New Victoria Centre (Home of the Mighty Wurlitzer)

Our famous Wurlitzer Pipe Organ (with 3 manuals and 18 ranks of pipes) was built in America and installed in the New Victoria Theatre Bradford in 1930 to entertain cinema patrons during interludes between films. Purchased by the North East Theatre Organ Society in 1968 it was installed and opened in 1986 at its present home, where thousands of visitors have come to see it played at monthly concerts. See website for events programme. Private visits can be arranged and the organ can be hired for practice or recording purposes. Between January 2005 and May 2006 the organ was dismantled for repair and renovation (costing £130,000 including a grant of £49,800 from the Heritage Lottery Fund). It re-opened in July 2006.