Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie

Marc, Bev and our Australian Kelpie

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Organ Stop Pizza, Mesa
The restaurant originally started in Phoenix; a 2nd restaurant was opened in Mesa and by 1995 the business had changed ownership and was totally rebuilt & improved to the current two storey pizza restaurant and this Wurlitzer Theatre is the largest in the world with nearly 6,000 pipes. The theatre organ began when silent movies came about; the pianist or orchestra providing background music. By the early 1920's theatre pipe organs were installed.
The hydraulic, revolving stage is host to the Wurlitzer; the ceilings and rafters adorned with percussion instruments, all electronically synchronized to the organ. Instruments including pipe bells, xylophones, drums (snare, bongo, kettle), glockenspiels, and other sounds like old car horns, horsehooves, whistles.
The musicians (four employees in total) are world class musicians and have studied music since 4-9 years of age. Lew Williams played a wide variety of music, including classical, some requests (which were not our favorites by any means) and the best was the Mission Impossible Theme song. The hockey theme was played, followed by the Canadian anthem; about half the people stood up. Then the American anthem - and the other half of the restaurant stood up.
Just one small portion of the restaurant (thursday evening at about 6:30 pm and it is PACKED ... both levels). In the far right corner is Marc, talking to his uncle (in the blue short).
A fascinating experience and well worth the visit. Pizza was okay.

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