Hidden Secrets Of Blackpool's Empress Ballroom

[@OrganMusicYT]

The organ is a "new" instrument purchased and installed by volunteers from Cannock Chase Organ Club. It is constructed from carefully selected pipework which was collected over a number of years by Steve Tovey who spearheaded the project. Installation took place over a two-year period, from 2012 to 2014, and was officially opened in December 2014 by Jill Steel, daughter of Reginald Dixon. The original Wurlitzer organ (which came from the Tower Ballroom in 1934 and was enlarged for the Empress Ballroom) was removed in 1969 and purchased by the BBC as a broadcasting instrument for Reginald Dixon, and in the late 1980s, was sold again and subsequently broken up and used for parts in the Worthing Wurlitzer. Thankfully, some of the Wurlitzer organ has survived and has been brought back to the ballroom. Currently, the original Wurlitzer console is in storage, awaiting restoration and connection to the new instrument. Until the original console can be restored, the console we see in the video serves as a temporary console. When we first heard the instrument as a whole in the ballroom, it amazed me that a relatively small theatre pipe organ can fill a room that is bigger (190x110ft - 20,900 sq ft including the floor area surrounding the dance floor) than St Georges Hall in Liverpool, which has a much much larger pipe organ. It's the third pipe organ to be installed in the Ballroom. The very first one was built by Lewis Organ Company and installed on the top balcony on the Leopold Grove side of the ballroom. There are no recordings of it, and it vanished after the Wurlitzer was installed in the winter of 1934/35. However, you can see it in several photos of the ballroom. My jaw drops every time I step into the Empress Ballroom due to its scale. It's not until you're on the top balcony that you realise the sheer size of those panels. They're about 14.5ft square, some people have smaller lounges. Personally, I am impatiently awaiting the full restoration to be completed. The ceiling is astounding, and the room was bright, airy, and elegant in its original condition. I hope that the tiles on the southeast wall of the ballroom can be reinstated at some point - I understand that they have been badly damaged by water ingress in the past. Thanks for your work in bringing these videos to KZbin, it's a labour of love and it brings these buildings and the various rooms within it to the attention of people who may otherwise not have known of them. Keep up the good work, looking forward to the next video - that last shot is teasing!

[@bowlingbill9633]

Well I live in the cannock chase area and never knew this how wonderful !

[@OrganMusicYT]

@@bowlingbill9633 They have been up and running since 1989 with their own venue (currently closed for renovations) and maintain several instruments in the midlands area as well as the Wurlitzer at Blackpool Opera House and of course, the Empress Ballroom Organ. A very hard working and dedicated team who give up alot of their personal time and money to keep these instruments in the public eye as often as possible.

[@Dave1976.]

My grandad use to send Reginald Dixon up on the original wurlitzer

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for the great explanation. I'm learning all the time. Yes a tease at the end there for a future video!!

[@OrganMusicYT]

@@Dave1976. That's interesting because Horace Finch was the organist in the Empress Ballroom. All cinema/theatre organs that were placed on a lift had a button at the keyboard/console which the organist would press themselves when they were ready to raise or lower the console as a standard feature.

[@jennyrobinson8449]

What an amazing building

[@AdventureMe]

Sure is

[@mousecharger]

I have been waiting so long for your next Winter Gardens video. Just watched it eating my Sunday dinner. I just love your details including the music and old photos and how you put the whole thing together. Thank You so so much x

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@colleenaskew821]

We was the same too ❤couldn’t wait x amazing xxx

[@personwhotalkstomuch4898]

Wow!! I didn’t realise how large that ballroom was. I can see why they use it for the Matchplay darts on TV.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it's massive

[@ninaakrigg3414]

Used to compete in ballroom dancing here , was the only competitions north of Birmingham at the winter gardens, the tower and pontins. Which was great living in Burnley. The southerners and Midlands,Welsh, all had to travel to our turf

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@colinbrook4368]

Wow, what a treasure

[@AdventureMe]

