Blackpool Tower Wurlitzer (Part 2)

In part two of this video, Organist Nigel Ogden continues his tour of the historic Wurlitzer Theatre Organ at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, England. Several examples of various pipes and percussion effects are shown with many views behind the organ console within the pipe chambers. Nigel also gives a demonstration of how second touch works and how effectively it was used by Reginald Dixon. The segments I've selected from this video were used by permission of Valentine Music Ltd. www.valentinemusic.co.uk The complete DVD titled 'The Organist Entertains' can be purchased from any of these suppliers:
www.soundandpicture.co.uk
www.nostalgiadirect.com
www.organ.co.uk.

NOTE: NOVEMBER 26, 2011:
Folks, I've been notified of audio sync issues with the Black Tower videos. This has just occurred in the last few days. Apparently, YouTube has made some encoding upgrades that has affected these older videos. I am hoping they find a fix soon. My apologies.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• wurlitzer
• theatre
• organ
• blackpool
• tower
• ballroom
• nigel
• ogden
• reginald
• dixon

[Spectraman3849]

Nigal at his very best. You should try this vidio through a home cinima system. Make sure that no one is in next door mind.

[steverabb]

And I've done just that...more than once!

[joe22twentytoo]

now i understand the "unit orchestra" better

[steverabb]

Yep, plenty of thanks and credit to Robert Hope Jones who gave us the 'unit orchestra.' He merged his organ building operations with Wurlitzer in 1914 but never got to see the real success of his creation. Sad story.

[3dwurli]

@dlo693 much more flexible too, and "fuller".

[dlo693]

Holy crap! This was the digital keyboard of its day!! You could play just about any kind of known instrument on that organ, even percussion. I'm very impressed :)

[3dwurli]

@gymnos2010 The Bechstein maybe returning to its original home in the opera house!

[gymnos2010]

What a pity the Bechstein is no longer in use. But this is typical of the lack of maintenenance going back to when Reg retired, and especially after his death when he could no longer bring pressure to bear on the owners.

As for the differences in styles and performance, unless you just want clones each organist has to adopt their own style. Let's not forget that this was essentially Reg's organ, such was the influence he had on it's design. No one will ever match that, and nor should they try.

[caspercat0]

Nigel handles the WurliTzer very well,as does Phil Kelsall in his own sort of way.Reg only used the quint couplers sparingly which is ok as very are not very musical.Ive heard some nice stuff from RW but mostly hes just pratting around at the console waterfalling getting faster and crossing his legs over.Actually imho the blackpool sound is now killing the theatre organ as only the really old geysers like that.Actually saw RW and PK at the tower in the early eighties.

[3dwurli]

@caspercat0 None of the organists at the tower today are anywhere near Dixon. Tbh, they are abit of an embarassment! They may outdo him in "showmanship" and wrong notes though. some are complete arseholes away from the console, some even when they are at the console.

[3dwurli]

@caspercat0 not the 30s/40s/50s Dixon they dont. Hardly anyone plays like that.

[caspercat0]

I class Nigel as the best of `Blackpool exponents` although he doesn`t always play in that vein.There are a lot others around who shall be nameless who outdo Dixon.Its like Reg on Steroids.Nigel gets a happy medium.

[MattMurdockCZ]

2:21 - name of the song?