Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Organ Power Pizza
Excellent album jacket. The record isn't very good. Most Wurlitzer theater organ records disappoint, which I'll be writing about probably next week regarding one that doesn't. But the picture is sure to cheer Carrie in L.A. It'll be 10 degrees & windy on this New York corner tomorrow night.**
Rutgers defeats Villanova 60-51. Away game. Epiphanny Prince scored 29 points, including 12-for-12 free throws. Well alright. Next up is Marquette, who just beat Notre Dame.
My two local women's teams: Union County College Owls are undefeated in Div. III Junior College play. Kean University Cougars are 12-3 in NCAA Div. III play.
***
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"If a nation expects to be ignorant and free, in a state of civilization, it expects what never was and never will be." Thomas Jefferson
You know, when I lived in the North County area of San Diego in the mid 1970's, there was this pizza place (I cannot for the life of me remember the name) where there was a huge ass organ and this great player. My favorite piece played on that organ was, of course, Elton John's "Funeral For A Friend." I would go there at least twice a month just to listen to the organ. It was monstrous.
Yeah, that's the place! Organ Power Pizza. I can't believe you know the place. Did you ever go there?
That's the organ! And, I thought it was Pacific Beach, but I didn't want to say so, not remembering exactly everything about that time. Thanks for the link, though, and a great trip down memory lane.
I loved Organ Power Pizza and went all the time. You could dance to "The Hustle" or "Hava Nagila". We had our favorite organist and would go when they were playing. The pizza wasn't too bad, either.
# posted by 
: 12:53 AM
: 12:53 AM
Yes, I remember that place, it Was organ power pizza! It was on university in San Diego! they had a giant pipe organ! Does anyone remember a restaurant called The Triton? It was also on University or maybe it was ElCajon Blvd. they specialized in seafood and served abalone! the tables were in caves, the tables had seashells in bedded in them!
# posted by : 11:05 PM
: 11:05 PM
Ha ha ha- I went all the time w/my parents, I was pretty young but I LOVED it!! They took requests and I always requested The Entertainer. That organ was all over the walls and stuff would open up and play and go back in the wall- WILD. Wish someone had pics.
# posted by : 5:27 PM
: 5:27 PM
Organ Power Pizza moved to an old movie theater in Lemon Grove CA in the '80s. Wish I could remember the name of the fellow who played. He was fantastic!! Particularly popular were his renditions of Phantom of the Opera and Music Box Dancer.
I will always remember Organ Power Pizza! What power indeed. I had to look it up tonight after seeing the following:
http://www.knightarts.org/community/detroit/your-words-random-acts-of-culture
http://www.knightarts.org/community/detroit/your-words-random-acts-of-culture
# posted by : 7:32 PM
: 7:32 PM
I remembered!!! His name is Tommy Stark, and he has a couple of performances on You Tube. He was soooo terrific. Haven't seen him for over 25 years now.
# posted by : 7:41 PM
: 7:41 PM
Just a bit of fun trivia, though I never had been to Organ Power Pizza restaurant, their organ originally was in the Uptown Theatre in Chicago and my great aunt Adelaide Casey was the organist at that theatre back in the 1920's. I think after Organ Power Pizza closed down, the organ was dismantled and sold for parts.
Thanks for that bit of trivia, Judy. My dad was born in Chicago. He's no longer with us, or I would have loved to ask him about that. I'm sad to learn the organ was dismantled. It was beautiful.
# posted by : 2:35 PM
: 2:35 PM
Though the individual components of the organ live on (all over the place), the console is apparently in the California Theatre (formerly the Fox Theatre) in San Jose, CA. My great aunt Adelaide was a native of Waverly, Minnesota. She started out playing at a theatre in Minneapolis but eventually made her way to Chicago where she played at the Uptown and the Orpheum theatres. A bygone era for sure.....
I was stationed in San Diego from 74 - 78. I remember the pipe organ, pizza was ok ... picnic table/candles setting. But for some reason I thought it was either Pacific Beach, or up towards Claremont are.
We went back to vist family in 82 and found Organ Powered Pizza out on Impearial, in the EL Cajon area? Not sure if it was the same one.
You could watch the large pipe's doors on the wall open and close.
Phantom of Opera theme was always a big hit.
We went back to vist family in 82 and found Organ Powered Pizza out on Impearial, in the EL Cajon area? Not sure if it was the same one.
You could watch the large pipe's doors on the wall open and close.
Phantom of Opera theme was always a big hit.
# posted by : 9:52 PM
: 9:52 PM
You're partly right, Anonymous. It was in the Clairemont area during the years you mentioned. That was when I first visited it with a church group. It moved from there to Lemon Grove to the old movie theater on Lemon Grove Ave (previously named Imperial Ave). I worked in an office just two doors down from there. And, you're right. Phantom was always a big hit, as was Music Box Dancer. :)
There were actually FOUR Organ Power Pizza restaurants operating concurrently! 1st was in Kearney Mesa, and had a three manual, eleven rank Wurlitzer organ. 2nd was in Pacific Beach and had the five manual, twenty-seven rank Moller used by Reginald Foort; that organ is still around. Third was in Solana and had a four manual, twenty rank Robert Morton organ. 4th was in Lemon Grove, and had a four manual, thirty-four rank Wurlitzer; I think this one opened in 1981. I don't know where the other three organs went.
# posted by : 12:19 PM
: 12:19 PM
Unfortunately the organist of the San Diego one Chris Gorsuch has passed away we was way to young only in his 50's so sad to see the redcurrants gone and the organist's passing away and not very many young folks are interested in the organ like they are with their electronic's..
A little late into the conversation .... but just doing some research and came across your site. I think, in fact I am sure, the 1925 Wurlitzer that used to be in the Kearney Mesa location is now in the Cremorne Hayden Orpheum Cinema in Sydney, Australia.
It has been restored and is played regularly. Still sounds great!
Come over on vacation and listen to it some time.
Pete.
Sydney, Australia.
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It has been restored and is played regularly. Still sounds great!
Come over on vacation and listen to it some time.
Pete.
Sydney, Australia.
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