There were a number of Wurlitzer

Wurlitzer

The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, usually referred to simply as Wurlitzer, was an American company that produced stringed instruments, woodwinds, brass instruments, theatre organs, band organs, orchestrions, electronic organs, electric pianos and jukeboxes....

s in the United Kingdom, installed in the period from 1925 to just before the Second World War (1939–45).

The first Wurlitzer theatre organ

Theatre organ

A theatre organ is a pipe organ originally designed specifically for imitation of an orchestra. New designs have tended to be around some of the sounds and blends unique to the instrument itself....

 shipped to the UK was constructed in 1924, and shipped in via Southampton Docks in January 1925. A very small, six-rank instrument, it was installed at the Picture House, Walsall

Walsall

Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...

 in the West Midlands

West Midlands (county)

The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...

. After a period in private ownership in Sedgely, Staffordshire

Staffordshire

Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...

, it is now installed and operational in the Congreational Church in Beer, Devon

Beer, Devon

The village of Beer is in south-east Devon, England, on Lyme Bay.- Location :The village of Beer is situated on the 95-mile long Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site and its picturesque cliffs, including Beer Head, form part of the South West Coast Path.Beer lies about two...

.

The Trocadero Elephant and Castle

Elephant and Castle

The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area....

 Wurlitzer was the largest organ ever shipped to the UK, installed in 1930 for the grand opening of the 3,400-seater cinema.

The Blackpool Opera House organ of 1939, designed by Horace Finch

Horace Finch

Horace Finch was an English pianist and organist.-Early life and education:Horace Finch began piano and organ studies in 1910 at the age of four. By 1915, he was organist at Clock Face Methodist Church, St. Helens. In 1919 he left St. Helens for Blackpool for health reasons.During 1920 he began...

, was the last new Wurlitzer to be installed in the UK. The Granada, Kingston also received a Wurlitzer in or around 1939, but most of this came from an earlier installation in Edinburgh. This was the last Wurlitzer installation to be opened, with Reginald Dixon

Reginald Dixon

Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...

 at the console.

Wurlitzers made regular radio broadcasts via the BBC

BBC

The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...

, becoming stars themselves beside their organists. The more famous of these organs were at the Empire Cinema, London, and the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, the latterly most regularly played by Reginald Dixon.

Many Wurlitzer organs have survived and are installed in private homes, town halls, concert halls and ballrooms throughout the country. The Cinema Organ Society

Cinema Organ Society

The Cinema Organ Society was founded in 1952 by Hubert Selby and Tony Moss for those interested in organ music as entertainment. The aim of the society is to preserve and promote the presentation of these wonderful instruments for the enjoyment of existing and future generations.It is for...

 has an extensive list of British cinema organs.

