Reginald Foort Concert Granada Tooting Wurlitzer 1971

[@LynnePedigoRidayReiter]

Thanks for this! I have several Readers Digest vinyl box sets featuring theater organ. i am just starting to listen to them Todays session was by Mr Foort, never heard of him before. I loved every piece. I came here to see his appearance so I could imagine how he would have looked playing. What a wonderful channel. I am not an organist but some of my friends whom I went to college are---Westminster Choir College 1970-75. In the 1980s I worked for Wurliztzer-Steinway in Philadelphia and gained a great appreciation for theater organ.I admire your work, I will be back to learn more to find out who I am listening to, and I will share your videos with my fellow alumni.

[@James.E.Newman.1966]

I heard both Reginald Foort and Reginald Dixon on BBC Radio Kent on the clock radio by my bed as I woke up in the morning at around the age of 15 (1982). Organ piece was played each morning around 7.25. Absolutely loved it. Remember some of the pieces including The Whistler and his Dog, Destiny Waltz, By the Blue Hawiian Waters and Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines. Also used to listen to BBC Radio 2's The Organist Entertains.

[@mainaccount131]

Super excellent

[@BramleyProductions]

Many thanks as always for your kind comment. Thanks, Kev.

[@davenicholas1946]

Great recording, Playing just superb, from the Master,so nice to hear Slavonic Rhapsody,I had a number his 78s 65 years ago a most descriptive organist sadly never met him ,Thanks Post

[@BramleyProductions]

Many thanks, I would have loved to have seen him at the Moller when he toured the theatres in the UK in that brief period from 1938 till the war intervened. He always seemed to love playing and music and people that appreciated music. He even came to our very small village here in Northants and played the chapel organ just before he left for the USA in the early 1950s. Thanks, Kev.

[@davenicholas1946]

Thanks for Reply He played at the Congregational Birkenhead 1951 sadly I missed it

[@HD7100]

Beautiful playing! We have had some large Wurlitzer installations done in various parts of the U.S. Since this concert was recorded. As far as the theatre pipe organs go as they stand today; the bottom has fallen and it is even difficult to give them away. I have a 2/11 in my home and I wonder what will become of it when I am gone.

[@BramleyProductions]

Hi, many thanks for your kind comment! O that is very sad to hear what you say re the U.S. There does seem still certain interest here in the UK and we have a few groups of younger people doing great things with the theatre organs here in the UK but then I have lost touch a bit so I'm not sure of what the bigger picture out there looks like in the UK. But then I suppose we never had as many organs as in the U.S. Here as the UK is tiny in comparison. How lovely that you have a Wurlitzer in your home. I knew a few people here that have had organs in there homes the late Les Rawle at Wurlitzer Lodge Northolt London taught me so much about the workings of the organs and he had a Wurlitzer in his house as does his Son Len Rawle still today. And a few of our UK Compton organs have found their ways into homes as well thanks again. Best wishes Kev.

[@HD7100]

@@BramleyProductions Interest in Theatre Pipe Organs (here in the U.S.) is not "dead" but at a low. We have a lot of young people who do take interest in the instruments and the music. I believe things will pick up as time moves on.

[@BramleyProductions]

@@HD7100 O yes these things do come in cycles I mean here in the UK in the 1970s there seemed a huge resurgence in the theatre organ back then. Let us hope that come around again thanks again for your kind comments. Kev.

[@jackraves7363]

happy memories of a good friend who was a big fan of mr Foort and played this Slavonic Rhapsody at his home (Standaart pipe organ in Lunteren 🇳🇱...) 🙏🙏🙏

[@BramleyProductions]

Coming as I do from Northants I have always been a huge fan of Reginald Foort. I was too young to hear him in his heyday but there seemed so little of his great style of playing out there. Thanks, lovely to read you super comment thanks. Kev .

[@kinura8]

Wonderful historic recording! Thanks for posting!

[@angelsone-five7912]

Musically not for me but I never miss a chance to hear the twice drowned Tooting WurliTzer.

[@BramleyProductions]

Yes, I agree with you it such a shame the Granada Tooting was flooded again a number of years ago now. I was taken around the organ by Les Rawle many years ago in the days when the console could not rise up as it had been floored over but they had sorted all the first flood damage out and it was back playing and sounding so well. Then they made it possible for the organ console to rise again! But sadly a few years on it all flooded again. I feel there should be pressure on the owners as the organ is part of the listing of the building so the organ should be made replayable again even if this means a Lottery Grant say or such like they waste lots of money on stupid arts and music it's about time the cinema organ got some of this money. Yep, Reg Foort loved the light classic for sure he was so good at playing this kind of music. Thanks for your kind comment. Kev.