The Mighty Wurlitzer At Organ Stop Pizza

[firesurfer262]

Grew up going to Pizza & Pipes in Seattle. Unfortunately it no longer exists. Luckily Organ Stop is 20 min from me. Hope it stays a long while so my 3 yr old daughter can enjoy it as much as I did.

[brady0715]

haha Jesus Christ Superstar! I knew this song sounded familiar!

[maso608]

I wonder if she ever gets dizzy?

[lcextra]

I've been going to Organ Stop since I was about 2 or 3, before the old location closed down. It's only about an hour and a half from where I live so I go as often as possible. If you haven't been here, believe me, it is worth the trip!!

[MISisback]

I have had the privelege of seeing this organ in action while on vacation to my parents' winter home over Christmas of 2006. They told me, "You gotta see this!" Boy, were they right! It's absolutely awe-striking!

[Goldenrod636]

Don't they have a television that records this?

[Blackboilingrobotoil]

We had a place like this in Vancouver Wa. called Uncle Milts Pipe Organ Pizza. It was fucking awesome! They closed it down in the late 90's, and I will take my son all the way to Arizona just to see one of these places.

[ezerhauden]

I eat here all the time!



[EchoHarmonic]

I AM IN AWE. :D :D :D

[Mystep]

Man that's alot of cheese!

[pronkfan789]

Is that the one that came out of the St. George Theatre on Staten Island?

[irish66212]

@pronkfan789...no this organ came from the Denver Theatre, it was originall installed in 1927..

[linseribus]

JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR

[Dragonsfire867]

Fabulous place. Brings back memories of my childhood when my family used to go there.

[Adamrc98]

i remember organ stop it is overall one of the most amazing things i have ever seen the phantom of the opera always freaked me out though but it is amazing

[ferretboy1187]

I wasnt quite sure at first whether or not she was playing Jesus Christ Superstar, but yes, indeed, she was

[roodebrug]

Fantastisch om zo een orgel te kunnen bespelen.

[pentecostdan]

my hats off to anyone who can play it so complex

[bosstoneswg]

JESUS CHRIST! SUPERSTAR!

[TVWriterGuy]

I wish I had known about theatre organs and movie palaces when I was young. I was raised in a very strict evangelical Christian environment where we couldn't go to any type of theatre. I just discovered this world of great music not too long ago. I would have loved to have been a theatre organist instead of a church organist.

[SweetJaneofGoth]

@TVWriterGuy So was I, but it didn't stop me from being gay and having my first girlfriend at church camp.

[TVWriterGuy]

@SweetJaneofGoth Church camp. wow...the memories. Scary times.

[DengarTime]

Beautiful organ.. insanely impressive knowing its been 'added onto' over the years... And for the life of me, i must learn what that first song is!

[MR87IROCZ]

it came to organ stoip in 1927 and later instruments were added

[kennyfication88]

This is soooo AWESOME! :O Need More!

[TheClanMacGregor]

I was heartbroken when the one here in Tacoma burned down, I loved Pizza & Pipes. I was the only kid in my elementry school that knew the name of the Toccatta en fuge in D minor.

[possermaniac]

JESUS CRIST SUPERSTAAR!!!

[bigblockelectra]

what is the build date on this instrument?

[JonasClark]

@bigblockelectra Not sure on the original one, the nucleus of this, but the current one is the result of loads of adding-on, and is currently at 78 ranks, just two under the world's largest (at Sanfilippo).

[marcocatenazzi]

KICHT

[zrc00kie]

i was just there today :) they opened with willy wonka.... i think that was the person that performed too :)

[Chicagofan312]

Why would there be a pipe organ in a pizza place?

[silencedogood2525]

Why not?

[flyboy13131313]

@Chicagofan312 It a great place for big groups to celebrate at a low cost.Youtube can't do it justice,must be there to see.

[DollfaceNesmith]

my sister says he's still in debt for this place and still paying for that organ.

[MR87IROCZ]

@DollfaceNesmith so he actually owns organ stop pizza?

[DollfaceNesmith]

@MR87IROCZ yeah I guess so.

[ashley6195]

really cool

[willowthebored]

Good lawd, that console is humongous... how many ranks is this?

[449GO]

around 80 i think

[willowthebored]

Jeez, that's big for a theater. I still prefer my French Romantic instruments, but that is certainly not lacking in resources.

[KPO6859]

The last I heard, it was 74 ranks.

[mutanttaco]

i went to the JB Nethercutt Collection in LA and Donna Parker played, and the music was absolutely amazing!

[ownerfate]

i like this song....it has really cool beat...i wish i knew what it was called....

