Posted by Adam Kuban, October 13, 2009 at 12:30 PM
Yesterdays' Arizona pizza post and its mention of Organ Stop Pizza inspired me to do a little more digging on this surreal combination of pizza and pipes. That there were ever—and still are—pipe-organ pizzerias is something that never ceases to amaze me. But I'm also saddened that these places are quickly disappearing. Above, Dean Cook, former house musician at the now-defunct Angelino's in San Jose, California, briefly explains the history of this unlikely pairing before launching in to a rousing number.
In short Cook says that around 1958, a Haywood, California, man installed a Mighty Wurlitzer organ after having enjoyed organ recitals at San Francisco's Fox Theater. "And history was made," Cook says. "There were soon places like this all across the United States. Here in the Bay Area alone, at one time in the '70s, the heyday, there were 14 of these places."
Angelino's was the last one left in the region at the time of this video, but it closed in 2008, shortly after this was video was shot. More videos after the jump.
Mighty Wurlizter History
Robert Hope-Jones originally designed the Wurlitzer theater organ in the early 1900s, and they were soon installed in movie theaters during to accompany the silent films of the Silent Era. Mighty Wurlitzers functioned as a one-man orchestras, and they could be augmented with percussion, pianos, and other instruments—as well as various sound effects (train whistles, aah-oo-gah car horns) to further enhance the movie-going experience.
Where to Go
If you want to hear pipes while eating pizza, there are very few of these places left. Here are the places still open that I've been able to find.
As a child I went to one of these places in Texas. Houston I think. I loved it. I remember the organ had all these extras like a duck that would quack. Also, they always played the Star Wars theme.
I've been to Organ Stop Pizza several times, every time I go to Phoenix we go. I honestly can't say I remember the pizza, but when I put in a request for Bumble Boogie and the organist actually played it, I was floored. I would love to go during the holidays when they might be playing Christmas carols (I don't know if they do or not). As a kid my favorite songs were the ones where the puppets would come out. I would spend half the time running around on the balcony level looking at all the different xylophones and pianos.
I'm kicking myself for not researching this sooner. I'm floored that there's one in Greenfield, Wisconsin, not more than 20 minutes from my aunt's house. I was just there in March and could have stopped in. Next time ... next time. Though I better make it quick. These places are going fast, and I'm afraid may go even faster with the crap economy now.
When I lived in San Jose I used to go to Pizza and Pipes and Angelino's all the time back in the '70s. For a kid, these places were fantastic. Pizza, soda, silent movies and the organ player would take requests from the kids... so you would hear the Star Wars theme song about every half hour. When I moved back to Michigan in the late '70s, I was happy to see that there were organ style pizzerias there as well. I moved back to the bay area in the 80's and they were still around, but I never did go back... I wish that I had.
Wow -my favorite thing in the world when I was a child in the 70s.
At Har Mar mall in St. Paul MN was Cicero's. The organ player was a blind guy named George Summers, and I've still got the vinyl of his performances.
The walls were lined with the pipes, and drums and every sort of zany percussion, horn and whistle he controlled from the keyboard.
We used to go to the one in Greenfield when I was a kid, for birthday parties. They *did* play the Star Wars theme! But also Dukes of Hazard. Ah, memories...
I recently drove by the old Organ Grinder in Portland. It closed over a decade ago but the weird '70s northwest-style facade still remains. It's where we used to go with Girl Scouts before Chuck E. Cheese existed.
I still miss the Paramount Pizza Palace in Indianapolis. It was such an event to go there when I was little. I'm glad to know there are still some in existence!
@Aidylc The organ at Roaring '20's came from Paramount Pizza in Indy. I've always wanted to go there to see\hear it again. Lots of fond memories from when I was a kid seeing Sammy Terry and Cowboy Bob there and of course, hearing Star Wars.
I've been to the Organ Stop in Mesa a few times.
There was a Organ Grinder in Denver in the 70's and 80's. After it closed the building sat vacant for several years because its odd structure (to house the big organ pipes) made it a unappealing to other businesses, so it was eventually torn down.
It was located on the edge of a big strip mall that has (had) many Asian businesses--a couple of great markets, a bakery, a Pho place and two good dim sum places. Several of these have now been torn down to build a big, modern strip mall anchored by a Kohls.
Sigh.
This sounds like a bit of alternative gimmick to the ragtime, banjo-playing, player piano entertainment that Shakey's introduced. I'm becoming fascinated now, and wish I had been to one. Like Adam, I'll have to see if the one in Greenfield still exists the next time I'm up in Wisconsin.
