Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer (Part 1)

[MrThespazman]

just a shame they cut some of reg in action i would have preferred to see him talking or playing fascination for a few more minutes but a fantastic video i'm thinking of playing there myself soon because of the legendary acoustics

kind regards mrthespazman

[gymnos2010]

Thank you for posting this video. Reg was my Godfather, and I hadn't heard this tribute to him before. I don't think any of the recordings, whether on 78s or the latest digital formats, can truly match being in that wonderful ballroom and hearing it live.

As for having lost some of the sparkle, perhaps that's something to do with the materials used in the rebuilding of the ballroom after the devastating fire 50+ years ago, and changes made since then. Acoustics can be very sensitive.

[3dwurli]

@gymnos2010 They organ still had its sparkle until about 15 years ago. It certainly sparkles in the 50-80s recordings!

[gymnos2010]

@3dwurli Thanks for your comment. I wasn't sure from your post what time frame you were referring to. I think the answer will still be in either some different materials having been introduced into the Ballroom, or if it's only when the amplification is turned on then it has to be a change in that equipment. It's still a marvellous sound though.

[3dwurli]

@gymnos2010 What certainly did change after the fire was the piano, tuba mirabillis and the solo string, which were all taken from the Opera house organ. Also, the acoustic is now quite different as theres quite abit of space taken up on the ballroom floor with the tables and chairs round the edge, which never used to be there.

[gymnos2010]

@3dwurli I had noticed the increased seating and carpet, and that definitely will be acting as a muffler, particularly on the frequencies that are associated with crispness of sound. I suspect it is probably a combination of factors, but that will be a significant one.

[sarsanch]

I love it!,it brings a lot of memories from my childhood!!!

[MrWurlitzerfan]

I thought that was absolutely brilliant. I loved the bit with Reg playing Fascination, it was magical to see him playing and I think the organ sounded better in that interview than the newer one but Nigel did extremely to match those songs to how Reg played them.

[3dwurli]

@MrWurlitzerfan The organ Dixon is playing at the end wasnt the Tower Ballroom organ though, thats the Empress Ballroom organ (the original tower organ with a new console and 3 ranks added), when it was under BBC ownership in the Playhouse theatre in Manchester

[bonzo874]

how many times has that rheostat been rammed to the right  ?

[powerspade]

For years I have listened to "The organist entertains" Its nice to put a face to the voice of Nigel Ogden

[TheDottedQuaver]

Very interesting! Thanks for posting. Going to see if i can get a copy of this dvd ;-)

[Fergophone]

What a fabulous instrument. What a fast lift! I'd love to know how it operates. Ours here (Melbourne, Australia) are rather on the slow side. There's nothing like a real Wurlitzer!

[alijanlondon]

This is probably one of the few videos where you can hear the organ with the amplification turned off. It's well worth trying to track down a copy of this DVD. It's very well presented and the audio quality is superb - better than many of the album recordings in my opinion.

[PaulMcCann92]

Nigel Ogden...What a legend!! God bless you Reginald Dixon. xxx

[HarborGuy]

Our old Paramont Theater had one of these organs that rose up form under the stage. Gone now, but interesting to know how it must have worked......The organ was saved......

[390052Knight]

Brilliantly built console and an amazing sound! it's just like watching a Thunderbirds sequence as it rises up to stage level!

[sophiehennessey43268]

more please

[richgarn79]

Fascinating - love all the "behind the scenes" bits. Nigel's "Take 4" of somebody stole my girl certainly was incredible - anyone know where i can obtain a copy??

[bonzo874]

unbelievable how cramped it is understage, cant believe Phil kelsall bends n twists his way to the console

[goombaman223]

i like to lisen to this to remind me of reg :D

[capacityplus]

Fantastic to see under the stage. I pictured a larger, deeper basement.

[adrianw1972]

Absolutely amazing! It was nice to see the clip of Reginald talking. He was the greatest organist this world has seen.

I still enjoy listening to the Wurlitzer in the tower and they play it very well but sorry guys, Reginald is a hard act to follow.

Thanks to Nigel for the tour of the Wurlitzer. A

[tonygrrl]

Top stuff! Thanks for posting;)

[Ronniethefish]

Really enjoyed this video (and part 2), and was fascinated, if you'll pardon the pun, by the footage of the understage area. I have vague memories of hearing Reginald, I was born in Feb '66, and enjoyed the first of many holidays in Blackpool that July. I was in the Tower on Monday evening as part of a small private tour, but the understage area remained locked. The footage of Reg speaking was interesting, I wonder if that clip is available anywhere? Love Blackpool, thanks for posting.

[Wnoronz]

Last time Reg played at the tower was spring 1970.  So it shows what a great influence Reg was as by that time you would have been not yet 4 !

Although Reg kept to his vow not to play at the Tower again "Leave it to the new guys!" he played many concerts around the country until the early eighties. Reginald Dixon died in May 1985 at the age of 80.

[Richpete001]

What can I say, excellent video, fantastic music

[plorpins]

this video is great. thanks for sharing it with us.

[earlph]

This Video just made my day , today !!

[Gillyyorkie]

Thanks for posting this informative piece 5 stars!

[kieraneastwood123]

does anyone else think that the quality in sound quality of the wurlitzer recordings in the 78 reg dixon recordings lets him down, as you can tell in video when playing nthe song fascination, its almost like a completely different organ, LOVE THE TOWER WURLITZER AND ALL ITS RESIDENT ORGANISTS.

Absoloutley fascinating to watch never seen benath the stage in the organ pit at blackpool before. Thanks for posting steverabb, compltely enchnting. P.S is it possible to buy this DVD anywhere?

[steverabb]

I really don't think the 78 rpm recordings 'let him down' in any way. After all, that was early recording technology at its best at the time. So much has improved through the years as demonstrated by the 'Fascination' recording. Glad you liked it, and yes, you can buy the DVD, check out the credits at the beginning. It's also available, I'm sure, through Amazon (dot) com UK and the Organ Historical Society. Thanks for your comment.

[alijanlondon]

@steverabb Also didn't the Blackpool Wurlitzer change over time, with bits added? and how much of it was left and needed replacing after the big fire in the 1950s? So today's organ would probably have slightly differing tonal qualities than the days of 78 recordings - just a guess.

[bmhall100]

@alijanlondon nothing was added. But, i think there has been a few changes with the voicing. Its lost some of its sparkle and warm that it had when reg was there.

[bmhall100]

@steverabb also, when Reg was playing fasination, that was on the Empress ballroom organ, when it was at the Playhouse theatre in Manchester.

[3dwurli]

@kieraneastwood123 when hes playing fascination in this, its not the tower organ. Its the empress ballroom Wurlitzer, when it was in the Playhouse Theatre, Manchester as the BBC`s broadcasting organ.

[blackpoolbarmpot]

ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL (I am now going to watch part two).

[starman482000]

Brilliant clip of the understage area and this beautiful Wurlitzer. Once met Reg when he went on tour with an electronic. He actually asked me how it sounded, it was top class as always. He's sadly missed to this day. A true gentleman and wonderful musician. Thanks for this clip. hope I get get the full length vid

Keith

[steverabb]

Keith,

I was fascinated with the understage tour which was my motivation in posting this video. Very nice to hear from someone who actually knew Reg. Thanks for adding your comment.

Steve

[62748152]

Thats the best video ive seen on youtube. I've never heard Reg talking before. Ive only seen Black and white pictures of him. Thank you so much for posting. Kind Regards, Paul.

[joe22twentytoo]

enjoyed this a lot, love the big lush sound of the "cinema" organ