[rodtruckdesign1]

it's called superstar...from the musical jesus christ superstar by andrew lloyd webber and tim rice

[ownerfate]

thank you.

[butheadVSbevus]

this off jesus christ superstar the title song.

[AVALONFANINVA]

they have a player at our theater The BYRD Theater

[Theyoungorganist01]

OMG I have to try out a rotating lift it looks well fun. Im just used to a straight up and down ones in cinemas lol

[lstdy]

The world needs more of these places...

[JonasClark]

@lstdy At one time, I've documented 65 organ-equipped restaurants across the US and Canada, most of them pizza parlors (but not all - Alaska once had a "Steak & Pipes"). Four remain: Organ Loft in Salt Lake (open as banquet hall only, hybrid 5/32 Wurlitzer/Robert Morton), Organ Piper in Greenfield, Wisconsin (hybrid 3/30 Wurlitzer/Kimball), Beggars Pizza in Lansing, Illinois (3manual Barton), and Organ Stop in Mesa, Arizona (4/78 Wurlizer). Supposedly, one is planned in Reno, Nevada next year.

[MBStargazer]

@JonasClark

At one time in 1970's Milwaukee we had three Pizza parlors with Theatre organs! Only Organ Piper remains.

[Organsk8er]

@MBStargazer Yes...there were 3 pizza places, and a German restaurant that had pipe organs in Milwaukee alone, plus all of the places that had electronic organs. Now only the Organ Piper remains in Milwaukee, and the Piper and Organ Stop (seen here) are the only ones left with organ music full-time...there a few others around that still have organ music on a part-time basis...including Beggar's Pizza in Lansing, IL, which can also be seen on YouTube.

[MestizoFilipino]

@lstdy The one that I used to go to actually closed down... but I loved going there..

[sideslide23]

I've just went to this pizza place tonight man this Organ plays well compare to the one at the Conference center in Salt Lake City

[The14thDoctor]

Superb entrance...who's the organist? :)

[Wurlitzer1351]

Donna Parker is the organist

[carriecann]

i saw it live before it went to Oregon, in Pacific Beach at Organ Power Pizza.

[Hobbs360]

i can eat hot pizza... and see this?

[FajitaBob]

Yup! It's amaaaaayzing.... I've been there!

[alefroemming]

where is it???

[PhoenicianPrince4]

Mesa, Arizona

Pretty much a part of Phoenix.

[PhoenicianPrince4]

Mesa, Arizona

Mesa is pretty much a part of Phoenix.

[Sabored]

Jesus Christ Super Star?... SOUNDS GREAT!

[hapsblog]

There used to be the "Organ Grinder" Pizza place in Portland. They closed it down about 14 years ago, much to my dismay.

Maybe someday I'll make a trip to Mesa and see this one.

[toddsimmonds]

There was also a Paramount Music Palace in Indianapolis in the late 70's thru the early 90's and it was AWESOME. It was nearly identical to this restaurant.

[alanman87]

The Place is called One Stop Pizza and it's located in Mesa, Arizona.

I live here and have seen it several times. If you ever make a trip to Phoenix, it's well worth seeing.

[carterdriggs]

Organ Stop Pizza.I live in Mesa too, and have worked here. ORGAN Stop Pizza.

[RonRizzy]

God I love that 8' Post Horn in the pedal! lol

[Novaheart1998]

ohhh I want one of those in my living room!

[zrc00kie]

@Novaheart1998 good luck considering the organ itself is about the size of a 2-story house :P

[coilgunner2]

Wurlitzer organs scare the crap out of me! especially the ones that come out of the ground in front of the stage. Ever since I saw that pre-Wallace and Gromit short they kinda creeped me out. However this one isn't so bad because it is playing happy music.

[joejnyc]

Nice dismount!

[ASSEMblerEX]

What is this? Is this really a pizza shop???

[acchos]

yes, u bet it is, lol, and the 2nd largest theatre organ in the world!

[WingsWinTheCup]

I sure do miss the "Roaring 20's Pizza" in Grand Rapids, MI.

[Yellowcorrado]

If you ever get to Tampa, you might want to visit the Roaring 20's Pizza there.

[WingsWinTheCup]

Yeah I've seen their website. Would love to get there some day. It looks just like the one that was in Grand Rapids. Seems like there may have been one in Kalamzoo, Mi at one time too. There is an Organ Piper Pizza near Milwaukee. One of the Organist there is Ron Reseigh. His dad was one of the organist at Roaring 20's in Grand Rapids.

[bassclef48532]

AMEN!!! I live on the other side of the state but would make the lamest excuses to get over to Roaring 20's!!

[64mung]

Goose bumps!

