@bluephoenixone Yes it's called "Smoke gets in your eyes". He was poking fun at me i expect as I had just pumped a load of smoke onto stage in order for the camera crew to do some more shots. Peter
@jazzboyfin - it's amazing that he has the cheek to have fun at your expense like that, and the skill to pull it off so well! Why does the lift actually go a bit higher than the rest of the floor?
A lovely example of an early Compton thatre organ - complete with wooden tibia. What a marvellous sound. Comptons like this didn't need a Melotone unit!
Err no, it has a metal tibia. It's not particularly early either - 1932 was about the peak of Compton's cinema organ production and they were putting organs into cinemas about 10 years previous to that. It is however a very good example and as you say pre-Melotone, which didn't come out til 35. I love this organ - it was me and my team who restored it. Peter
Thank you jazzboyfin. I was told it was a wooden tibia by someone who should know better. Congratulations to you and your team on a wonderful restoration! I hope I will someday have the pleasure of hearing this organ live. Is it presented in concert on a regular basis? It certainly should be !! Thank you again Peter!
Hi. Thanks for that. Compton only made a few wooden tibias and there are not many left. Southampton Guildhall is the only one I've seen in its original form, although another is the former Forum Ealing Compton, now at Wormwood Scrubs prison chapel where it was rebuilt as a church organ and the wooden tibia became a bass flute for pedals only! RE Hammersmith concerts, no I'm afraid the organ is not heard by the public yet, but I'm working on ideas! You're welcome to come see it though. Peter
Thank you Peter! - and for that offer for me to see the Compton at Hammersmith. I usually come up to London once or twice a year. Next time I'm coming down I'll be in touch and maybe you'll be able to have me see this fine Compton organ. Thanks!
There was a fine little Compton ( six ranks + melotone) in the Davenport Stockport (now demolished) Thisorgan AND Melotone is now being restored and installed in a theatre at Hyde. I'm watching progress with great interest! Bye for now, George.
Well done to all those involved in restoring this organ. Always most spectacular when done in the original location. Shame English Heritage didn't wake up earlier and save a few more gems like this.
Superb.... British Theatre Organ at it's best... well done Peter Hammond and team... and thanks to the Apollo Management for allowing this fine beast to be heard again....
That video photographer needs to have a lesson in staying out of view. What a pain! On the other hand the organ sounds wonderful. I liked the playing too.
No he doesn't!! He was supposed to be filming it. The video you are watching was taken by an enthusiast. This scene was shot after the main events of the afternoon had taken place and we were shooting some extra closeup shots. The camerman in view is a professional who was being paid to shoot material for a forthcoming DVD.
The organist is Richard Hills - probably the best theatre organist in the land and a top classical one too.
Not sure about the skip niche2000 but it went all the way to Wales for storage in a warehouse . Now its all restored and back in situ and although its been a big and demanding job, the results are wonderful. I had a great team working on it with me and we are looking forward to the organ being used for certain performances in the future. Peter Hammond, HWS Associates {hws dot org dot uk)
I am so pleased to see and hear this organ at last. I remember many a converstion about this instument when I belonged the London branch of the C.O.S. in the mid '90s. Didn't they have to rescue the console from being put in a skip on one occasion? All credit to those who have restored it and to Richard Hills for his excellent playing.
In full voice, and sounding spectacular! Thanks for posting these videos Ivor, it's great to see these wonderful instruments in action, some day I hope to get the chance to play a real theatre pipe organ, been mesmerised by the look and sound of the king of instruments since I was knee-high. Keep these videos coming! Long live the Theatre/Cinema Organ!
The organ was abandoned in the 1980s, the console cut off in the 90s and the whole thing left to rot - until the council and English Heritage insisted it was reinstated and restored a few years ago. Restoration is now finished and the organ, as you can hear, is in full voice.
anyone know what song he's playing?
bluephoenixone 1 year ago
@bluephoenixone Yes it's called "Smoke gets in your eyes". He was poking fun at me i expect as I had just pumped a load of smoke onto stage in order for the camera crew to do some more shots. Peter
jazzboyfin 1 year ago
@jazzboyfin - it's amazing that he has the cheek to have fun at your expense like that, and the skill to pull it off so well! Why does the lift actually go a bit higher than the rest of the floor?
