The Davenport Theatre was the last Cinema in the North
of England to have an original Theatre Organ Installation and when Apollo
Leisure decided to close the Theatre officials of the Lancastrian Theatre Organ
Trust spent many hours negotiating the purchase of the Compton Organ, which,
with the help of the local press was fulfilled and the organ was recorded,
removed and is in storage awaiting the completion of negotiations of a new
home.The recordings made just before the organ was removed are available from
The Lancastrian Theatre Organ Trust Sales Stall.
The Photograph on the left shows a sad sight, the demolition
of the Davenport Theatre, built in 1938. The Davenport was the last Cinema in
the north of England that had a working and used theatre organ. Every weekend
in the interval between films an organist would play. Apollo Leisure, who
leased the theatre, decided on economic grounds that the Theatre was no longer
viable. Last year the Theatre was closed and earlier this year the demolition
crew moved in.
We have been looking for a new home for this well known Compton Theatre
Organ so watch this space for further news of this project.
The Last Days of the Davenport Theatre
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