[soccercleatscrush]

WOW, I am going to look on line right now for an "Organ Stip Pizza", I know I want to go there when I am out that way; I would be there every night if there was one here near NYC

[pogonip8532853]

organ stop pizza is in tempe, AZ

[Yellowcorrado]

Address says 1149 E Southern in MESA AZ..

[Kelly19982011]

oh and the wierd thing was it was for a band trip and we played jesus christ superstar for our contest.

[Kelly19982011]

I went to an organ stop pizza in arizona...it was amazing

[reiche06]

What is that melody ? Anything famous ?

[JonasClark]

Pizza & Pipes in Bellevue was my "home place" for years. When it closed, I went to Tacoma for a few years. Both beautiful instruments. Organ Stop is an amazing place, and can get VERY loud. And yes, sanfilippo's WurliTzer is bigger by a few ranks, but has far more classical ranks, whereas 90% of Organ Stop is theatrical (though well-tuned - switch off the trems and you get magnificent classical sound)

[PeterSteele111]

i have been there i used to live in glendale az and visited. it was really cool. i played in the arcade they had there. it was really an awsome place!

[yetanotherpearl]

I love that this exists! :D

[paulbrockenhagen]

Man, Pizza Hut and Domino's don't have ANYTHING on this!

[methodistgirl]

@paulbrockenhagen :You are not kidding. I went to an organ stop pizza

back in the 80s. I just loved it. Now I would love it if I could get a hold of

this monster.

methodistgirl

[er10b]

@paulbrockenhagen so true. Eagle Boys (pizza franchise down under) doesn't have anything like it either. They so should!

[bigblockelectra]

I wish the Pizza and Pipes place was still in Bellevue, WA. They shut it down to build more roads to the convention center. They left a dumpy-ass Coco's restaraunt there but took out the good place. The organ was sold to some guy in Maple Valley. The other Pizza and Pipes place in Tacoma burned down and the organ was lost.

[BayAreaBiker2001]

There is a Pizza & Pipes in Redwood City, CA, but there is no longer an organ there. There is another Pizza & Pipes in Santa Clara, but an elctronic organ. There is a video arcade where the pipes were originally. The only pizza parlors with organ within my biking range are Ye Olde Pizza Joynt in San Lorenzo, and another, whose name I forgot, in San Jose.

[alanor76]

To really appreciate this you should be shoving 50 watts per channel into a pair of Spendor BC2s (or equivalent)like what I do. It must be a bit like being there.

[acchos]

you`d need at least 100 watts per channel for it to be anywhere near the real thing, and some big subs, 18" might do the job.

[BUNGLEJYME]

I got to hear the Midmer-Losh in Altantic City Convention hall played about ten years ago. It was the most awesome thing I had ever heard. The echo is incredible. I also got to tour the main stage chambers twice; once for four hours. Love the rumble of that 64' Daiphone Profunda. I also became friends with Tim Hoag who had been one of the organists at the hall.

[acchos]

Its the most awesome thing i`ve ever heard and i`ve only heard it from recordings.

[JonasClark]

Organ Stop and Sanfillippo have Ken Crome-built consoles, and beautiful ones at that. Organ Stop's current one is a Brooklyn Paramount replica, which replaced a smaller 4-manual Modernistic or "Waterfall", also by Crome. Sanfillippo has an amazing replica of the 5-manual Chicago Paradise Theatre console, complete with four cherubs and mirror-backed busts of Tchaikowsky and Franz Liszt, save that this one has two gold ovals on the lid - the original had two painted Cameos.

[JonasClark]

The Wanamaker organ has more pipes, but the Midmer-Losh at Boardwalk Hall has more ranks. Or the other way 'round, I can't remember offhand. And parts of the Midmer-Losh are indeed playable - in fact, one whole chamber, including the high-pressure reeds (on an incredible 50" and 100" wind pressures) are in working order. But at least 80% of the organ is not.

[acchos]

The wanamaker, 28,000 pipes, Midmer Losh 33,000 pipes.

Currently the midmer losh is unplayable, but the 64ft dulzian is now working. You can also go on a tour of the organ, which takes around 5 hrs, but well worth it.

[elrustito]

Every time I'm in Phoenix, I want to stop by Organ Stop Pizza. I love that big old organ. Haven't been there in a number of years, but every time I go, it's a blast.

[playa2]

yes but were talking about wurlitzer not midmer losh

[Mark7lincoln]

I personally got to sit and talk to Donna Parker here in Wichita, wonderful and very nice lady that likes to have fun on the organ, and her outfits are just stunning in performance to. She played this song (Jesus Christ Superstar) here at Little River Studio on the Wichita Miller Theater Wurlitzer which now is played with the last console that Jessie Crawford played on before he died. Talk about WOW the song was awsome in such a little room.