TheMysticalOrgan 2 days ago
A lovely example of an early Compton thatre organ - complete with wooden tibia. What a marvellous sound. Comptons like this didn't need a Melotone unit!
Wnoronz 2 years ago
Err no, it has a metal tibia. It's not particularly early either - 1932 was about the peak of Compton's cinema organ production and they were putting organs into cinemas about 10 years previous to that. It is however a very good example and as you say pre-Melotone, which didn't come out til 35. I love this organ - it was me and my team who restored it. Peter
jazzboyfin 2 years ago
Thank you jazzboyfin. I was told it was a wooden tibia by someone who should know better. Congratulations to you and your team on a wonderful restoration! I hope I will someday have the pleasure of hearing this organ live. Is it presented in concert on a regular basis? It certainly should be !! Thank you again Peter!
Wnoronz 2 years ago
Hi. Thanks for that. Compton only made a few wooden tibias and there are not many left. Southampton Guildhall is the only one I've seen in its original form, although another is the former Forum Ealing Compton, now at Wormwood Scrubs prison chapel where it was rebuilt as a church organ and the wooden tibia became a bass flute for pedals only! RE Hammersmith concerts, no I'm afraid the organ is not heard by the public yet, but I'm working on ideas! You're welcome to come see it though. Peter
jazzboyfin 2 years ago
Thank you Peter! - and for that offer for me to see the Compton at Hammersmith. I usually come up to London once or twice a year. Next time I'm coming down I'll be in touch and maybe you'll be able to have me see this fine Compton organ. Thanks!
There was a fine little Compton ( six ranks + melotone) in the Davenport Stockport (now demolished) Thisorgan AND Melotone is now being restored and installed in a theatre at Hyde. I'm watching progress with great interest! Bye for now, George.
Wnoronz 2 years ago
Great to see this restored ,I heard it played once in the early 1980's I think on a Sunday Afternoon and it was great .
jeanniedee 4 years ago
magnifique, vraiment tres tres beau !
9703michel 4 years ago
Well done to all those involved in restoring this organ. Always most spectacular when done in the original location. Shame English Heritage didn't wake up earlier and save a few more gems like this.
alijanlondon 4 years ago
A classic sound from the silent era of cinema, wonderful.
PictureHouseCinema 4 years ago
Superb.... British Theatre Organ at it's best... well done Peter Hammond and team... and thanks to the Apollo Management for allowing this fine beast to be heard again....
fftopskin 4 years ago
That video photographer needs to have a lesson in staying out of view. What a pain! On the other hand the organ sounds wonderful. I liked the playing too.
benchkey 4 years ago
No he doesn't!! He was supposed to be filming it. The video you are watching was taken by an enthusiast. This scene was shot after the main events of the afternoon had taken place and we were shooting some extra closeup shots. The camerman in view is a professional who was being paid to shoot material for a forthcoming DVD.
The organist is Richard Hills - probably the best theatre organist in the land and a top classical one too.
Peter Hammond
jazzboyfin 4 years ago
Not sure about the skip niche2000 but it went all the way to Wales for storage in a warehouse . Now its all restored and back in situ and although its been a big and demanding job, the results are wonderful. I had a great team working on it with me and we are looking forward to the organ being used for certain performances in the future. Peter Hammond, HWS Associates {hws dot org dot uk)
jazzboyfin 4 years ago
I am so pleased to see and hear this organ at last. I remember many a converstion about this instument when I belonged the London branch of the C.O.S. in the mid '90s. Didn't they have to rescue the console from being put in a skip on one occasion? All credit to those who have restored it and to Richard Hills for his excellent playing.
niche2000 4 years ago
In full voice, and sounding spectacular! Thanks for posting these videos Ivor, it's great to see these wonderful instruments in action, some day I hope to get the chance to play a real theatre pipe organ, been mesmerised by the look and sound of the king of instruments since I was knee-high. Keep these videos coming! Long live the Theatre/Cinema Organ!
wrighty205 4 years ago
The organ was abandoned in the 1980s, the console cut off in the 90s and the whole thing left to rot - until the council and English Heritage insisted it was reinstated and restored a few years ago. Restoration is now finished and the organ, as you can hear, is in full voice.
Peter Hammond
HWS Associates - restorers of the
Hammersmith Compton Cinema Organ
jazzboyfin 4 years ago