The old Compton Cinema organ, which has been resting in the Guildhall for many years, completed its journey to a new home in Sheffield last Wednesday.
It was last played in Jan 2009 . So, the Abingdon Organ Trust, who owned the organ, took the decision to transfer ownership of the organ to a trust who specialise in the restoration and celebration of cinema organs.
The Penistone Cinema Organ Trust are the new owners of the organ and are well into their programme of restoration of the pipework. The men who collected the organ console were visibly excited about reuniting the console with the pipework and have grand plans.
Thanks to Iain for the Report and Pictures.
I bet they were pleased. Shame really, could have been a focal point in the new ‘studio cinema’. 😉
Penistone 🙂
Looking at their website, they have been granted £50,000 Lottery grant.
“The Astoria Project” will offer an immediate number of volunteer opportunities to learn a wide range of traditional skills in cinema organ restoration & installation, its history and music. The restoration & installation of the 1934 Compton Organ, (which contains over 1,000 pipes) will take around 12 months and when completed, an exciting programme of publicly accessible events will commence. Links with education will offer a new generation the opportunity to learn about the musical heritage of the Cinema Organ and the important part it played in early cinema development, together with the use of the instrument in the 21st Century
Shame on Abingdon I say!!!!!!!
Why shame on abingdon? Personally i think it’s great that some people with some passion for cinema organs will be bringing it back to life. I don’t think its reasonable to expect to find enthusiasts for this sort of project in a given town – it’s quite a niche thing i believe