John Bowen and I rebuilt that organ including the console in 1985. It took about a year all told. Nigel Turner owned a nursery spanning an acre or more in Harpole, Northampton and he had a passion for the Wurlitzer. He bought this instument for a few hundred pounds in the late 70s early 80s and had what looked like a giant nissen hut built on the grounds to house it. John Bowen and his former apprentice, Bob Shaftoe did the basic installation. Nigel intended it to be entertainment for his friends at weekends but it took off with people coming from all parts of the country to see and hear this instrument. I'm not sure but I think he hired Nick to play it back then. He needed a bigger building and so 'Turner's Musical Merry Go Round' was built. John and Bob were hired for installation duties yet again. It was an immediate success but the instrument needed a vast overhaul, which Nigel was able to afford a couple of years later when it started making a profit. Time to call John in again, but Bob wasn't available, so being his other former apprentice, he tracked me down a decade after leaving his employ and work began. We had to work on the instument as it was being played most days of the week, mainly for afternoon tea dances. Nick was the house organist by then. We'd let him know which parts of the instument we'd be shutting down and when they would be up and running again. The Steck player grand piano was there and connected up but there was problem with the electropneumatic switching system in that the contacts were phosphor bronze and would oxidize, causing notes to go off. Nick left us a list of them after every recital and into the giant switching chamber we would go with the wire wool trying to track down the offending contacts. Eventually it became a ridiculous daily occurence so John suggested replacing the whole system with a digital one. The fight began. The conservationists were up in arms and the meetings began. A compromise was reached weeks later whereby the clanky mechanical switching system would remain in its chamber but disconnected. The new digital one would now reside in the swell chamber. I spent a week or more soldering thousands of wires. I still have nightmares. The big day arrived when the switchover was to take place and it was a celebration for all! Alchohol was consumed in great quantities. Nigel threw the switch and Nicholas started to play. No off notes, cyphers or anything like that. Success!...that is until Nick threw the piano tab. The instrument became silent. John and I rushed up into the chambers only to find the new switching system on fire! John had failed to notice the Steck piano was reverse polarity! Oops!!! If you get this far, well done! Steve Musgrove Apprentice to John Bowen 1970-75.

Wow!! I remember a local pub coach trip to Turners about 20 years ago, it was a great night and the food was excellent, a good time was had by all. With several cameras picking up the various foot and hand actions to make this marvellous music, it was hard to keep up with it all. A brilliant night out, keep up the good works Turners. Not sure if it was Nigel at the organ for that first visit but he certainly knows how to play it! Perhaps it’s time to organise a new outing? Mike.

geniet er elke dag van,💋 much thank you my dear

geweldig hoe hij kan spelen een geweldige vtrtuoos splendid

So pleased to see this again, thanks for uploading. Many happy memories of Turners!😊

Happy memories of works outings to Turners

Brings back happy childhood memories listening to this instrument playing on a Sunday afternoon. A little piece of magic.

Absolutely delightful, perfection in both organist and organ.

Just found the video. Very sad that the collection has gone but glad it is available to see and listen to here. I presume the film was made in the 90s so luckily the film did not get lost or destroyed.

Fabulous spent many times here as a child and when i was young had organ lessons from nick Martin. I even played the organ there once. What a very fitting place with lots of memories. A strange world we live in at the moment where memories are one of the most important things, this certainly bought them back. Thanks for posting and thanks to Nick for allowing. I would love to get enough enough people in place to fund a venue and set something similar but with a modern twist up now. i think it would fit right in to society. Maybe even get this organ out of storage and installed. How good would that be.

Always enjoyed Nick Martins playing and another organist inspired by the legendary Mr Dixon! What a pity this venue closed rather abruptly? The organ is still silent i believe and awaiting a new home!

Great sounding organ played by a great organist. I'm very much enjoying this video!

19:24 this organ was formerly owned by the krinjnen collection and its now owned by NBC in triburg

Came across your video and enjoyed the music that brings back happy memories. There was two cinemas in the town where I was born 1937, the Ritz and Regent, both had Wurlitzer organs. I was totally captivated when I first heard the wonderful sound with songs of time, 1950s era. The organist at the Regent cinema was Mr Harold Flatman. I have enjoyed you playing and thank you for posting this video.

The Turners Wurlitzer was the ex Newcastle Paramount organ as most people know and I just hope that they install it one day at some location and get it playing once again as it’s been in storage for nearly 20 years since Turners closed for good.

Wonderful........

👍..love it!

Thank you ...

I had the great privilege to meet Nicholas Martin when he did a concert at the Scarborough Fair Collection North Yorkshire a number of years ago,what a nice guy and a great organist and have got this programme on DVD.