[Mark7lincoln]

Complete orginal wurlitzers or theater organs period are RARE more so with the bigger ones. And I hear that Organ Stop plans on installing more ranks so it may turn out to be the bigger one soon. But if you want true wonderful blend of Wurlitzer sound big and small go to Wichita Kansas to hear the mighty NY Paramount Wurlitzer. All the theater organ people and major players say its the best sound big or small.

[Mark7lincoln]

Ok people, I have done tons of wurlitzer reserch, I know what came from the Wurlitzer factor and what didn't. I have a complete opus # sorce. Yes, Radio Music Hall's Wurlitzer is the biggest made from the factory, Yes Organ Stop Pizza has other 'brands' in it, BUT.. the core of it is Wurlitzer. Thats ALSO is the same for the Sanfilippo, but the console is one keyboard bigger than Organ Stop. Both Sanfilippo and Organ Stop have custom made consoles.

[diaphone32]

The one the only Donna Parker at the mighty 4 manual

78 rank Wurlitzer hybrid special at Organ Stop

Pizza.

[paranormaalutrecht]

great!

[acchos]

In Stephen D. smiths book he states that 33,114 pipes is likely to be the minimum number of pipes in the A.C organ.

He has looked at everything very carefully, working notes, contracts, bills, everthing you could think of for over twenty years.

I agree with him on pipe numbers, but one cant be too sure. The pipes in the wanamaker have never been counted either, just estimated, and some ranks were found to have less pipes than thought.

[sayspepe]

The biggest organ in the world is actually the Wanamaker Grand Court organ in philidelphia, PA...Google it its huge and its a 7 story Pipe organ and the console itself is bigger then a wurlitzer!!

[acchos]

Wrong, its the midmer losh organ in boardwalk hall atlantic city, it has 33,114 pipes and 1235 stops and 7 manuals (two 85 notes and one 73 notes, the other 4 are 61 note)

The wanamaker organ has 28,500 pipes and 750 stops and six manuals (61 notes each).

[niksiz]

Wanamaker Organ: 462 Ranks

Midmer-Losh: 449 Ranks

Wanamaker Organ: 95% playable

Midmer-Losh: 0% playable

[wurlitzermad]

and3583 i play that very compton !!! i am trying to get some videos of it onto youtube

[KleitonLehnen]

psicodelic!!

[gsmith160]

I would like to add, that the Wannamaker at Macy's IS the LARGEST PLAYING pipe organ in the world :O)  Soon, under its fine curators and the pipeorgan techs in the symposium, it will be up to 100%, as it is not far from being FULLY functional now at 95% !!!

Just my two cents.

......G

[acoustics101]

I have a cousin in Mesa, AZ who sent me a CD of this. The CD is a challenge for any good stereo system. It looks like a great installation! It reminds me a little of the Music Palace north of Cincinnati, but bigger and better.

[mikes47jeep]

i always think of silent movies whe i hear a wurlitzer

[brandonelliot]

I'm gonna check it out!!! Its a shame, I play, and i was born/raised in Phoenix (STILL living here) but think I only came there once when I was a child. Wow, i'm a Hammond B-3 guy but I have yet to play a real PIPE organ. I can't wait to play one!

[jmaster69]

awsome job!!!  what is the name of this song?!?! Its wonderful and sounds great on this organ

[acoustics101]

It's from Jesus Christ, Superstar by Andrew Lloyd Weber.

[JonasClark]

As much as they call it the biggest, I believe the Sanfilippo instrument is, indeed, the largest by two ranks. The largest *original* WurliTzer is the Radio City Music Hall organ at 56 ranks. Yes, that's a reproduction console, not an original. A "toy counter" consists of all the sound effect devices. The pullout drawer she reaches for is traditionally used for toy counter but here also controls lighting.

[and3583]

It would be big enough for me, I grew up with a 3/10 Compton (now 3/9, google Compton Ryhope for pic), it had orig. console but it was a bit flimsy. Had the Compton sound, which is a bit more "Sunday Best" and British(though both Wurlitzer and Compton came from the mind of Robert Hope - Jones and John Compton, Hope - Jones had to sell his patents to Rudolph Wurlitzer through debt. If you really want to see / hear Compton at its best get "The World Of The Cinema Organ Vol. 2" with Ronald Curtis.

[jamez123123]

Brilliant!!

i love the wurlitzer

[m4dan]

It contains all the "effects: like car horn, vibes, etc.

