". Elizabeth spoke of her ever increasing "Homepride" flour grader collection with all the little figures arranged in cabinets. Another selection followed including among many "Aces high","This is my lovely day", Here comes that rainy day again,  and a selection of Spanish tunes. Following the interval we enjoyed the "Teddy Bear's picnic", Stein Song, "Unforgettable", Housewife's choice theme and another seasonal medley. She spoke of her Christmas preparations and then played some 1960's tunes," also "Jealousy" and a few Latin numbers. The interesting theme to the ITV News from a few years ago followed, and to finish more carols and Christmas music including an encore. A super concert, warmly received by a well attended and enthusiastic Ryhope audience.

Elizabeth Harrison at the console for our Christmas concert. (NW)

Elizabeth dressed in a lovely sparkly top (NW)

A fair size audience gathers for the Elizabeth Harrison concert in Ryhope Community Centre. (NW)

The concert programme for 2018...

Sunday 15th April....Howard Beaumont.

Howard Beaumont on a previous visit to Ryhope (NW)

Howard at the Scarborough Spa Pavillion electronic.

Howard is a Ryhope favourite.

Howard at the Spa with the famous Castle backdrop.

Sunday 17th June....Adrian Rose.

Adrian Rose (L) alongside Paul Roberts (R)  (NW)

Adrian (L) on a visit to the Ryhope Compton (NW)

Sunday 19th August....Stephen Austin.

Stephen at Ryhope on the 19th August... (NW)

Stephen at the Ryhope console.. (NW)

Sunday 21st October....Andrew Nix.

Andrew Nix

Andrew Nix (L) with Tony Stace at the Ryhope Compton  2014 (NW)

Sunday 9th December....David Ivory.

David Ivory (R) with former Society chairman Ian Parsons.

David at a church organ. (DI)

David tells a few...

David entertains (COS)

Member's afternoons...

Come and listen to or play the Mighty Compton theatre organ on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of every month (1.30-3.30pm) except Bank Holiday Sundays and Sunderland Air Show weekend. Use the Black Road "red door" entrance.

Peter plays a few tunes during a recent member's afternoon. (NW)

A few memories from the Society archives...

An advert in the Sunderland Echo for the film showing at the Black's Regal. (SAS)

Nicholas Martin playing for us at Ryhope in 2007. (IP)

A Sunderland Echo picture of the Compton in 1977. (SAS)

Splendid view of the console in the Odeon taken by the Sunderland Echo. (SAS)

The Mighty Compton escapes from the Odeon Cinema by a side entrance in 1982 when the cinema went over to Bingo.

Black's Regal penny cinema token.

 


posted by Neville
email for Society membership details and concert information ... ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
concert programme available on "facebook" and organfax.co.uk

The SUNDERLAND THEATRE ORGAN PRESERVATION SOCIETY.

Caring for the John Compton  3/9 Theatre Organ of 1932. The organ is the ex Sunderland Black's Regal/Odeon cinema instrument.

John Compton 3/9 organ (1932)

Our Christmas Concert features the ever popular Elizabeth Harrison on Sunday 10th December 2017 at 2.30pm.

Elizabeth at the Compton during a previous concert. (NW)

Elizabeth Harrison was born in Preston (Lancashire) in 1974. She became interested in both piano and organ from an early age and soon became an accomplished player on both instruments. Elizabeth has been on the British concert circuit for about 25 years and has a popular following countrywide. The "day" job consists of looking after the farm and tending to all her many animals! We look forward to a splendid concert with music appropriate to the enchanting Christmas season.

Elizabeth at home on both electronic and theatre pipe organs.

Venue... Ryhope Community Centre,
Black Road, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX
(use the side red door)


 Review of the concert with Damon Willetts on Sunday 15th October 2017 at 2.30pm.
(This concert was a joint promotion with the Theatre Organ Club, and our sincere thanks is extended to this organisation) 

Damon Willetts travelled from his home in Halesowen (West Midlands) to play for us today at Ryhope. By the age of six he had taken a keen interest in the piano, and at the age of seventeen he was much in demand as a hotel pianist due to his appreciation of popular tuneful music. He was invited to play the "Christie Organ" in the Majestic Cinema in Cradley Heath where he continued in this role until its closure. He began concert performances in 2002 playing many venues the length and breadth of the country. He owns a Compton pipe organ which is installed in his home. His "day job" is groundsman at two Midlands cricket clubs...quite a contrast to music.
He began his concert with "Sing everybody sing", then "Knights of Gladness" and "Lullaby of the Leaves". He continued with "Love changes everything", "All I ask of you" and Ketelby's "Bells across the meadow" followed by the delightful theme from "Last of the summer wine". He concluded the first half with a lively Rogers & Hammerstein selection.
Following the interval, he resumed with music from the "Three Elizabeth's suite", Russ Conway's "Side Saddle", some Cole Porter tunes, and a lovely rendition of "Dream of Olwyn". He concluded with music associated with "Around the World" with musical treats from different countries. He was pressed for an encore which featured some popular sing-a-long tunes. Damon certainly gave us an excellent concert for an appreciative audience.

Future concerts...


Our first concert of 2018 features Cameron Lloyd who has become a Ryhope favourite.
Sunday 18th February 2018 at 2.30pm

Always smiling Cameron on a previous visit.

Cameron at the Blackpool Opera House WurliTzer (DC)

Review of the concert on Sunday 20th August with Lewis Scott .