Brilliant! I remember hearing Nick on the Organist Entertains in the 80’s. some years ago I was told that when it comes to really capturing the sound of Reg’s playing, Nick was the one who got closet. I I think the tribute medley proves that beyond doubt. It’s not just the quick stuff that Reg was known for, he had a lyrical side to his playing typified by pieces like Charmaine and Bells Across The Meadows.

Talented organist!

Throughly enjoyed, watching, listening and the history behind it. Many thanks for sharing it.

That's an incredibly solid sounding Wurli! She needs a good home.

Outstanding, a true master at work.

Enjoyable performance and interestingly interwoven with the Turner's story.

Wonderful recording, many thanks for producing. Great songs, wonderful artist playing. You people in UK are very lucky to have as many talented theatre organ players. Also the number of Theatre Organs available for listening is great. It is really nice to see and hear these talented musicians with great instruments. Thank You

Super excellent with very good interesting videos

Can any one tell me , when the beautiful glamorous Jane Mansfield came to switch the ilumanation lights on in Blackpool , could be 19 56 ??

Beautiful sound and played in a style that gets the most out of the organ. Many thanks!

Thank you so very much for sharing this.

Without doubt the best video of its` kind that I have seen and heard. So sad to read the bottom part of the intro, hope the WurliTzer finds anew home.

I met Nicholas Martyn brilliant organist he played at Turner's in Northampton sadly the.music go round there is now gone

Oh boy this takes me back to my boyhood at the Empire in New Tredegar - I got goosebumps :-)

i was shocked to read that turners merry go round had gone. i went there on a number of occasions with a very good friend who introduced me to the joys of listening to theatre organs. he himself had been an organ builder at hill norman and beard, before taking up a career on the railway footplate

Oh! Just reading some of the other comments, I was getting all excited about arranging a revisit, but Turners is no longer open😢 so sad does Nick play Wurlitzers at any other venues?

I know that the sound of organ depends on the selection of ranks the organ has, but did the different organ manufactures have a signature sound? For instance, a Hammond organ sounds different from a Lorwery organ. Is that the way it is with theater organs? It seems to me that Wurlitzers have sound that I prefer.

I believe Nicholas is the only organist I know who uses the crescendo pedal a lot. One of my favorites that’s for sure

Met nicholas numerous times in the 80's at Turner's musical merry Go round in Northampton, along with the fabulous John Walker we spent MANY happy hours there

Very enjoyable im yet to see nick play in person was going to his Shrewsbury buttermarket concert this year but if course that's out the window now, he's very talented

List of tracks: Organ Show Time, Hey Look Me Over, No Matter What; Quickstep Medley: Boo Hoo / The World is Waiting for the Sunrise / The Best Things in Life are Free; March Medley: With Sword and Lance / Imperial Echoes Legend of the Glass Mountain 12th Street Rag; Reginald Dixon Medley: I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside / Stein Song / Charmaine / Bells Across the Meadow / That's A Plenty Coronation Scot; Jerome Kern Medley: All the Things You Are / Who / Way You Look Tonight / She Didn't Say "Yes" / Sunny / I Won't Dance / Smoke Gets in Your Eyes / Dam Busters March / Hey Look Me Over / Organ Show Time (Music Played on the Decap Mechanical Organ: Y Viva Espana) (Bonus Material: Don't Be Cross, Destiny Waltz, Blue Tango, The Continental, and Organ Showtime)

If you don't like theatre organ, why are you watching? I'd give many thumbs up if I could.

Super excellent with very good interesting video

Masterful playing. Great sounding Wurlitzer, but the tremulants are set just a bit too fast.

Great Player On a Great Organ.....................Bill Bickley uk

Beautiful! Does anyone know the name of the song he’s playing at 1:35? Thanks!

Wow that was the most beautiful pipe organ

The Late David Pawlyn and The late and great Graeme Wright one of my mentors removed this organ from the Paramount. All history but you should hear the last performance before removal. Organ1st radio 2015.

👏👏👏☑️😍🎶🎹👍🇦🇺

hi nick its ken we met a long time go from leicester

Listened to the whole and it was ab fab. Except 'Destinty Waltz' Nick, you could have done more with that! Keep smiling - (Reginald Foort recorded it, and it was just about the best ever!) . Off now to listen to "Welcome to Nicholas Martin" LP. What an inspiration! You taught me from that LP that theatre style needs both feet on the pedals!.

Too lazy to add song titles. I see this a lot on you tube. How do you expect to attract new fans to the hobby.

Fingers that just won't quit.....yikes!

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