OrganFax Directory

Woking Wurlitzer

Telephone Number :  07944 285 266   or   07748 113 975

Email address :  michael@wokingwurlitzer.co.uk

Website :  www.wokingwurlitzer.co.uk

Contact name :  Michael Wooldridge

Venue address : Wurlitzer Hall, Woking Leisure Centre, Woking Park, Kingfield Road, Woking, Surrey, GU22 9BA

About Woking Wurlitzer

Our friendly concerts normally begin at 7pm (except for December, which is an afternoon event) and feature a wide range of popular music for all, played by very top players from around the the UK and, indeed, around the world.  A typical programme might include show music, big band music, 60s and 70s favourites, popular light classics and much more.

Admission to our concerts is just £12.00 per person (£10.00 for ATOS Chapter Members on production of a valid membership card), with FREE ADMISSION for children (16 and under) with a paying adult.  Tea and Coffee is available at the interval for a nominal contribution.

Please note that the car park has an evening flat rate payable of £2.20, which covers from 6pm till 6am.

The Woking Wurlitzer started life at the Granada Cinema in Welling, South East London, where it was opened on 22nd November 1937.  A 3c/8, it was one of the six outstanding 'Super 8' Wurlitzer theatre organs of this design installed in London cinemas.  The only one remaining in its original home is at the Granada Cinema in Harrow, but sadly that is currently unusable.

When the cinema closed, the organ was purchased by the London and South of England Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS) and restored by the technical team under the leadership of Les Rawle.  It opened in its new home, Wurlitzer Hall, Woking, in August 1995.

The organ has been musically enhanced to now be a 3/19 Wurlitzer, three keyboards and nineteen ranks of pipes, giving a superb, rich and powerful sound, that can be played from a whisper through to full organ.  Being a theatre organ, it also has lots of real percussion instruments, drums, cymbals, glockenspiel, xylophone and more, all played live by the organist from the console.

You can also follow us on Facebook for our latest news by searching for 'The Woking Wurlitzer', or by going direct to https://www.facebook.com/groups/1144026449815187

Alongside our activities at Woking, in 1978 we established the UK Young Theatre Organist of the Year Competition, an event which has encouraged many of today's top professional players on their musical journey and, whilst we have had to break off from this due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is hoped we may be able to re-establish the contest before too long.  Our format proved so successful that a similar event was subsequently established in America as an international contest and where we are proud to have enjoyed many successes with UK winners.

We look forward to welcoming you to Wurlitzer Hall.