OrganFax Directory

West of England Theatre Organ Society

Telephone Number :  01225 873179

Email address :  fred.smedley@blueyonder.co.uk

Contact name :  Fred Smedley

Venue address : Odeon Cinema, Weston Super Mare, BS23 1UR

About West of England Theatre Organ Society

The society was set up to promote a continuing series of public concerts on pipe and/or electronic organs at a suitable venue or venues in the region. To further foster the enjoyment of organ music through members’ meetings, and to further the exchange of information on the subject by the distribution of a regular newsletter.

Currently we hold 4 public concerts a year at the Odeon Weston-super-Mare featuring it's original 1935 3C6 Compton. The society has maintained and promoted the organ since it was founded.

The Compton Organ

The three manual, six rank instrument was built by the John Compton Organ Company of Chase Road, North Acton, London. Bearing the works number A298 it was opened on 25^th May 1935 by Alfred Richards who, in honour of his appointment, composed the song Around the corner at the Odeon which he used as his signature tune. The Weston-super-Mare Compton is now one of only two original organ installations still playing in commercially operating British cinemas, the other being at the Odeon, Leicester Square, London.

The instrument is installed in two tightly-packed organ chambers on the roof of the stage speaking out into the auditorium through the decorative plaster coves above the proscenium opening. The left-hand ‘Accompaniment’ chamber contains the Open Flute and Violoncello ranks, along with the Chrysoglott/Vibraphone unit and the non-tonal percussions and effects, along with the action relays. The right-hand ‘Solo’ chamber contains the Tibia, Oboe, Vox Humana and Tuba ranks as well as the Glockenspiel, Xylophone and Cathedral Chimes. Also in this chamber is the very rare Solo Cello unit which produces the amplified sound of a bowed cello string as an interesting addition to the organ’s solo effects.

Our Venue

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