Sure is

[@ianjames4212]

Met my wife in the ballroom, 1964. Still together but we left Blackpool. Many happy memories of the Winter Gardens, any one remember the pass out tickets so you could leave the dance floor and go to the bar, then return to the ballroom

[@topping911]

Love the old buildings in Blackpool. Many happy memories of holidaying there as a child. The resort may be shoddy in parts but inside the buildings the glamour remains. Thanks once again

[@AdventureMe]

Totally agree

[@-abacchus]

Really enjoying this series, Darren! I never knew just how massive the WG is...! Each area appears *huge* - yet looks almost insignificant when you show the map/plan. I'll definitely take a better look at this building the next time I venture up from East Anglia!

[@AdventureMe]

And I'm not even half way round the building lol.

[@PK_Blinder]

Seen quite a few concerts in the Empress Ballroom..... Favourite 2 would be Suede and The Levellers

[@lindamccaughey6669]

Wow and wow again. Oh Darren I think that is my fave video I’ve seen it was so beautiful. You really outdid yourself. Thank you so much. Please stay safe and take care

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks again!

[@babs331176]

Im loving this series of videos. Brilliant!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Babs

[@sarahillingworth2718]

Glad u got permission to look round, I was envisioning a big burley security guard asking what u were doing lol. Magnificent building 👍

[@AdventureMe]

I was toured around by the management, round the whole complex.

[@sarahillingworth2718]

@@AdventureMe ah ok 👍

[@wyrksi]

I love the nostalgia. Your videos make me want to visit Blackpool again.

[@AdventureMe]

You should!

[@martinmarsola6477]

Thank you for the fabulous tour today, Darren. Always look forward to the weekend tours you put on. Your the best, Darren. Cheers mate!

[@graemehannam3950]

Awesome video thanks Darren, coming over to Blackpool tomorrow until Friday, certainly going to have a look at the ballroom if I can

[@AdventureMe]

Have fun. I'm there now doing some filming.

[@jujulionesselsa1416]

I think a lot of remaining residual energy is highly possible ...it is so very beautiful there the genius craftsmanship is outstanding. Your Channel is amazing - The old footage and exploration of so many things .

[@kennethtarran1525]

Thoroughly enjoyed your video of the Empress Ballroom and although I have visited the ballroom quite a few times over the years, you were able to show us parts/rooms that I didn't know existed. Very impressed how you superimposed some older photos over your current video. Regarding the Wurlitzer organ that has been reinstalled in the ballroom - this work, including the pipework high above the stage and the console that showed us on the balcony, has all been acquired and carried out by the Cannock Chase Organ Club members. They maintain both this organ and the one in the Opera House. They do a superb job under the leadership of Cameron Lloyd. He could give you chapter and verse on the history of the organs in the Empress Ballroom and the famous organists who played them. Originally the organ console was located on a lift under the stage and I understand that the CCOC are planning to reintroduce that lift mechanism on the current stage at some point in the future. Great video and looking forward with great anticipation to your next production from the iconic Winter Gardens.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Kenneth, plenty more coming soon.

[@lukewebber5665]

Amazing wee explore once again mate... Can't wait for the next one!!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@dianeshepherd7913]

Another good video, love the fade in and out of the old photos.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you like them!

[@nixtax3526]

Another great explore mate, was waiting to see your pasodoble lol

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate, not from me lol. I can just manage a waltz.

[@lindabeaumont1304]

Another very interesting video . love the way you present the old pictures of how used to be brilliant your a pro

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Linda. Much more to come

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

What a delightful ballroom, Darren. I'm not surprised that someone would amazed at the sheer size of the place. The decor is totally stunning to say the least. and the number of offshoot rooms too, makes it a very large complex. Many thanks for this explore.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Ffranc

[@paulwatterson1688]

After seeing my kids Ballroom dance there it’s lovely to see and hear some history and stories about the wonderful Empress Ballroom.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. More to come

[@dianeandrews8069]

Super video, my parents enjoyed many Farmer’s Ball in the 60’s, in the Empress Ballroom where it was always a popular event. Thank you.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. More to come

[@butchknapman3939]

Yet again another excellent video, great pictures from times past. Good the way you mixed in pictures and an excellent choice of music to suit a ballroom. You have pulled all the right strings to gain the access to all the areas you have filmed

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you like them!

