The Odeon Sale, (Ex Pyramid) had an unusual two console British built Christie Theatre Organ. Christies were built by Hill, Norman and Beard organ builders of Norwich. The Pyramid Cinema was built at a time when architects had a fascination with Tutankhamun. The interior decor of the Theatre was in Egyptian style and the stage console of the organ carried on this theme. The second console was in the orchestra pit and was a plain plywood console.
When the Cinema closed the organ was purchased by The Lancastrian Theatre
Organ Trust. The Christie was re-installed by the Trusts Technical Team in the
Blue Coat Comprehensive School in Oldham, this fulfils one of the Trust aims,
"to promote the musical ability of young organists". The Christie
organ by comparison with the Wurlitzers is small having available on each
console 3 manuals and 7 ranks of pipes.
Sadly the Blue Coat School in Oldham has decided that they no longer want to have this Heritage Christie Theatre Organ in the school. Our technical team have been working hard and have now removed this Historic Theatre Organ into storage. Again we ask the question does anyone know of sponsored storage that we can use. We are also asking everyone is there a new home for this very rare theatre organ. For the record it is the only one ever built with an Egyptian decorated style console and one of only three theatre organs that had dual consoles.
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