[mkw2002]

Shane told me to check this out. Sanfilippo Superstar!

mkw2002 (white? lol)

[dkelzenb]

Yeah Donna!! YOU ROCK!!

dkelz

[SylNYC]

Homegirl is ROCKING the keys!!! LOVE IT!!! More POP arrangements please!!! and more videos on YouTube!!!

[FrCusus]

I know. I live a skip, hop, and a jump up the road. It's an amazing organ.

[FrCusus]

Convention hall beats the living hell out of this organ. Just to let you know it's not the largest. The largest organ is in the Atlantic City, NJ, Convention Hall(Old One). The largest OPERATIONAL organ in the world is the Wanamaker organ in Philly.

[acchos]

Of course it does, its winds pessures are out of this world. there was once a competition between a rock band , who played as loud and as hard as they could against the convnetion hall organ. The organ wiped them out. The wanamker organs highest windpressure is 25 inches, the convention hall is at least 4 times louder, with 4 stops on 100 inches.

[Yellowcorrado]

The above was stated from the Organ Stops website under the link The Mighty Wurlitzer. Quoted word for word.

[Yellowcorrado]

Just to clear things up. "Through the years, several rare sets of pipes have been added to the organ, including a massive set of 32' wood diaphones (visible from the front of the building). As of 2006, the organ boasts nearly 6000 pipes. The massive quantities of wind required for operation are provided by four huge turbine blowers (visible from the outside of the building in the blower complex). The resulting instrument is the largest Wurlitzer theatre organ in the world!"

[chzzyomlet]

Well, it's an amazing organ no matter.

[hopeyjo]

...to be sure, it's Goliath!

[hopeyjo]

Actually, It's not a Wurlitzer. Its a a collection of Wurlitzer, Austin, Murray Harris and other brands of pipework - all I might add, played from a reproduction Wurlitzer console.

[Dojora4]

The largest Wurlitzer in a public venue to be completely accurate

[chzzyomlet]

He was actually kinda correct, because it is the world's biggest Wurlitzer organ

[davidgray2]

The largest all wurlitzer organ in the world is probably a lot smaller than this one, but the largest one entitled Wurlitzer is the Sanfilippo salon one, only by 2 ranks. This one's way better though!

[tylergig]

Thats Donna Parker playing Jesus Crist Super Star at Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa Arizona. Its not the biggest Theatre Pipe Organ In the world, or the US, but its on the top 10 list.

[bradhorn14]

this orga, in fact, is the only WurliTzer organ to have an open toy counter. looking at the organists back, the toy counter in up on the left above everyone. this organ is NOT the biggest in the world, #1 is AC convention center, #2 is the Midmer Losch organ at wannamaker mall

[drakkette]

Brad I think you are mistaken. If you go to Organ Stops website, it has been, in fact, named the worlds largest pipe organ. organstoppizza dot com

[bradhorn14]

well as a matter of fact, for theatre organs yeas. i am talking about in shear number of pipes, the nj convention hall is still the largest organ at 45,000 pipes. and over 600 stops maybe more not sur though on actual number of pipes.

[acchos]

convention hal organ has 33114 pipes, the originall specification was for 48000 pipes, but there wasnt enough room so some stops had to be abolished. the result was 33114 pipes and 1235 stops.

google search for the atlantic city convention hall organ and u will get its website. the nj convention hall is the atlantic city convention hall.

[bradhorn14]

sory about my mis information. i was loking at the orgional info from the pre stages of construction.. so sad its unoperational

[tylergig]

nope. Biggest organ is in Atlantic City Convention Hall. <- Fact

[AllenOrganCrazy]

I believe they were talking about the biggest theater organ.

[itswagon]

Sorry the biggest "Theatre Organ" (Orchestral pipes) is still in the Ballroom of the Atlantic City Convention Hall and it is a Kimball.

[Organsk8er]

The Kimball organ in the Atlantic City Ballroom is not a true theatre organ. A theatre organ, or "unit organ" as it is commonly definited is just as it says. Unit. There are many stops derived from fewer actual ranks. The Organ Stop Wurlitzer sits at at LEAST 74 ranks, maybe bigger by now, the Kimball in the Ballroom contains many "straight" ranks (NOT unit) in addition to the unit ones. The Ballroom organ is 55 ranks.

[fondled]

nope the biggest organ is in my pants.

[acchos]

your in a muddle. The largest is the atlantic city convention hall midmer losh organ with 33114 pipes, the second largest is the wanamaker organ in Philidelphia with 28000 pipes.

[formby2]

What's a toy counter? I'm an English theatre organ fan, though not all that into the technicalities, but have never heard of one of these. I'm guessing it's the desk the organist keeps going to but I've never seen this in the UK.