The Cinema Organ (1931)

[musicalhotcha]

..................and a nice view of Sidney Torch coming up on the lift at the Gaumont State, Kilburn Wurlitzer in the first 6 seconds.............

[pauldquam1]

A big thank you for the wonderful clips from the past.

[Kiddman32]

I love that raggy tune at the start... So much that I did some research and FOUND the title! It's called "(We're Gonna Hang Out The Washing) On The Siegfried Line".

[3dwurli]

@Kiddman32 Thats a different tune all together.

[JoePeterzak]

I like how he used the xylophone just by itself, and not registered with any other stops. The glock is very present and loud like it's unenclosed. Sounds good this way, not buried in the chamber and soft like most xylophones in theatre organs.

[56Packman]

wonderful playing, in the very best British manner.

[tregnier279]

The recording information I have for the first number is "Bobby Pagan - Foxtrot (1931) (3/12 Compton, Regal Theatre, Glasgow)". In case that helps. :)

[3dwurli]

@tregnier279 Yup, the compton organ seen in the video is that organ! Sadly no longer here :( But the cinema still exists!

[gordonmcleod]

regretably i live in toronto canada

[Theyoungorganist01]

Wow did the Gaumont Kilburn realy come up that fast on the lift? Do you have anymore footage of it?

[JamesMorganLondon]

That's my local cinema. I have seen that console rise on countless occasions but never as quickly as that. I think it is probably due to the speed of the film. It looked so majestic in the days when it used to rise on that turntable lift. The building is currently closed and the console is on a static platform on the left of the building.

[gordonmcleod]

Does anyone know the name of the first section he plays and who it is by? I would like to get the sheet music for it

[Kitphoenixx]

@gordonmcleod

I am not sure what the tune is called, however, it is definitely a Rag! It may also have been written by Bobby as he did write a great amount of music and he was also well known for his expert playing of Ragtime music. Bobby also took over as resident organist of the Kilburn State Odeon Cinema from Sidney Torch.

Bobby was a great friend of mine, and during the '80's he did four recordings on my Wurlitzer 4480 for Radio Brighton.

[gordonmcleod]

@Kitphoenixx

It would be nice to get the sheet music for it

[Kitphoenixx]

@gordonmcleod

It would be out of print most likely! However, you could visit The Cornelius Edition if you live in the UK, I say visit because you don't know the name of the music, and the Cornelius Edition is an Aladins Cave of old music /manuscripts, I hav'n't been there for a few years, but on my visits I would spend a day there. Cornelius Edition Tel: 01273 473278

29 Lansdown Place, Lewes, BN7 2JU

[bartonorgan]

A great find, thanks for posting!

[shinerchina]

Marvellous! but what's the tune??

[chkjns]

SUPER addition to my playlist series covering each of the past 100 years.

4 generations of pop music are but a few clicks away, your ticket to the past . . . .

[theatreorganworld]

At the beginning of the clip, Sidney Torch can be found raising the Gaumont State Kilburn 4/16 WurliTzer.

[luvebug21]

Aaron who keeps the old historical clips and movies of people that lived back in the day in Egland.;// is there like a Library of england or something?:o

[HD7100]

It is great to be able to see such an old film clip. Those "Brits" really played (and still do) unbridled hot arrangements on the theatre organ. Very nice.

[Gadomska]

Wonderful! Thanks.

[449GO]

bobby pagan at the regal glasgow compton! lovely!

[youarpa]

Guau !!!! Impresionante

[pax41]

Great organ piece Aaron!

[gonkdroid229]

cool

[76TomD]

is that an organ or the controls from an Apollo Spacecraft?? :>

[beachdog67]

This guy is/was an awesome keyboard player!

[irish1209]

wow! you couldn't get talent like that nowadays.

[jamesjeffreypaul]

A wonderful bit of nostalgia. Thanks for sharing.

[bobparis]

Is that fantastic sound from the FILM, or is it from commercial records?

[accordeonsteve]

A real great movie!!

[aartvegan]

Hey, great.:)

Is that a Wurlitzer organ?

[W4KSR]

In the beginning, yes. What he was playing was a Compton.

[dumowska]

GREAT!!!!