Ryhope Compton Organ Details

Go to the Compton sets order form page to fill in your information, and we will send you an invoice for your download link of the sample set.

The 3/9 Mighty Compton Cinema Pipe Organ Opus A140 was originally installed in the Blacks Regal/Odeon Cinema in Sunderland in 1932. In time for the grand opening show on Easter Monday March 28 of that same year, J. Arnold Eagle performed the opening concert at the organ, he also conducted the orchestra to accompany the stage show. The instrument is a three manual 9 rank unit organ, one of the early Cinema Pipe Organs built by the John Compton Company. Compton still wanted to be known as a builder of church or concert organs and not so much as a company that manufactured cinema or theatre organs. This resulted in the Compton having a rather good concert sound. In 1975 the late Ray Cook, then manager at the Odeon suggested to one or two people interested in the organ that a society be formed to look after the organ with view to getting it into playing condition again, then free use of the organ would be available to the society members. The society grew from strength to strength, and members were encouraged to play the organ. Weekly meetings being held every Sunday morning, so that work on the organ could be carried out or just to sit and talk and drink tea or coffee. Monthly concerts were also arranged by members to entertain anyone interested. Over the years, the Society engaged several well known organists including Reginald Dixon on two occasions, Ron Curtis, Doreen Chadwick, and Rippon Cathedral organist Ron Perrin and his choir. Due to the success of these concerts, the Rank Organization became interested and put on some shows themselves with guest organists such as Jess Yates, Folley Bates and Douglas Reeve from the Dome Brighton.

Phil Kelsall, player of the Tower Ballroom Blackpool Mighty WurliTzer, gave the final concert at the theatre on the 28th of March, 1982. This date was exactly 50 years to the day when the Odeon first opened. The Compton was little used post war. Eventually the news came through that the theatre was going to close and be turned into a bingo hall. The organ was purchased by the society and was removed some time after closure. In 1976 restoration began by the newly formed ‘Sunderland Odeon Organ Society’ and by 1980 regular concerts were being presented. This state was short lived however, when the Odeon closed in 1982, the building was stripped of its fixtures and fittings and the organ was sold to the ‘Sunderland Theatre Organ Preservation Society’ for installation in Ryhope Community Centre. After a period of negotiation with the Sunderland council, a decision was made to install the organ in the Ryhope Community Centre, located at the junction of Black Road and Ryhope Street. The organ was officially ‘switched on’ by the Mayor on 28 March 1992, exactly 60 years from the original opening date. Today, concerts performed on the 3/9 Mighty Compton are held on a regular basis, usually about six or seven times a year.

See http://ryhopecomptonorgan.blogspot.co.za/ for more information. You can also like their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SunderlandTheatreOrganPreservationSociety/.

Go to the Compton sets order form page to fill in your information, and we will send you an invoice for your download link of the sample set.