Friday, April 6 – Before we share our super visit with our nephew and niece, it is our prayer that all our family and friends experience a Blessed Easter Sunday. He is Risen…He is Risen Indeed!
We heard so much about Organ Stop Pizza that we arranged to meet Paul's nephew, Dave and his wife Tracy, for dinner. We stopped at their home in Mesa to visit for several hours and get re-acquainted with their lives here in Arizona. The last time we saw Dave & Tracy was back in Barberton, Ohio, four years ago, before they moved here.
We then headed to Organ Stop Pizza.
This is a pretty unique pizza parlor. Seating is at long tables you share with other patrons or at smaller tables along the sides or in the balcony.
The pianist put on an amazing show . Paul is surprised there is no charge other than if you decide to eat. Amazing in these times!
The Mighty Wurlitzer is an old time silent motion picture theater “unit orchestra.” Due to monetary constraints of motion picture theaters, they were unable to afford full orchestras.
These instruments were designed so one person could produce the sounds of the entire orchestra. Rather than the customary liturgical sounds found in church instruments, the pipe organs were designed with imitative orchestral tones in mind.
The drum section.
Accordion sounds come out here.
The organ console are actual specifications are extensive to say the least. Here are the numbers:
- 4 manuals – 61 keys each
- pedalboard – 32 keys
- 422 stoptabs (red denote reeds, amber for strings, ivory for flues)
- 113 combination action pistons and toe studs
- 5 expression pedals: Foundation, Main, Solo, General, and Crescendo
- 5 toe levers controlling traps and reversible stops
- 2 drawers housing 327 switches controlling various selective stops, sound effects, theatrical lighting and effects, and other console functions
During the late teens and early twenties, nearly every theatre installed pipe organs. Though they were manufactured by many companies, the Wurlitzer was considered by far the best.
The pipes are behind these glass panels. 
Organ Stop's Wurlitzer organ was built for the Denver Theatre in 1927. The organ was used regularly until the depression. With the advent of talking pictures, the organ was silences and rarely heard. Organ Stop purchased the instrument in the early 1970's and undertook the mammoth task of rebuilding the instrument. The resulting 23 rank organ was installed in the original facility in 1975.
The regulator takes the raw, static wind produced by the blowers, and regulates it to a precise pressure for the pipework it feeds. 
The building's design is expressly for the enjoyment of the patrons, with the organ installed in four chambers at one end of the restaurant. Forty-three foot ceilings provide unparalleled acoustic. The console is presented on an 8000 pound rotating hydraulic elevator that raises out of the floor at the beginning of each musical set.
Some of the wonderful songs Lew played were Battle Hymn of the Republic, America, This is my Country, Take Me Out to the Ballgame, Phantom of the Opera, and many, many other favorites. Before the first set ends, the Organist does a sing along with the crowd. Here is an example of a couple of the songs we sang along with.
This one was a crowd pleaser. 
As we are singing the last song, Lew, the Organist, fades away.
Going.
Going.
Gone.
The pizza is terrific and reasonably priced. For example our large pepperoni and mushroom pizza cost about $15 and large drinks were $1.50 each. Remember, there is no cost for the show, and you can remain in the restaurant for as many shows as you please.
We enjoyed our evening with Dave and Tracy and ended up pleasantly surprised when their daughter, Brittany, and Tracy's parents joined us.
L-R Marsha, Paul, Brittany, Dave, Tracy
We then drove the short distance to Tracy's parents house for dessert and further visiting. We will be enjoying Easter Sunday with this family this coming weekend.
We drove just a short way down the road to watch the moon rise over the Superstition Mountains. WOW!
Finally.
Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y'all back real soon. Have a great day!
Going to Organ Stop Pizza was quite an experience. We loved the music and all the extra little touches they had. The pizza was okay too. It's a great place with a group too.
ReplyDeleteWe LOVE Organ Stop Pizza. The old theater organs are slowly dwindling in number and it is a talented musician who can extract from one its full capability. I'm an enthusiast, and it's nice to visit again vicariously this fine venue. Thanks for another great post!
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting pizza place ... the interior is reminiscent of an old theater. Could it have been one?
ReplyDeleteWe love Organ Stop. Definitely a place you want to visit each time you visit this area.Have a wonderful Easter with your extended family.
ReplyDeleteJoyous Easter Sunday to you! Wow, if we are ever in that area that is a place I want to visit. Interesting info about the organ. I wonder how many hours and hours of practice it must take to understand all those controls. Hope Lew has an apprentice!! Great pictures of the moon rise too. Have a great day today.
ReplyDeleteThere used to be a place in Ellenton, FL, Roaring 20's Pizza and Pipes, that was an exact match of the place you visited. We used to go to Roaring 20's regularly. Can't figure why they ever closed. It was like you were there in your blog today.Thanks for the memories!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic old piece of equipment that Pipe Organ is. I just can't imagine ever learning to play one!
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks too for 'mooning' us - great photos!
When I was growing up, we used to go to the Hub Roller Rink in Chicago and skate to the sounds of a Wurlitzer pipe organ. I love listening to them.
ReplyDeleteWhat an interesting place! The organist must have a ball playing such an interesting instrument.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of the rising moon were incredible!!
Happy Easter! May you walk in Christ's resurrection power in the year ahead...blessings.
we used to ice skate to the pipe organ...always sounds so graceful to me...love the moon pictures wow...happy easter...
ReplyDeleteWow what a neat place.
ReplyDeleteThe church we volunteered at last month in Austin has a pipe organ. They are been offered in excess of $250,000 for it as it there are only 4 in the country like it. They were told if it had some repairs done it could go for as high as one million. This church is struggling financially as most weeks has but 12-14 in attendance.
Thanks for Mooning us too.
Don't know when we will be in that area next, but will sure stop in this place. I like all the "extra" musical instruments included with the organ.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. This is definitely a very unique place. We will have to check it out. The big question is...do they serve gluten-free pizza crusts?
ReplyDeleteKevin and Ruth
www.travelwithkevinandruth.com