GALLERY- February 2007

This month we feature a set of photographs of the Ritz, Brighouse for the last Mighty Wurlitzer Organ Concert to be held there, photographed by local Historian Colin Sutton. (The Organ has now been removed from the building for storage.)

Special bonus item . . .
An automatic slide-show sequence of high resolution (1024x768 pixels) colour photographs showing more of the former cinema building and original features still remaining and the Wurlitzer in concert and inside the pipe chambers can be downloaded from here. It's a 7Mb file best suited to broadband users.

Simply unzip the archive and double click to run. Images will change automatically every 4 seconds, alternatively arrow keys can be used to speed up forward and backwards; also pause and resume with the Pause key. ESCape to quit back to desktop. Pressing F1 during the sequence will show a help file to remind you of the above key actions. Please enjoy - it's something different.

Ritz, Brighouse,
West Yorkshire.

Research notes and all photographs by Colin Sutton,
Bradford & Shipley Cinemas Historian.
Copyright ©2006, CLS.

Brief Ritz History . . .
Location: Bradford Road (A641) and Bonegate Road junction.
Architect: J.H. Frear.
Opened: March 1937. Union Cinemas control from Oct 1937.
Later managed by ABC.
Single deck auditorium 986 seats in 3 blocks with 2 aisles.
Raked floor (still exists under ballroom floor).
Barrel vaulted ceiling. Splay walls with decorative grilles
and cove lighting nearest proscenium opening, also lighting cove in
ceiling across proscenium front.
Small stage with 2 dressing rooms in organ chambers behind splay walls -
organ never actually fitted during cinema life.
Projection room at 2nd floor level - BTH sound set.
Cinema closed 24 June 1961 then Bingo.

1965 - Converted to Casino and Theatre Club.
1970 - Casino closed. Theatre club later a disco then Tropicana Night Club.
1981 - Conversion to ballroom dance floor by Joe & Miriam Naroy.
Level floor and reducing height of proscenium opening.
Dance area with bar at rear.

1988 Ritz Ballroom now owned by Alan & Pauline Olbison.
New stage constructed with low tab canopy leaving original proscenium top above.
Large self-contained flat in first floor rooms above entrance.
1996 - 3manual 8rank Wurlitzer installed (ex-Gaumont, Oldham) in original
chambers in splay walls. Console on moving platform on stage.
New dressing rooms built above ballroom stage in roof space.

2006 - Current owners, Alan & Pauline Olbison retiring and the building (site)
for sale.
Wurlitzer closing concert 10 December 2006 then installation removed for
safe storage pending new home.

For many years the Ritz has been the home of Northern Soul.
2007 - Planning application for retirement flats submitted.
Local campaign to retain as a popular ballroom.
June 2007 - closure expected.

Exterior

The entrance Lobby

Interior towards stage.

Interior to rear with Wurlitzer final concert audience.

Wurlitzer 3-manual keyboard.

Organist Richard Hills announces next item.

Original proscenium top left-hand corner with splay wall and later addition
of canopy over ballroom stage.

Proscenium and original splay wall with organ chamber grille.

Richard Hills at Wurlitzer console.