Empire Theatre Leicester Square

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Uploaded on: February 28, 2024

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Above Eric Spruce at the Empire WurliTzer, he began his career as a cinema organist in 1927.He joined Gaumont-British as a theatre organist in 1930 and his first appointment was in July 1930at Smethwick when he replaced Leslie James who played for the opening week. Moving to Birmingham, Wolverhampton and then in 1937 to Bournemouth. Spruce made his first BBC broadcast in October 1933 with whom he continued playing for the next 40 years. After War service in the RAF he was appointed organist at the Westover Bournemouth. On Cup Final Day, 1948 he attended a meeting with the General Manager of the Empire who asked if he would be interested in becoming their resident organist, Eric Spruce became organist at the Empire in June 1948. The WurliTzer was a very large specification with 4 manuals, 21 ranks with very interesting percussion effects. Originally intended for the Loew’s theatre Syracuse New York, however, it was re-directed by MGM to London. The two organ chambers were set high on the left and right side of the proscenium arch, quite far forward of the console in the orchestra pit which made the sound levels different, being loud in the circle and feint in the stalls. After consultation with Western Electric speakers were installed to give a better sound balance throughout the theatre. Spruce began to regularly broadcast for the BBC from the Empire in November 1948. The organ was an integral part of the many stage productions and Royal Film Performances, until 2nd March 1952 when the last stage show was performed with the film ‘Invitation’ starring Van Johnson. Eric Spruce retired as organist from the Empire Theatre in 1956. May 1961 saw the closure of the Empire after the long 76 week run of Ben-Hur December 1959 until May 1961 the site was purchased by Mecca who converted the stalls into a dance hall and the circle above became a cinema leased to the former owners MGM. I remember attending a performance of Gone with the Wind after the conversion which was not good, as during quiet moments in the film one could hear the music from the Mecca dance band below. Fortunately organist Len Rawle purchased the unique Empire WurliTzer intact. Ron Knee