[@fatlad5090]

interesting place. Great watch daz

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@eliz9369]

Brilliant series. Thank you so much AdventureMe.

[@daviddillon172]

Great video..Pity you did not show how the stage extension comes out from beneath the stage at the front and rises up to the stage height level. Its one of the great inovative things that are in buildings in Blackpool like the Tower circus ring which sinks and fills with water, the Opera house stage lift along with the rising organs in the Opera house and Tower ballroom.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Dave. I wish I could have. But they only showed me certain things as they were setting up for a big event.

[@shirleylynch7529]

Fantastic Darren. Beautiful building. Old photos amazing to see. What an incredible documentary. Brilliant. Thank you. I would never see this if it wasn’t for you. Much appreciated.

[@AdventureMe]

You are very welcome

[@leightongoss6147]

I second what Martin has said. These videos are absolutely brilliant. When I was there for the Rebellion Festival I noticed the bands no longer use the small stage but set up on the back end of the ballroom opposite to the main entrance as you enter. Much appreciated. Many thanks.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@christinehodge3608]

Beautiful ballroom, thank you for sharing

[@johnlaw3323]

Brilliant presentation loved it, many thanks for sharing.

[@rontanser9369]

Thank you yes that was very interesting, It certainly is very beautiful and glamorous building I couldn’t build anything like that now

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@daisydaffsforever723]

Thanks so much for this wonderful video. I have never been in the Empress Ballroom and I was born here in Blackpool. I shall certainly take acloser look inside it soon.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks. More to come

[@andybbeck2043]

amazing as ever .your such a great presenter and format love it

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@swanteal2355]

Thank you Darren 😊 very interesting history of ballroom. Lots of memories for lots of people over the period of hundred years . Have great week 🎥.🌸

[@AdventureMe]

You are very welcome

[@Design2winLew]

Another enlightening vid Darren . The history of this one complex is amazing . Without your vid I am guessing most people would not be aware of the history . Keep up the great work 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Thurlby99]

Great vlog Darren I love how you always capture the overlays with the original pictures some great info and history.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@paulbrown9802]

Wow!! Another fantastic video! I don’t think we realise how big and impressive the complex actually is! Thank you again for another brilliant video ☺️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks again!

[@davewright4380]

Great stuff once again Darren. The incidental music works so well and the ghost dancers were hauntingly good. Reminded me of the final scene from The Shining!

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Dave. Lots more to come

[@Dan23_7]

I find it so endearing it’s as it was and it’ll never change (I hope) Those beige glazed tiles with what looked like The green man ornament bits, I’m blown away When you said “greenwood” in the floor, I’ll stand corrected but I think it’s “greenheart” wood. My dad did green waste removal before he retired, the company he worked for removed the old Birkenhead dock doors, they were greenheart wood. He said a guy turned up were he worked to chop a bit of them off to use for his garden His chainsaw went through 4 chains trying to cut it and he gave up 😂 Honestly Darren I’m in love with this series

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate. Many more to come yet, and the best is yet to come.

[@Dan23_7]

@@AdventureMe I can’t wait 😁😁

[@andrewheywood3710]

i must say that all your videos are well researched and made you are a great youtuber.please keep more blackpool vids coming or any theame park.funfairs historys like belle vue manchester,keep it up

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. More episodes to come.

[@Al-qv5vs]

A really, really good, interesting video. I never knew it was that 'posh'. Love the fade in/outs.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching

[@suesmith4366]

Amazing, 🤩 lovely restoration work, there’s always something else to wonder at too. Love it.

