2016-11-30 - General view of the key desk. (Photograph by R.McNeillie/Ross McNeillie)
2020-05-07 - Blackpool Opera House forms part of the larger Blackpool Winter Gardens complex, and was designed by Charles MacKeith and opened on the 14/7/1939. The auditorium, in the streamline moderne style, has a capacity of 2920 and the largest theatre stage in England. It is described as the most extensive, opulent and complete example of a theatre of its kind in the UK. The thirteen rank Wurlitzer organ's (Opus 2229) unique specification, designed by Empress Ballroom organist, Horace Finch, includes the only original example of a Wurlitzer Tibia Plena in the UK. The organ was shipped on the 24/4/1939 and is the last new Wurlitzer to be shipped to the UK from the Wurlitzer factory, and the third last new Wurlitzer in the World. Of those last three, it is the only one remaining in situ. Since installation, the specification remains unaltered. In 1957, the Tuba Mirabillis and Gamba were swapped with matching replacement ranks from the Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer. The Opera House Wurlitzer has a three manual French style console placed on a lift to the left of the forty-five foot wide proscenium arch, with the chambers, main and solo, being under-stage, speaking into the auditorium via the orchestra pit in the same manner as at the ODEON Leicester Square. The organ, which still operates on its original electro-pneumatic relay, is used throughout the year for a programme of concerts, shows, silent films and private events. -Ross McNeillie
Organ specification designed by Horace Finch. Source: Taken from Console.
Rudolph Wurlitzer (Opus 2229) Winter Gardens Pedal 32ft Resultant Bass 16ft Ophicleide 16ft Diaphone 16ft Tibia Clausa 16ft Bass String 16ft Bourdon 8ft Tuba Mirabillis 8ft English Horn 8ft Harmonic Tuba 8ft Diaphonic Diapason 8ft Tibia Clausa 8ft Tibia Plena 8ft Gamba 8ft Cello 8ft Flute 4ft Octave 16ft Piano 8ft Piano Bass Drum Kettle Drum Crash Cymbal Cymbal Cymbal Dampers Accomp to Pedal Great to Pedal Traps to 2nd Touch. Accompinament 16ft Contra Gamba 16ft Bourdon 16ft Vox Humana tc 8ft Harmonic Tuba 8ft Diaphonic Diapason 8ft Tibia Clausa 8ft Tibia Plena 8ft Orchestral Oboe 8ft Saxaphone 8ft Gamba 8ft Gamba Celeste 8ft Krumet 8ft Flute 8ft Vox Humana 4ft Octave 4ft Piccolo (tibia clausa) 4ft Tibia Plena 4ft Gambette 4ft Gambette Celeste 4ft Flute 4ft Vox Humana 2ft Piccolo (flute) 16ft Piano 8ft Piano 4ft Piano Mandolin Chrysoglott Snare Drum Tambourine Castanets Chinese Block Tom Tom Sand Block Cymbal Dampers Octave Solo to Accomp Great 16ft Ophicleide 16ft Diaphone 16ft Tibia Clausa 16ft Tibia Plena tc 16ft Saxaphone tc 16ft Contra Gamba 16ft Bourdon 16ft Vox Humana tc 8ft Tuba Mirabillis 8ft English Horn 8ft Harmonic Tuba 8ft Diaphonic Diapason 8ft Tibia Clausa 8ft Tibia Plena 8ft Orchestral Oboe 8ft Saxaphone 8ft Gamba 8ft Gamba Celeste 8ft Krumet 8ft Flute 8ft Vox Humana 4ft Clarion (harmonic tuba) 4ft Octave 4ft Piccolo (tibia clausa) 4ft Tibia Plena 4ft Gambette 4ft Gambette Celeste 4ft Flute 2 2/3 Tibia Twelfth 2 2/3 Plena Twelfth 2 2/3 Twelfth (flute) 2ft Tibia Piccolo 2ft Plena Piccolo 1 3/5 Tierce (flute) 8ft piano 4ft piano Cathedral Chimes Sleigh Bells Xylophone re-it Xylophone tap Glockenspiel Bells re-it Chrysoglott Sub Octave Unison Off Octave Solo to Great Solo 16ft English Horn tc 16ft Ophicleide 16ft Diaphone 16ft Tibia Clausa 16ft Tibia Plena tc 16ft Saxophone tc 16ft Contra Gamba 8ft Tuba Mirabillis 8ft Harmonic Tuba 8ft Open Diapason 8ft Tibia Clausa 8ft Tibia Plena 8ft Orchestral Oboe 8ft Saxaphone 8ft Gamba 8ft Gamba Celeste 8ft Krumet 5 1/3 Quint Plena 4ft Clarion (Har Tuba) 4ft Octave 4ft Piccolo (tibia clausa) 4ft Tibia Plena 2 2/3 Tibia Twelfth 2 2/3 Plena Twelfth 2ft Tibia Piccolo 2ft Plena Piccolo 8ft Piano 4ft Piano Cathedral Chimes Sleigh Bells Xylophone Re-it Xylophone Tap Glockenspiel Bells Re-it Chrysoglott Sub Octave Unison Off Octave Accomp 2nd Touch 8ft Harmonic Tuba 8ft Diaphonic Diapason 8ft Tibia Clausa Cathedral Chimes Xylophone Re-it Sleigh Bells Triangle Solo to Accomp Great 2nd Touch 16ft Ophicleide 16ft Tibia Plena tc 16ft Saxaphone tc 8ft Tuba Mirabillis 8ft English Horn 8ft Tibia Clausa Solo to Great Effects (Stop Keys) Horse Hooves Surf Birds Fire Gong Vibraphone Vibraphone Dampers Grand Crash Pedal Sfortzando Pedal Key Cheek- Accomp Treble Telephone Bell Tremulants Main Tuba Harmonic Tibia Plena Solo Tibia Clausa Tuba Mirabillis Vox Humana ORGAN VENUE
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