List of Wurlitzers in the United Kingdom

List of Wurlitzer Organs in the United Kingdom

Style	Date installed	Installation location	Size (Manual/Rank)	Current status	Current location	Notes	Website
956, Style D	1924	Picture House, Walsall Walsall Walsall is a large industrial town in the West Midlands of England. It is located northwest of Birmingham and east of Wolverhampton. Historically a part of Staffordshire, Walsall is a component area of the West Midlands conurbation and part of the Black Country.Walsall is the administrative...		Operational	Beer, Devon Beer, Devon The village of Beer is in south-east Devon, England, on Lyme Bay.- Location :The village of Beer is situated on the 95-mile long Jurassic Coast, England's first natural World Heritage Site and its picturesque cliffs, including Beer Head, form part of the South West Coast Path.Beer lies about two...	First Wurlitzer shipped to the UK 2 Manual, 6 Rank instrument bought and installed for around £3,900. Shipped via Southampton Docks, opened end of January 1925 by Jack Courtnay. In run-up to World War 2, resident organist became Wilfred Gregory. Sold to Allan Hickling post-war, he installed it into Dormstone House in Sedgely, Staffordshire Staffordshire Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders... . Deciding he wanted something bigger, he sold it to Arthur Thorn of Beer, Devon, who installed it in the local Congregational Church. The percussions and "toy counter" division were removed and re-cycled when the organ was installed in the church, since it was not considered necessary for church purposes
	1925	Palace Cinema in Tottenham Tottenham Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham... , North London North London North London is the northern part of London, England. It is an imprecise description and the area it covers is defined differently for a range of purposes. Common to these definitions is that it includes districts located north of the River Thames and is used in comparison with South...		Operational	Rye College Rye College Rye College, formerly known as Thomas Peacocke Community College, is a comprehensive school in Rye, East Sussex for boys and girls between 11 and 16. The school also offers adult education classes.-History:... , Rye, East Sussex Rye, East Sussex Rye is a small town in East Sussex, England, which stands approximately two miles from the open sea and is at the confluence of three rivers: the Rother, the Tillingham and the Brede...	Second Wurlitzer installed in the UK. 2manual/6rank instrument, first played by organist Jack Courtnay on 6 April 1925. Sold to Rye College in 1957, with the console installed sideways-on a balcony above the school hall. In recent years "Friends of Rye Wurlitzer" have raised funds to move the organ's console onto its own lift rising from beneath the stage
	1929	Tower Ballroom, Blackpool		Operational	Assembly Hall, Worthing, West Sussex	Largest Wurlitzer organ console in Europe Owned by the National Organ Trust. Upgraded to an electric air pump system, programmable pre-sets, and a full pipe system
	1929	Regal Cinema, Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...		Operational	Musical Museum, Brentford Musical Museum, Brentford The Musical Museum is a musical instrument museum located in Brentford, London Borough of Hounslow, a few minutes' walk from Kew Bridge railway station....	When re-installed, the organ was connected to a very rare Wurlitzer Automatic Roll Playing Cabinet, enabling the performances of many American Theatre Organists of the 1920s to be faithfully recreated	http://www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/page40a.html
	1930	Trocadero cinema, Elephant and Castle Elephant and Castle The Elephant and Castle is a major road intersection in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Southwark. It is also used as a name for the surrounding area.... , London				Largest ever Wurlitzer shipped to the UK Installed in 1930 for the grand opening of the 3,400-seater cinema
		Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London		Operational	Still in situ	Largest functioning Wurlitzer in a British cinema Four-manuals
				Operational	Scarborough Fair Collection Scarborough Fair Collection The Scarborough Fair Collection is a museum of fairground mechanical organs and showman's engines, located in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, one of the largest collections of its type in Europe....	Used both for tea dance Tea dance A tea dance, or thé dansant is a summer or autumn afternoon or early-evening dance from four to seven, sometimes preceded in the English countryside by a garden party. The function evolved from the concept of the afternoon tea, and J. Pettigrew traces its origin to the French colonization of Morocco... s and regular concerts
		Granada cinema, Tooting Tooting Tooting is a district in south London, England, located in the London Borough of Wandsworth. It is situated south south-west of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...		Operational	Still in Situ	After undergoing a lengthy restoration, played in public for the first time in 33 years
	1929	City Cinema, Leicester Leicester Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...		Operational	Villa Marina Arcade, Douglas, Isle of Man Douglas, Isle of Man right|thumb|250px|Douglas Promenade, which runs nearly the entire length of beachfront in Douglasright|thumb|250px|Sea terminal in DouglasDouglas is the capital and largest town of the Isle of Man, with a population of 26,218 people . It is located at the mouth of the River Douglas, and a sweeping...	In storage from 1957, bought privately by Allan Hickling to replace the Walsall organ, and latterly installed in Dormstone House, Sedgely, Staffordshire Staffordshire Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders... . Here it became well known, played by organist Brian Sharp on BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...  programme The Organist Entertains The Organist Entertains The Organist Entertains is a long-running music programme broadcast on BBC Radio 2 presented by Nigel Ogden. The 30 minute programme focusses on the organ in its many guises, and plays recordings and live broadcasts of theatre organs, pipe organs and Hammond organs around the United Kingdom and the... . Acquired by the Isle of Man Government Isle of Man Government The Isle of Man Government is the government of the Isle of Man. The formal head of the Isle of Man Government is the Lieutenant Governor, representing HM Queen Elizabeth II, Lord of Mann...  in 1989, it became popular entertaining tourists at Summerland until its closure in 2004. The Wurlitzer has now been fully restored by organist Len Rawle
		Paramount, Leeds	3/19	Operational	Thursford Collection Thursford Collection The Thursford Collection is a charity trust endowed museum, located in Thursford, Norfolk. Founded by local man, the late George Cushing, its is now known for the scale of collection of steam engines, organs and fairground attractions; and its annual Christmas spectacular show, which draws over... , Norfolk