Lewis "at home" on the Ryhope Compton (NW)

Lewis travelled from his home in Hull to play for us today. This talented young man won the ATOS young organist competition in 2016 and is now playing concerts countrywide. The choice of music was a delight, with tunes to please everyone. He began his programme with "Night & Day" followed by the "Mood I'm in" and the Londonderry Air. A dramatic rendition of "Murder on the Orient Express" followed, and a selection of popular tunes..."Jealousy" "Stranger in Paradise", "Manhattan" and "How High the Moon". To take us to interval there was a Waltz selection, some Nat King Cole numbers, and sing-a-long melodies.
After the interval raffle and refreshment, Lewis resumed with "five-foot two..eyes of blue", "Midnight in Moscow", "hush-a-bye mountain" and a "cha-cha" collection. He played a dramatic selection of tunes from "War of the Worlds", followed by Irving Berlin songs, then"Stranger on the shore", "take the A train" and "the way you look tonight". He concluded his splendid concert with a rousing "Copacabana" and an encore by request.


Member's afternoons are held on the second and fourth Sundays from 1.30-3.30pm. Use the side red door. Come along and listen to, or play the Compton organ.


From the Society archives...

Well known organists who have played the Ryhope Compton in recent years.

John Barnett with former chairman Ian Parsons.

Simon Gledhill with Ian Parsons.

Richard Hills.

Committee members and Kevin Grunill 2011.

Ian Parsons with David Ivory 2010.

posted by Neville
email... ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
see our Facebook page, and concert details can also be found on organfax.co.uk

The Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society.

Looking after the ex-Odeon Compton Organ now based in Ryhope Community Centre, Ryhope, Sunderland SR2 0RX.

Ex Blacks Regal/Odeon 3/9 Compton.

Next concert...

Lewis Scott on Sunday 20th August 2017 at 2.30pm.

Lewis became interested in the organ, and started playing at the age of 8 years. He started with a Technics E55 and now plays a Roland AT 900c which he can take to concerts if required. Following a visit to the "Scarborough Fair Collection" he was inspired by the power of the cinema organ and started learning this instrument. He played the WurlitZer at Howdon-le-Wear for their young organists showcase event. He went on to win the ATOS (UK) young organist 2016 and the pictures show him with the chain and medal. For an eighteen year old, he is a most talented young man and we look forward to a splendid afternoon's entertainment.

Lewis Scott (photo KG)

Lewis (centre) with the runners-up ATOS (UK) competition (photo ATOS)

Future concert details...

Damon Willetts on Sunday 15th October.

Damon Willets

Elizabeth Harrison on Sunday 10th December.

Elizabeth Harrison at the Ryhope Compton (NW)

Review of our recent concerts...

On Sunday 18th June we welcomed Peter Jebson for a return visit to the Compton console at Ryhope Community Centre. Peter was born in Blackburn and grew up "beside the seaside" in Blackpool. As a youngster, he was a keen chorister and became a church organist in his teens. He became interested in the sound of the mighty WuliTzer organ in the Blackpool Tower ballroom where he received help and encouragement from resident organists Ernest Broadbent and the famous Reg Dixon. He graduated from the Northern School of Music in Manchester in 1972 and became involved with the Lancashire Theatre Organ Trust who were looking after the Gaumont and Odeon cinema organs in Oxford Road. Many holidaymakers will remember that he was for 30 years the resident organist at the Cliffs Hotel in Blackpool. His teaching career began in 1973 at schools in Blackpool and later on in Lytham-St-Annes where he had responsibility for music. He has made many broadcasts on BBC radio 2's "Organist entertains"and plays for organ societies and concerts countrywide.  He began his lively programme with "Blaze Away" followed by a few in waltz time then "Samum" which was the Blackpool Tower's Bertini Band's theme tune. A selection from Easter Parade followed by Dream of Olwen, some Charlie Chaplin tunes, and the "Russian Rag". After the interval, there was a selection of Gilbert & Sullivan and Sigmund Romberg pieces. Peter played a number of popular hymn tunes, and a compilation of French National melodies. He concluded with a few happy sing-a-longs, bringing to an end a splendid afternoon's entertainment.

Peter Jebson at the console (NW)

On Sunday 23rd April we welcomed Kevin Grunill on a return visit from Barnsley to play for us. Kevin's mastery of the instrument gave us a memorable afternoon of music. Last year Kevin undertook repairs and improvements to the Compton and this was his first concert visit to try out his handy work! He opened with "That's entertainment" followed by a selection of swing tunes in the Blackpool style and a few popular songs from the shows. It had been the Queen's 91st birthday during the past week and she was remembered in a patriotic selection. Following interval refreshment, Kevin played a Shirley Bassey number, he then remembered Vera Lynn, recalling her recent 100th birthday and played some of her popular hit songs. There followed a waltz and tango combination and recalled Alma Cogan who "didn't know a waltz from a tango!".There was a selection of tunes suitable for St.George's Day including "There'll always be an England". A few marches followed including "Aces High" and the theme from "Brassed Off".

It was a fabulous concert and the audience would not let him leave without an encore!

Kevin at the console (NW)

An excellent concert from Kevin (NW)

From the Society archives...

When the Sunderland Odeon cinema closed in 1982 for conversion to a bingo hall, purchase of the John Compton organ (1932) was agreed, and the huge task of removal (to storage) was started. The console emerged once again out into the daylight after 50 years in the cinema for its transportation away. The photos below are from Peter Brigham's collection with society members undertaking the tremendous dismantling job.

Jim Dunleavy with old film discovered.

The Console is manoeuvred out of the building and into the daylight.

Robin Roper makes sense of the cabling.

the late David Robertson behind the Odeon shutters.

Investigating the console electricals.

posted by Neville.
email ryhopecomptonorgan@gmail.com
see Facebook page and Society details on the website "organfax" 
second and fourth Sundays are members afternoons 1.30-3.30pm come along and listen to or play the Compton 3/9 organ. (Not Bank Holiday or Airshow Sundays)