[@johnphazzleton]

Brilliant series. Really enjoyed. Thanks

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@nicklowe536]

Another amazing video. Love finding out new things about this magnificat building

[@AdventureMe]

More to come!

[@simongee8928]

We were at the Tower ballroom a few years ago and there was an old lady dancing by herself, but holding an imaginary partner. We felt that she was likely relivng dancing with her late husband as they had probably done many times in the past. It was very touching to see.

[@AdventureMe]

Sounds wonderful.

[@MJARTBYDAY]

Hey Darren another wonderful video ... I love your channel and im glad I found it on my feed. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us ... Amazing and brings back super memories when we were young too.

[@AdventureMe]

Awesome, thank you!

[@pixusphotographic]

Another great video, keep up the great work Darren

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@projektor4]

This is interesting for me as it confirms the location of a 1970 music press photo that I still have that shows the interior of the Empress Ballroom looking from the balcony angle @ 9:33 and featuring the Clam Sell stage as seen @ 6:44. But the whole floor and end wall have been cut away and an `Earth Rise´ photo has been pasted in with the moon´s surface where the floor should be.

[@AdventureMe]

Glad it cleared that up for you.

[@ste.h9825]

Brilliant.Top marks yet again Darren.👍

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks 👍

[@oddsandwindsocks5905]

Thoroughly enjoying these series of tours Darren. It must have been amazing way back then when it was new .

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I bet it was

[@mandycoleman1394]

Only been to the pleasure beach at Blackpool once in my early teens. Never saw anything else. My understanding is that the area is run down? Not sure if that’s true? Love the winter gardens you have shown us. Particularly like the bits no one sees ! Such an interesting building full of history ! Glad you’ve shared this with us all :) thank you 😊

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Mandy

[@numberonefan4699]

Amazing video like always thanks Darren 👍and 👻love it 😂🤣

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. More episodes to come.

[@DjMossy]

My favourite prodigy gig was at winter gardens. I know Iv mentioned it on a previous vid. But that place is awesome

[@AdventureMe]

It really is!

[@Cody-zd2ye]

My daughter worked at sands before it was renovated.she and another member of Staff went to explore the night club upstairs I think was the palace it had been locked up for years.she showed me the video and as they entered you saw hundreds of what looked like orbs coming towards her it was as though they were so glad to see someone incredible footage.

[@AdventureMe]

Sounds fun. I used to go to that nightclub

[@Canthatcrazy]

@adventureme just showing mum and husband your videos. Having a Darren-a-thon. Bringing my chaotic family together haha. ❤️

[@AdventureMe]

Love that!

[@raccabird8889]

Awesome

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@mr.d1775]

As always a very interesting video. Amazing that you managed to see the ghosts of dancers on the floor😉

[@AdventureMe]

And catch them on film lol

[@johnlumley-moore2079]

Excellent as per usual .very interesting ..

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. More episodes to come.

[@DigitalJunior2003]

Seen Pet Shop Boys live that Ballroom a few times. Chris comes from Blackpool so they sometimes do a live show here.

[@AdventureMe]

Brilliant. Love them

[@bd4_l]

Greatly loving this series!

[@laurabaker81]

Love these Blackpool vids! Looking forward to the next one 😁

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Laura

[@McSynth]

Excellent video !

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you liked it!

[@lindseykaine-walley6339]

Fairytale ballroom, beautiful! Thank you for showing us as I have never been. Did you get the feeling of someone watching you from the balconies? 👻 I would be always looking!!

[@AdventureMe]

No, there were loads of people in there cleaning up etc.

[@michaelobrien9825]

What an absolute fabulous 👌 ballroom.

[@AdventureMe]

Sure is.

[@steverileyretired]

Very Interesting, thanks

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@ronnievenhorst9873]

Another nice video. This building is special

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks mate

[@ronnievenhorst9873]

@@AdventureMe Very nice series

[@mariaud999]

My uncle Reginald Parrish used to play the Wurlitzer organ in the Tower Ballroom. I wonder if he ever played here?