		Paramount, Manchester	4/20	Operational	Town Hall, Stockport Stockport Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name... , Lancashire Lancashire Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...	Adopted by the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust, who held monthly Sunday concerts, from which the produced 24 LP's to create funds to preserve the instrument. After closure and a period in storage, installed in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, where it remained until 1997. After the FTH was proposed for redevel, the instrument was again placed in storage from 1997. Installed in the Great Hall of Stockport Town Hall, opened in November 1999
		Gaumont, Manchester	4/14	Operational	Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire Folly Farm, Pembrokeshire Folly Farm is a farm and visitor attraction in Pembrokeshire, Wales.Set in the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside, Folly Farm is based around four family entertainment zones: a farmyard; a zoo which includes Wales only Giraffes; Europe's largest undercover vintage funfair, including a Wurlitzer...	After closure and proposed demolition of the Gaumont from 27 January 1974, the organ was bought by the Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust. Loaned to Granada Studios, it was installed in the Baronial Hall, featuring during the studio tours on a daily basis. After closure of the tour, it was placed in storage for eight years, before sale to Folly Farm, where it started operations in 2008e
		Trocadero Theatre, Liverpool Liverpool Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...	2/6	Operational	LTOT Theatre Organ Heritage Centre, Peel Breen, Salford Salford Salford lies at the heart of the City of Salford, a metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, in North West England. Salford is sited in a meander of the River Irwell, which forms its boundary with the city of Manchester to the east. Together with its neighbouring towns to the west, Salford...	Moved to the Gaumont, Dingle, Liverpool in 1937. After closure, purchased by a private individual and subsequently purchased by Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust in 2003. Now installed in the Theatre Organ Heritage Centre, Peel Breen, Salford.
	1933	Empire music hall, Edmonton, North London		Operational	St Albans Organ Theatre	Three-manual, ten-rank instrument, opened by American organist Don Baker Don Baker "Donald Baker" redirects here. You may be looking for the plaintiff in Baker v. WadeDon Baker is an Irish blues musician and actor.... , then regularly featured by the famous Granada team of top organists. Restred in 1992, now provides monthly concert demonstrations. An unusual feature of this instrument is the provision of a dedicated chamber for percussion, controlled by an additional expression pedal. The installation at St. Albans includes a Weber Duo-Art grand piano playable from the Wurlitzer console
	1934	Tower Ballroom, Blackpool	3/14	Operational	Still in Situ	After Reginald Dixon Reginald Dixon Reginald Dixon MBE, ARCM, was an English theatre organist. He was best known as resident organist at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, where he played the Wurlitzer organ from 1930 until his retirement in 1970.-Biography:...  became resident in 1930, he quickly realised that the existing instrument was too weak for the ballroom. After lobbying management, they agreed the installtion of a new instrument, designed by Dixon himself. Known as the "Wonder Wurlitzer", it became operational from early 1935. Wurlitizer presented Dixon with a gold watch after the first performance. The same basic instrument installation still exists in the ballroom today, with a few modern updates
	1934	Unknown cinema, United States	3/8	Operational	Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent	Originally installed ib a cinema in the United States, it moved to the Forum cinema in Wythenshawe Wythenshawe Wythenshawe is a district in the south of the city of Manchester, England.Formerly part of the administrative county of Cheshire, in 1931 Wythenshawe was transferred to the City of Manchester, which had begun building a massive housing estate there in the 1920s to resolve the problem of its inner... , Manchester Manchester Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater... , and opened by Kevin Buckley. On its closure, stored, then installed in the Town Hall, Burton-upon-Trent, where it is still in operation. Original Clarinet rank replaced by Conacher-built Trumpet. Recent additions are Sub-Octave, Octave, Great to Solo, and Quint and Sub-Tierce Great to Solo Couplers with digital piano available on pedals and manuals.
	1937	Gaumont, Oldham, Lancashire		Operational	Victoria Hall, Saltaire Saltaire Saltaire is a Victorian model village within the City of Bradford Metropolitan District, West Yorkshire, England, by the River Aire and the Leeds and Liverpool Canal...	Opened on 14 June 1937, with Jack Fenner at the console. Bought by the Cinema Organ Society after the Gaumont closed on 2 December 1961, it was installed four years later at Dale Hall in Hampsthwaite Hampsthwaite Hampsthwaite is a small commuter village on the south bank of the River Nidd on the western edge of the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.Administratively Hampsthwaite is a civil parish in the borough of Harrogate and the county of North Yorkshire, England....  near Harrogate Harrogate Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th... , North Yorkshire North Yorkshire North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest... , opening on 26 February 1966. Removed on 3 December 1988, it was then installed for a short time at the Trinity Arts Centre, Pudsey, Leeds, where it was opened on 30 June 1991. Removed in December 1994, it moved to the Ritz Ballroom in Brighouse Brighouse Brighouse is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Calderdale, in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Calder, east of Halifax in the Pennines. It is served by Junction 25 of the M62 motorway and Brighouse railway station on the Caldervale Line and Huddersfield Line. In the... , a former cinema, in 1995. Removed in 2006, it was placed in storage until installed in the GradeII* listed Victorian Hall in Saltaire.
	1939	Opera House Theatre, Blackpool Opera House Theatre, Blackpool The Opera House Theatre is a 2,920 capacity theatre in Blackpool Lancashire, England. It is located within the Winter Gardens, a large entertainment complex in the town centre and originally opened in 1889, although it has been rebuilt twice, in 1910 and 1939....	3/13	Operational	Still in Situ	Last new Wurlitzer installed in the UKDesigned by Horace Finch Horace Finch Horace Finch was an English pianist and organist.-Early life and education:Horace Finch began piano and organ studies in 1910 at the age of four. By 1915, he was organist at Clock Face Methodist Church, St. Helens. In 1919 he left St. Helens for Blackpool for health reasons.During 1920 he began...
	1939	Granada cinema, Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames Kingston upon Thames is the principal settlement of the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames in southwest London. It was the ancient market town where Saxon kings were crowned and is now a suburb situated south west of Charing Cross. It is one of the major metropolitan centres identified in the...				Originally installed in the Picture House Cinema, Edinburgh. This was a Gaumont Theatre. The original Model F format was altered and enlarged to 10 ranks and three manuals Manual III played percussion and two pipe ranks. Last Wurlitzer installation to be opened; Reginald Dixon was at the console