Granada Harrow
The cinema, designed by J. Owen Bond & Son with interior by Theodore Komisarjevski, opened on 25th October 1937 with a seating capacity of 1900. The original organ was a Granada designed 3 manual 8 rank Wurlitzer Theatre Organ. It is technically still playable.
The cinema was tripled in 1973, two small screens being added in the rear stalls area under the circle. The cinema was for many years the home of our ‘Young Theatre Organist of the Year’ competitions, but it closed in November 1996.
At the time of the sale of the building, Granada’s Head Office management wished to donate the organ to our Chapter in return for all the work Les Rawle and the technical team had undertaken on it over many years. However since the building was ‘listed’ our understanding was that the organ had to remain ‘in situ’ and we refrained from risking any attempt to remove it.
For many years the building was abandoned; it suffered water damage and the organ chambers became home for a large number of pigeons. The area was declared hazardous and the chambers were securely double locked until the new owners finally understood their obligation to ensure the organ needed to be made safe.
During 2002 the damage to the organ was fully repaired to ‘as new’ condition by Len Rawle.
Subsequently several ATOS concerts took place between 2002 and 2005, featuring Len Rawle and Kevin Morgan amongst others. They demonstrated what a fine instrument it continues to be.
Although the main features of the original cinema are very well preserved, sadly there is no permanent seating in what is now a gymnasium that runs 7-days a week. The cost of hiring the building for an evening concert is far beyond what is commercially viable.
Nick Ashton, of our technical team, inspects the instrument from time to time. He occasionally runs up the blower, checks that the orchestra pit water pump is functioning and that the chambers are secure and kept at a reasonable temperature.
In order to keep the vulnerable main cable clear of any water/dampness in the orchestra pit, the beautifully refurbished console remains fully elevated on its lift in full view of all who attend the gymnasium.
Granada Tooting
A campaign by Len Rawle to Raise the Tooting Wurlitzer was successful in so far as he was able to repair the flood-damaged organ to concert standard. His subsequent fund raising campaign to ensure the organ could again be heard in the Bingo Hall was also successful. It resulted in the property owners finally co-operating with the major work of opening up of the theatre floor to allow the sound into the auditorium and for the console to rise into view.
Two successful public concerts were well attended; the event on 22nd April 2007 was recorded and released on a now sold out fund raising DVD “Raising The Tooting Wurlitzer”. However, a subsequent cloudburst on 20th July 2007 caused the main sewer in the area to burst and resulted in the cramped underground pipe chambers being flooded for a fateful third time.
Although sump pumps are now fitted and the chambers are heated, the elements have taken their toll on most of the 80-year-old components including the all important relay system. The current situation is that the organ, although safe and complete, is out of action and considered to be in need of a total rebuild. Although the building and the organ are ‘listed’, there is no requirement that the organ should be functional.
The local management co-operate fully with Len and Nick who check out the security of the instrument from time to time and bring the undamaged console into view for the public ‘Open House’ day presentations.
Gaumont State Kilburn
The Chapter ran concerts and cared for this magnificent Wurlitzer for over 40 years but the theatre is now run as a church and the organ is no longer used. However, it is kept complete and in full working order by the house engineer.
You may be interested in reading about an independent visit to the theatre in April 2009 (use of this link has been kindly authorised by the independent sites’ owner) Arthur Lloyd Kilburn State Tour
