I have been told by a senior manager for Mecca that the theatre has indeed been sold for the sum of £10.1 million enough to build two / three new modern bingo clubs. The new owners have said that the chandelier and the organ are safe. The new owners do own other entertainment centres both here and in the USA.
The large Christie was sold to a stange man who lived in Cornwal. I once visited his house while working for a firm of organ builders. In his house he had a Compton organ installed along with a strange collection of other instruments. The Christie was stored with a Wurlitzer in very poor conditions, in a large wet and damp old barn in the middle of nowhere. The metal pipe work had mostly crushed itself as it had been stacked on top of each other, and the wooden pipework was rotten beyond repair. As for the console, it was just a heap. The man was very possesive about the organ. I understand he is now dead. The organ died a long time ago. As to his estate, I know not. He did have children but I fear the whole place will have just been buldozed. If anybody knows any different, please let me know.
Update, Am told by my Mecca manager that the old club has been secured by an irish man.
I have been told by a senior manager for Mecca that the theatre has indeed been sold for the sum of £10.1 million enough to build two / three new modern bingo clubs. The new owners have said that the chandelier and the organ are safe. The new owners do own other entertainment centres both here and in the USA.
Sadly the cinema is now having its heart riped out. View link
I would love to see a photo of the inside of the cinema in its youth, as well as the compton organ.
The large Christie was sold to a stange man who lived in Cornwal. I once visited his house while working for a firm of organ builders. In his house he had a Compton organ installed along with a strange collection of other instruments. The Christie was stored with a Wurlitzer in very poor conditions, in a large wet and damp old barn in the middle of nowhere. The metal pipe work had mostly crushed itself as it had been stacked on top of each other, and the wooden pipework was rotten beyond repair. As for the console, it was just a heap. The man was very possesive about the organ. I understand he is now dead. The organ died a long time ago. As to his estate, I know not. He did have children but I fear the whole place will have just been buldozed. If anybody knows any different, please let me know.