History

1935: The Astoria Cinema opened on 20th April 1935 with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers in “The Gay Divorce”.

1937: Re-named Odeon.

1974: On 26th January the cinema was closed and shortly after was demolished. The organ was bought for £850 by a Mr Wicks who lived in Suffolk.

1983: The organ was bought by Arie Vonk for installation in Pernis a suburb of Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

1986: On December 27th the organ was opened in Pernis by Len Rawle.

Current: The organ is in storage awaiting a new home.

Personalities

Leslie Holman – Opening – December 1935

John E Francis – December 1935 – January 1936

Frank Tapp – January 1936 – April 1936

Albert Payne – April 1936 – November 1936

Andrew Fenner – November 1936 – March 1937

Jack Courtnay – March 1937 – May 1937

James Peters – May 1937 – June 1937

Henry Windfield – June 1937 – September 1937

Reginald Stone – September 1937 – September 1938

Verden Waugh – September 1938 – November 1939