When I was a kid, I loved going to the Organ Grinder in Greenfield whenever we'd visit relatives in Milwaukee. I was driving up hwy 100 not too long ago and was surprised to see it still there.
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14 Comments:
Beggars used to be called "Pipes-n-Pizza." They put a picture of the pipe organ on the paper bag in which the pizza came. (Yes, bag: not box.)
Garvey at 12:47PM on 10/13/09
As a child I went to one of these places in Texas. Houston I think. I loved it. I remember the organ had all these extras like a duck that would quack. Also, they always played the Star Wars theme.
bobbob at 1:04PM on 10/13/09
I've been to Organ Stop Pizza several times, every time I go to Phoenix we go. I honestly can't say I remember the pizza, but when I put in a request for Bumble Boogie and the organist actually played it, I was floored. I would love to go during the holidays when they might be playing Christmas carols (I don't know if they do or not). As a kid my favorite songs were the ones where the puppets would come out. I would spend half the time running around on the balcony level looking at all the different xylophones and pianos.
apizzagirl at 1:07PM on 10/13/09
I'm kicking myself for not researching this sooner. I'm floored that there's one in Greenfield, Wisconsin, not more than 20 minutes from my aunt's house. I was just there in March and could have stopped in. Next time ... next time. Though I better make it quick. These places are going fast, and I'm afraid may go even faster with the crap economy now.
Adam Kuban at 1:10PM on 10/13/09
When I lived in San Jose I used to go to Pizza and Pipes and Angelino's all the time back in the '70s. For a kid, these places were fantastic. Pizza, soda, silent movies and the organ player would take requests from the kids... so you would hear the Star Wars theme song about every half hour. When I moved back to Michigan in the late '70s, I was happy to see that there were organ style pizzerias there as well. I moved back to the bay area in the 80's and they were still around, but I never did go back... I wish that I had.
Brian Spangler at 1:30PM on 10/13/09
Wow -my favorite thing in the world when I was a child in the 70s.
At Har Mar mall in St. Paul MN was Cicero's. The organ player was a blind guy named George Summers, and I've still got the vinyl of his performances.
The walls were lined with the pipes, and drums and every sort of zany percussion, horn and whistle he controlled from the keyboard.
Potown at 2:37PM on 10/13/09
We used to go to the one in Greenfield when I was a kid, for birthday parties. They *did* play the Star Wars theme! But also Dukes of Hazard. Ah, memories...
BangieB at 4:39PM on 10/13/09
I recently drove by the old Organ Grinder in Portland. It closed over a decade ago but the weird '70s northwest-style facade still remains. It's where we used to go with Girl Scouts before Chuck E. Cheese existed.
Krista at 5:11PM on 10/13/09
I still miss the Paramount Pizza Palace in Indianapolis. It was such an event to go there when I was little. I'm glad to know there are still some in existence!
Aidylc at 5:51PM on 10/13/09
@Aidylc The organ at Roaring '20's came from Paramount Pizza in Indy. I've always wanted to go there to see\hear it again. Lots of fond memories from when I was a kid seeing Sammy Terry and Cowboy Bob there and of course, hearing Star Wars.
scauer at 6:06PM on 10/13/09
I've been to the Organ Stop in Mesa a few times.
There was a Organ Grinder in Denver in the 70's and 80's. After it closed the building sat vacant for several years because its odd structure (to house the big organ pipes) made it a unappealing to other businesses, so it was eventually torn down.
It was located on the edge of a big strip mall that has (had) many Asian businesses--a couple of great markets, a bakery, a Pho place and two good dim sum places. Several of these have now been torn down to build a big, modern strip mall anchored by a Kohls.
Sigh.
Bob Ferrapuhls at 3:03AM on 10/14/09
This sounds like a bit of alternative gimmick to the ragtime, banjo-playing, player piano entertainment that Shakey's introduced. I'm becoming fascinated now, and wish I had been to one. Like Adam, I'll have to see if the one in Greenfield still exists the next time I'm up in Wisconsin.
Mad Ernie at 9:20AM on 10/14/09
On the first YouTube playback done at Angelino's, does anyone know the name of the first song played? I can't get it out of my mind!
Konzumer at 1:24PM on 10/15/09
When I was a kid, I loved going to the Organ Grinder in Greenfield whenever we'd visit relatives in Milwaukee. I was driving up hwy 100 not too long ago and was surprised to see it still there.
MarvinDog at 2:38PM on 10/15/09