The History & Development of the Wurlitzer

Of the sixty or so cinemas which at one time or another existed in Bradford and district, the majority were purpose-built, some of them presenting elegant exteriors, whilst others were nondescript and purely functional buildings.  Most were opened between 1910 and 1930, and a few of them contained 'straight' organs made by local firms.

Sound films had become established when Bradford's one and only Mighty Wurlitzer made its appearance in 1930 with the opening of the New Victoria Theatre, so from the start it had a featured spot in every programme.

The New Victoria was Bradford's first 'super' cinema, and its magnificence was never equalled, as by the time the Odeon opened in December 1938, and the Ritz in May 1939, auditoria had taken on a more modern appearance, although many of them were handsome in their own way.  It is worth noting that the Ritz contained the last completely new cinema organ built by Compton whose factory was soon to be turned over to war work.

Provincial Cinematograph Theatres built the New Victoria Theatre on a site of Waller's Brewery.  It was in a prime location but presented difficulties for the architects, as although situated between two main roads, it was bordered by a narrow street containing buildings which would block the view of a normal frontage.  The problem was resolved by providing two identical entrances at the two corners, and very handsome they were, each having three tall windows above, and then only what can be best described as a hexagonal 'look-out' topped by a huge dome.  The New Victoria immediately became a landmark, as the domes could be seen by all descending the roads into central Bradford.

The three manual Wurlitzer, then sporting a polished wood casework, was centrally situated in the orchestra enclosure, but unlike the majority, it did not descend completely from view.  It rested at the orchestra floor level, rising to stage height for presentations.  Despatched from Wurlitzer's North Tonawanda factory on 20th June 1930, it was a Style 220 Special with ten units of pipes.  They were: Harmonic Tuba, Diaphonic Diapason, Tibia Clausa, Clarinet, Kinura, Orchestral Oboe, Violin, Violin Celeste, Concert Flute and Vox Humana, although at a later date the Kinura was replaced by a more useful Krumet rank.  The organ chambers were in the cinema roof, the swell shutters facing away from the auditorium, and opening into a downward curving duct which directed the sound beneath the chambers and a shallow grille below the ceiling.  The architects no doubt thought that the curved duct would amplify sound on the lines of the 're-entrant' acoustic gramophones - but it didn't!  The organ was heard to good effect in the balcony and it was moderately good in the circle, but it was weak in the front stalls and almost lost in the rear stalls.  Nevertheless, it was a beautiful organ, though really inadequate for the huge auditorium, partly due to the location of the chambers and partly because a theatre of its size should have received a larger instrument containing stronger and brighter reeds.  In 1947 this was partially achieved by replacing the Vox Humana with an English Horn rank made to Wurlitzer specification by the Leeds firm of Rogers, and while the loss of the always desirable Vox Humana was unfortunate, it must be admitted that in the circumstances prevailing, the English Horn was of greater value.

The New Victoria had been administered by Gaumont-British from the start, later coming under its full control, and in 1950 it became the Gaumont.  It was regularly used for stage shows and one-night stands by the top artistes of the day, at which the organ was often featured.  However, like all large cinemas, it was hit by the decline in attendances during the 1960s, and on 30th November 1968 it closed for alterations, though not before Arnold Loxam had returned to record a special 'Farewell to the Wurlitzer' broadcast for BBC Radio Leeds.  The Wurlitzer was carefully dismantled and removed before the workmen started tearing that beautiful auditorium apart.  The old stalls area became a Top Rank bingo club, and two cinemas were created upstairs, re-opening on 21st August 1969 as Odeons 1 and 2, Bradford's original Odeon having been closed for demolition in March of that year.

The bingo lasted until the summer of 1997 but on 6th April 2000 the Telegraph & Argus reported that the cinemas would close in the summer.  Years of uncertainty followed with various schemes for use put forward, including demolition, and the locals voiced their disapproval of any project that meant the famous twin domes being lost as part of the landscape - they were part of Bradford's history and must be kept.  Unfortunately, the fate of this famous theatre was sealed in August 2006 when approval was granted to demolish this wonderful building.

Whilst the closure of the New Victoria Theatre, Bradford was undoubtedly sad news for the residents of the city, it heralded the beginnings of the story of what is now the NETOA Wurlitzer.