This John Compton theatre organ, factory number A330, was originally installed in the State Cinema in Dartford, Kent in late 1935. The organ was commissioned as a three manual, six rank plus Melophone organ. The six ranks of pipes were Tibia Clausa, Muted Trumpet, Tuba, Viola, Stopped Flute and Open Diapason. The Melophone unit (one of the first ever to be installed) - was Compton’s new patent electrostatic tone generation system, producing a range of synthetic sounds, including chimes and vibraphone. Therefore this organ didn’t have these real instruments as most cinema organs had. This was seen as a space saving device. The entire organ was housed in understage chambers on either side of the console which was on a lift in the centre of the orchestra pit.
The console featured a “Cascade” illuminated glass surround ( lit up in a range of colours chosen at the console) and an unique illuminated organ bench. The latter was replaced with a tubular steel framed bench in the late 30s or early 40s , presumably because the original bench was difficult to get on and off, and may very likely have been prone to damage by a clumsy foot. Organists often complained of being 'parboiled' with the heat generated by the banks of 60 watt striplights in such benches, so that might be another reason why the original was replaced with a "cool" tubular steel one!
The organ was featured in the opening night performance on 23rd December 1935, with guest organist Percy Milton at the console. Reginald New then became the resident organist 1935-40, with John D. Sharp his deputy. Mr. Sharp was also an accomplished photographer and became well known for his photographs of various cinemas and their organs and organists. We feature some of his pictures of the State Dartford organ. The organ also had no less than 3 lady organists including “Claire” (Claire Curtis) , Irene Giles and Miss Ursula Creber (originally from the West Country) who was at the time the youngest resident organist in the country. Organists who guested for week long runs at the State include famous recording and broadcasting stars Sidney Torch and H. Robinson Cleaver .
The cinema became the “Granada” in 1949. The organ suffered a series of floods to its understage chambers after heavy rainstorms. A former usherette reported that in 1958, water was rising up from the front stalls as film about the Titanic was being shown. Customers were climbing over seats as the waters rose, yet the film kept running! There was another flood in 1968 when the organ was "swimming in a mixture of oil and muddy water" and after the third in 1972 , the organ was
removed and
taken to Oxnead Mill in Suffolk for restoration by Jim Crampton. Some alterations were made to the specification as the organ was re-assembled: The illuminated console surrounds were removed and sold, to be fitted on the 5 manual console of a home digital organ installation in Sussex. The Melophone had long gone, so a grand piano was attached to play from some of the former Melophone stops on the console. A real vibraphone and chimes were added, along with a Wurlitzer wooden Tibia rank to replace the Compton metal one. Also added were a 16ft diaphone extension of the Tibia( the wooden bass Tibia polyphone pipes being transferred to the main chamber as a 16ft extension of the Flute rank), and a large-scale Vox humana rank from the broken-up Gaumont Camden Town Compton, making it a 7 rank instrument.
The refurbished organ was installed and opened by Arnold Loxam in April 1979 at the Gunton Hall Country Club in Lowestoft, where it remained for the next 27 years and enjoyed much public exposure and acclaim, notleast through the “Epoch” weekends featuring a range of organists and instruments. In its heydey the organ was acclaimed for its responsiveness and the qualities of its rich tonal range, including an on-stage “phantom” grand piano playing from the console. At some time during the Compton's new playing career, a Krummet or Saxohone was loaned by Terry Hepworth, making it an 8 rank instrument for a while at least. Organists who have played concerts at Gunton Hall over the years have included Dudley Savage, Doreen Chadwick , Robinson Cleaver, William Davies, George Blackmore, Brian Rodwell, Ken Stroud, Douglas Reeve, Nigel Ogden, Lew Williams, David Shepherd, Byron Jones and Howard Beaumont.
Latterly, various changes in management took place at Gunton Hall and the organ was no longer featured or maintained as regularly, and it went into a cycle of disrepair and neglect until it was unplayable. It was probably last used (though not playing at all well) at Christmas 2005. In eventually disposing of the organ in December 2006 to make way for a stage rebuild, (exactly 71 years since the organ was installed in the State, Dartford) the management of Gunton Hall expressed the wish that the organ should go to a good home, and were pleased to hear it would be given a new lease of life in the West Country.
Specifications at Gunton Hall: (* = additions or replacements)
Console
3 x 61 note manuals: accompaniment, great, solo with 8 , 8 ,6 combination pistons respectively
32 note pedalboard plus foot pistons
Solo Chamber swell pedal
Main chamber swell pedal
Crescendo pedal
2 swell indicators, 1 crescendo indicator
(On stage Grand Piano * attachment removed )
Main Chamber ( speaking through 6 swell shutters)
Vox Humana * 16’ (TC) 8’
Open Diapason 16’(Diaphone) 8’ 4’
Stopped Flute 16’ (Tibia) 8’ 4’
Viola 16 (TC), 8, 4,2'
Chrysoglott/Vibraphone * 37 notes
Toy Counter (non tonal percussions and sound effects)
Separate Crash Cymbal
Vox tremulant *
Viola/Flute/Diapason tremulant
Solo Chamber (speaking through 6 swell shutters)
Tuba 16’ 8’ 4’
Muted Trumpet 8’ 4’
Tibia clausa * 16’ (Diaphone) 8’ 4’ 2’
Chimes * 18 notes
Xylophone 42 notes
Glockenspiel. 42 notes
Blower Room
5 stage Discus blower with 10 HP 3 phase 415V electric motor. *
Compton electromagnetic relay system stack
Tuba/Trumpet tremulant
Tibia tremulant *
