The South Bank years

Geoff Osman and the Cinema Organ Society were faced with an unusual problem in the early 1960’s – a heap of organ parts and nowhere to put them. With typical fortitude Geoff pushed on regardless and engaged a volunteer army to start cleaning, re-leathering and generally restoring the myriad of organ components.

The general view in the Society was that the organ should remain close to its original home and agreement was reached with the then Borough Polytechnic to install the Wurlitzer in the Edric Hall. Capable of accommodating around 250 people, the Hall was about one-seventh of the size of the Trocadero. Chambers were created at one end of the hall and during the 1970’s the Wurlitzer took shape, again under the leadership and drive of the indefatigable Geoff.

Theatre organ preservationists of that era had few of the resources that can be drawn on today, when replacement parts can be obtained more or less ‘off the shelf’ and the project was a lengthy one as new components had to be fashioned from scratch.

The Wurlitzer was re-opened in 1979 by the BBC’s William Davies, who had played at the closing of the Trocadero as well as on an earlier pioneer stereo radio broadcast from the theatre.

The re-opening represented the beginnings of a renaissance for the organ and during the 1980’s further work on the instrument brought it to a high point, musically. Although speaking into a small room, the instrument had character and was enjoyable to the listener. Organists not only from the UK but also America and Australia travelled to give concerts and it regained its deserved reputation as one of the world’s finest.

In 2000, the years at the Trocadero and at the South Bank having taken their toll, the decision was taken to completely restore the console. This major task, costing over £30,000, was undertaken by the Society. The organ specification was enlarged, but important original features of the instrument such as the pneumatic combination action (that moves the stops) were retained and restored.

In 2003 came the news from the London South Bank University (successors to the Borough Polytechnic) that Edric Hall was to be remodelled as an arts centre. After considerable discussion and various proposals and counter-proposals, it was amicably agreed that the Wurlitzer had no future in the new scheme. Plans were once again laid and the Wurlitzer dismantled in the late spring of 2004 and removed to store.

The Trocadero Wurlitzer had played for 25 happy years at the Edric Hall, only 6 less than at the Trocadero. Despite the rather modest surroundings, it was one of the flagship theatre organ venues in the UK, used for concerts, recordings and not least the teaching of theatre organists. More than one major international theatre organ star cut their teeth on this instrument and used it as a launch pad for their careers. Quentin Maclean would, surely, approve.