Nigel Ogden plays the astonishing 3/8 Christie theatre organ, at one time in the Odeon/Astra theatre, Llandudno. From the COS Album "Astra 1983".

I'm Beginning to See the Light

Recorded on the Compton/Christie theatre organ in Ossett Town Hall in about 1971

Arnold Loxam plays ‘Rondo alla Turca’ (Mozart)

Josephine Bradley's Ballroom Orchestra was almost a clone of Victor Silvester's. She was a popular and highly regarded teacher of ballroom dancing and was awarded an MBE for her services. As Josie Bradley she also played the theatre organ. She and Charles Willis opened the dual-console Christie theatre organ in the Granada Cinema, Walthamstow, London, in 1930, using the pseudonyms 'Mr and Miss Smith'.

Josephine Bradley and her Ballroom Orchestra - Five Minutes More

Vera Lynn with the Mantovani Orchestra recorded in the 1940s

When the Lights Go On Again All Over the World

Part of Reginald Porter-Brown's contribution to the launch of the first BBC Theatre Organ on 20th October 1936. A lousy recording from damaged acetate discs, not greatly improved by my attempts to de-noise it.

Reginald Porter-Brown opens BBC Compton in 1936

The Robin Richmond Trio on BBC 'Music While You Work' 19 December 1961. Recording from the late Bill Ravenall. Opening and closing signature tunes are missing.

Music While You Work - Robin Richmond Trio - 19Dec61 From Bill Ravenall

Dudley Beaven broadcasting from the Granada, Clapham Junction, in 1945

Dudley Beaven Broadcast from Clapham Junction

Test recording from 1946. Robinson Cleaver tries out the newly-installed BBC Theatre Organ, in the Jubilee Chapel, London. This 5/27 Möller theatre organ started life as Reginald Foort's touring organ, which was sold to the BBC after the BBC Compton was destroyed in a wartime air raid. The instrument is now in the Civic Auditorium, Pasadena, CA, USA.

Robinson Cleaver at the BBC Theatre Organ #2

Part of a broadcast of Gerald Shaw playing the Christie organ in the Regal/Odeon, Marble Arch, London, on 29th November 1954. Apologies for the poor audio quality. The original acetate disc was in very poor shape. I've done my best at noise-reduction, but the result is less than perfect! I have left in all the gaps in the performance. One very long gap was, I imagine, intended for the BBC announcer, whose voice is not heard on this recording.

Gerald Shaw at the Regal/Odeon, Marble Arch, London

Bryan Rodwell plays the Odeon (former Paramount) Leeds 3/19 Wurlitzer organ in about 1967. This is the organ which is now in the Thursford Collection in Norfolk. Chatting about the Leeds organ with me one day, Bryan observed, "That were an organ wi' class, young John."

Aye, it were that.

Popular tracks by John Leeming