please empty your brain below

I went to the Granada for an organ concert after the restoration. The circle was almost full. Pity the organ chambers got flooded not long afterwards.
As an addition about the concert, the organ did not sound very loud, the problem being - and this is also why it is susceptible to flooding- that the pipes are low down under the stage, and before Bingo the stage was higher than the auditorium floor and the sound from the organ would come from the back of the orchestra pit. Now that the floor is at stage level the only way they could get the organ pipes sound into the auditorium was to put some removable panels in the front of the stage floor. These proved insufficient for letting the full sound out.
The organ console was saved from flooding because it was in the raised position.
The building fully deserves that old description of a "Picture Place" I can see why it's Grade I Listed, it's simply wonderfully over the top.
This was my local cinema when I was a child, we would come along every week for Saturday morning pictures and pay 6d to get in, it was always packed and we would all sing along to our own song "The Tooting Grenadiers" before the films commenced the mighty organ would rise out of the stage as if by magic and we would be treated to a handful of tunes, many of the kids in the audience did not have an appreciation of the organ and would throw hard sweets and sometimes the odd ice cream at the man playing, I always remember that the sound of that organ was amazing and it reached out to every part of the auditorium, I went back again in 2007 for the "Raising of the organ" concert after it had been restored but it was a little disappointing as the sound was nothing like I remembered it to be.
The Granada is astonishing. It almost makes me want to take up bingo.
Wow!!
At least Bingo continues to give the building an operational purpose, as it would be a crying shame for it to remain unused, so well played Granada for maintaining the place in such condition.
As you say, a genuine must-see at a future Open House.
I lived in or near Tooting for a couple of years in the early 2000s; kicking myself that I never even knew about the Granada. Happy that it's not too late.
My mother and her sister regularly played bingo there in the 70s and 80s. I went once. I found the bingo boring but the venue was impressive.
I am in love with Ms Harwood, no one can match her enthusiasm and knowledge, nor for her success in protecting the best bits of British architecture.

I hope she talked about the mystery that surrounded the opening of the Granada, on the hill overlooking Colliers Wood and beyond. No one knew what the interior looked like; imagine walking through the gothic entrance hall, along the hall of mirrors, and then walking out into that auditorium.

Fans of such places should consider joining the Cinema Theatre Association.
The Granada also has a history as a music venue, not always for the obvious reasons. It was here that Jerry Lee Lewis played his last concert before being hounded out of the country for a bigamous marriage to his thirteen year old cousin. Also the scene of a bizarre onstage accident when Gene Vincent executed am ambitious high kick and knocked out his guitarist on the night Joe Brown with his caliper.

The introduction of Bingo was also a big event. John Wayne was there to make the first draw, later pulling a pint in The Castle round the corner. That's why the pub had a life size cardboard cut-out of The Duke until recently.
Bingo-playing really does seem like a different world to me. I can't quite picture the scene with all those tables in use.
I was another Saturday morning flicks patron of the Granada, but had no idea way back then just what a magnificent building this was/is. Another highlight of those Saturdays was a visit to the excellent joke and magic shop at Amen Corner on the way home.
The cinema is simply beautiful, what a find. I'm amazed that a building in which it was planned people would sit in the dark has so much beauty and wonderful architectural details in it.

At least those that use the building now get to see it in the light!
I also went to my first ever live pop concert in this building when Roy Orbison played the venue on 27th April 1966, I went again on 28th April 1968 to see The Bee Gees but this time I was lucky enough to be backstage and watched the whole performance from the wings, a friend of mine who was with me asked if we were in a church as all he could see from backstage as he peered out into the auditorium were huge candelabras adorning the walls.
A number of years ago I was lucky enough to see the notice for an organ recital of the 'mighty Wurlitzer' at the Gaumont State cinema in Kilburn. At that time it was in use as a bingo hall, and the organ was looked after by it's own preservation society.

I gather it's since been acquired for use as a church. I wonder if there will still be opportunties to hear the wonderful organ.










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