[@AdventureMe]

Quite possibly

[@michaelmiller641]

Excellent video, Darren

[@AdventureMe]

Many thanks!

[@kkrispy2009P]

Oh wow this series is amazing I knew it was haunted . As there is a lot of documentation showing ghosts and an actor died there

[@AdventureMe]

Apparently so. I looked at my footage closely to see if I had caught anything. But haven't seen anything yet.

[@LancashireLarks]

Much enjoyed this 👍

[@AdventureMe]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@LancashireLarks]

@@AdventureMe we did, especially the Harry Potter glasses haha

[@AdventureMe]

@@LancashireLarks Harry Potter???

[@LancashireLarks]

@@AdventureMe my apologies haha, I was just watching a mud larking video and meant to leave that comment in there. Sorry it’s been a long day haha

[@Andy-wu1ev]

I first went to the Empress in early 1980's delivering a new sound system, I arrived late and got let in to load in the speakers. Being on my own in that room with just a few lights on at 2.00am was enough for me, I came back in the morning to finish unloading..... There was a old guy called Ernie if I remember, sort of tech manager I guess. I would do a lot of band work mostly in the Spanish Ballroom and afterwards would pop upstairs to that control room in the Empress and Ernie would tell me stories about the place, including the ghosts. he seem to have been there many years and his recollections of the building and shows I would sit for hours and listen. I got to follow him as he took through these mazes of what seem secert corridors between the various halls. On one visit, possible when Cats was loading in, I did an overnight rigging seesion and got to follow a security chap on his beat. Its my favorite building, so many spaces that I have worked in and the history is amazing, perhaps the goods lift through the kitchen to the Spanish ballroom might lessen the love of the place as a load in route, but worth the effort.

[@AdventureMe]

Sounds creepy lol

[@petershilton6598]

The decor reminds me so much of Bioshock. When I heard Tchaikovsky's Waltz of the Flowers, I half expected to see a Splicer make an appearance.

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks for watching. More episodes to come.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

Regarding the Daulton tiles in the Empress ballroom, are the tiles in the Tower Daulton as well?

[@dancedecker]

No. As far as I recall, they were made by Bermantofts from Leeds. And they were Doulton . Or after 1901, Royal Doulton.

[@AdventureMe]

No apparently not.

[@cyberleaderandy1]

@@dancedecker cheers 🙂

[@dancedecker]

@@cyberleaderandy1 You are most welcome.

[@fatlad5090]

wherlitzer if that's how u spell it lol. they was one in old odeon bradford what came out the floor. I think that one went to Durham cathedral. When odeon turned into a cinema

[@AdventureMe]

Yes there was

[@jeremybuck1818]

The Wurlitzer from Bradford is now at the New Victoria Centre in Howden-le-wear near Crook, Co Durham.

[@asa1973100]

Those original chandeliers in that picture you showed “ truly magnificent “ and Looking at the scale of the room and the light fitting is currently in place you can see why doesn’t quite balance correctly the chandeliers aren’t the right ones

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I know. The smaller ones have been there since WW1. So quite a while now.

[@cazdodsworth8124]

Loving video is there and more walk with 0114 video

[@flickr4jazz]

Are the organ works still in the building or is the keyboard just for display?

[@AdventureMe]

I'm not sure.

[@dancedecker]

The organ that Darren found is in fully working order. They have tea dances every few days in the season.

[@michaelwebber8631]

Great videos but I do wish you define the ceiling is on the inside of the building the roof is the outside.

[@43155]

Is the ceiling/plasterwork undergoing long term restoration?

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it is

[@leeshepherd6512]

Is the ceiling in the ballroom still being restored? It looks like it’s got lots of pieces missing.

[@AdventureMe]

Hi Lee. Yes it was still work in progress. They had to stop due to an event taking place.

