Winter Garden and Wurlitzers

Mention Blackpool and Wurlitzer pipe organs and people immediately think of the one housed in the Tower Ballroom. What many don't realise is that there are two other fine examples not much more than a stones throw away and both reside in the Winter Gardens complex.

This afternoon I went to hear a concert given by Howard Beaumont on the one housed in the Opera House. It was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of it being brought back into use. This organ was the very last Wurlitzer to be imported and installed in this country in 1939 for the then new theatre, the third to be built on the site.

Unlike the tower Wurlitzer that is played every day during the season the Opera house organ is only used for concerts a few times a year as the Opera house is still a functioning theatre in the complex.

The Opera House console that rises up on its lift to the left of the stage

The third Wurlitzer is even less well known and was only bought back into full operation couple of years ago. The console sits up on the balcony of the wonderful Empress Ballroom in the complex. This particular large hall has been used over the years for exhibitions and the big party political conferences that Blackpool was once famous for. The hall has recently been renovated as part of the ongoing plan to restore this marvellous indoor entertainment complex which celebrates 140 years this year.