[@leeshepherd6512]

@@AdventureMe good to hear. I was mortified thinking it had been left like that. Thanks for the reply :)

[@DylisMort]

So many memories of Sat night dancing

[@gregmilner100]

Watched oasis there back in 1995

[@douglasthompson296]

Hi Darren, I'm totally confused now, is that the ballroom used on the ballroom dancing TV show or is that the one in the tower? Whatever, ballroom dancers are lucky if they get to use both halls. I have really enjoyed this series on the WG so far. Cheers DougT in Mancs. BTW Mrs Warboys says her bunions would stop her doing her twirls on the dancefloor these days.🙄😎😀

[@AdventureMe]

They use the Tower Ballroom for Strictly.

[@ClarenceFlanagan]

I took my parents to see the Winter Gardens in Blackpool over the bank holiday. I was very surprised to learn that neither of them knew it existed.

[@AdventureMe]

Yes it's a common thing. People walk on by, part of the reason I wanted to make the videos.

[@jetsons101]

"AdventureMe can make a great day even better." That Wurlitzer must be a nightmare to maintain. What--wait, the Rolling Stones did something to get in trouble? Again, Darren you made a gem of a watch. Winter Gardens, what a place to explore all the little "nooks and crannies." Till next time, a rollercoster maybe????

[@OrganMusicYT]

Speaking from first hand experience of maintaining it. The difficult part was installing it, and having to carry everything from the carpark, into the ballroom, across the ballroom floor, up 2 flights of stairs, across a balcony, and across the roof before it carrying it up into the rooms that it is in high above the ballroom stage. It's no easy job, and maintenance requires lots of patience. However, it is great fun and very satisfying when you hear the end result.

[@jetsons101]

@@OrganMusicYT Sounds like you got the touch.....

[@angelsone-five7912]

Lovely place, what a shame Blackpool has gone down hill so badly.

[@christianhalstead6063]

What's with all the white patches on the recently restored ceiling?

[@AdventureMe]

They're still working on it. They were repairs ready to be painted.

[@christianhalstead6063]

@@AdventureMe brilliant videos Darren , can you get inside the Tower buildings??

[@AdventureMe]

@@christianhalstead6063 Working on it.

[@julieandgary]

seen the damned here in 2008 at the rebellion

[@wizzwamf]

thanks darren for this , its a beautiful building such grandeur , but oh those glass brick windows need to go to plain glass or stained glass ,and the outside of the leopold area is just nasty .i doubt any architects can do this beautiful work , now the kevin mcleod look stick a glass box on an historic building and call it a heritage centre grrrrr

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Russell

[@graemenicol6377]

Well I'll be there in August for Rebellion Festival I just hope I can keep my mind on the punk band's I'll be watching rather than watching out for the ghosts after watching this.

[@rmirmi8377]

Not bad I suppose it could be worse just like central drive aka junky road

[@Karen-di1xn]

They don’t make the lovely building’s today .How lovely the decor .

[@AdventureMe]

Thanks Karen. You're right, they don't.

[@skapunkno1]

After being at many Rebellion festivals in the past I dont associate the Ballroom with light, neat rows of chairs or classical music. but with dark, sticky floor, sweaty smell, dodgy security, wading through plastic cups and loud loud Punk music.

[@AdventureMe]

Yeah I can imagine it's very different on those days.

[@jetsons101]

Darren, do you have a "buy me a coffee" link anywhere?

[@AdventureMe]

There's a paypal link below in all video descriptions, but I need to set one of those up.

[@jetsons101]

@@AdventureMe Have you got a "buy me a coffee" yet? I'll make another donation for a new camera. Keep up the great work. Rollercoaster????????

[@AdventureMe]

@@jetsons101 Hi Mike, yes I have now. www.buymeacoffee.com/adventureme

[@kane211]

I would love to walk around this place alone at night

[@AdventureMe]

Me too. It's bad enough through the day.

[@wam2610]

👍

[@MoeLarrycurly1]

🙂🙂🙂🙂👍