Mighty Wurlitzer

ORGAN STOP PIZZA - Mesa, Arizona

 A Fun experience - and happens to serve pizza.   For anyone who has been even remotely a musician, or wanna be it is a fabulous experience.



During the silent film era, motion picture theatres provided background music for their stage shows & silent movies with pit orchestras and pianists.   In the early 20's nearly every theatre installed theatre pipe organs.



The Wurlitzer was considered to be the best.  Organ Stop's Wurlitzer theatre organ was built for the Denver Theatre and installed in 1927.  In the 70's the instrument, after being silenced due to talking pictures & the depression plus a fire that damaged it, was purchased by Organ Stop.

(click on the link below if you would like to view one of many styles of music played by the extremely talented Lew Williams);  Phantom of the Opera is the most popular piece and most requested. . . yes, they take requests and play birthday tunes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOvXRqpy1Ys&feature=related

Improvements and enlargement has been an ongoing project.. . . with the addition of a larger console, sets of pipes added, 32' wooden diaphones, the organ has nearly 6000 piles.   The ceilings and walls are adorned by several percussions and effects, making it the largest Wurlitzer in the world.

Charlie Balogh and Lew Williams are the primary organists and have long muscical careers and named "Organist of the Year" by the American Theatre Organ Society with performances throughout the US and around the globe.  Donna Parker resides in Portland, OR and has performed throughout the US, canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.  All began their careers from age 7 to 11.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhla3nIANSg&feature=related

The food?   Pizza is good (not alot of variety and not 'gourmet' but good).  Always a busy venue, have to say the service is quick and the entertainment is phenomenal.   Have been here five times now over a couple of years, showing new friends how amazing it is.  It is fabulous for all ages and is always packed full of all age groups.  Last year an elderly man fell from trying to sit on the bench and hit is head - temporarily stunning him.   His wife seemed very unconcerned and stated she was a nurse.  He needed to be wheeled out & we hope he was alright.   Kids thoroughly enjoy the 'cat marionnettes' that come out from the curtain during specific segments in time with the beat of the music and "The Little Mermaid" song, complete with bubbles from the ceiling send them reeling.

Local wildlife

Well, okay not "TRUE" wildlife.  But W - I - L - D  nontheless! 

Tazz & Kylie continue with their studies & absolutely love it!   Have been enjoying the indoor (Mall) arena we get to practise in.   Good practise for myself as I feel very uncomfortable having people watch me.   In this field where I sometimes practise, a couple of little mexican girls have swung by (with the father watching) & took cell phone videos.   One day, went by, had finished playing and the father sounded disappointed - he wanted to watch the dogs training!  Sweet and a fabulous neighbourhood.

Peach-faced love birds; they are indigenous to Africa and following the accidental release of some domesticated birds in the Phoenix area, these birds have learned to survive in the Arizona desert.  They are popular at local feeders including the ones in the private yard we are currently staying in.   Hummingbirds, doves, finches, cardinals, flickers and wrens visit frequently.

Gambel's Quail - frequent the yard, picking up seeds from the trees but they are very shy birds. . .  managed to open the door and get a photo of these five (there were seven in total) lined up on the fence.

Occasionally, we see a Roadrunner streaking across the desert.   It has been too cool for them to out and about for the most part - and when you see them, there are usually rattlesnakes close by as that is one of their favorite foods.  They are very cute and will run along at turbo speeds, then quickly stop and listen - not unlike robins we see at home.  On the golf courses they are not shy & if you have something to feed them, they will follow you.

Have heard alot about this bird but never realized what I have been seeing - don't know if, at times, sounds were made by the Mockingbird.  I'm sure I have heard them, just haven't known it.

They come from the trasher, tremblers and new world catbirds family.  One Mockingbird can have 30 or 40 sounds but up to 200 in its repertoire.  They can mimick bird sounds, insects, ampibians and sometimes mechanical sounds and things like squeaky gates, barking dogs and sirens.   They fee in grassy areas and like thick, thorny shrubs for hiding the nests.

Golfing



Typical house on the oldest golf course - Arizona Golf



Arizona Golf Course - owned by the bank and still operating - right now at "full speed" with all the visitors to the Valley.  Prices have jumped up since December.   Have been finding deals on the net at this golf course for approx $18,  now you are fortunate to find a spot but they are still very reasonable at under $25.00.   Not so on alot of other courses.  The couple we golfed with today are from N. Scottsdale - one of their favorite courses is now approx $220.00 per booking - in the summer, it is $25.00.

Last week Thursday, same thing  at this course - backed right up on the first par three and from then on it was mayheim and we played until dark - made it to hole 16.

"New tech putter ---- a BRICK ON A STICK"

Today, showed up, there was a frost warning so everything was backed up by an hour.  I know - sounds weird for those in Canada wondering what???  as they are having frigid cold fronts sweeping the country - they get inversions here and the frost doesn't last but it does happen. 

In the summer some people don't like playing early in the morning as the temperature rising causes vapor and humidity - they would rather play from 2-4:00 before it gets 'really' 'really' 'really' hot. 

Several groups quit today and left but it looked like total mayheim.   We got on 1/2 an hour after our tee time (original time was 1:00) so we went for it.   This is the first par three (four groups of four backed up) but surprisingly it spread out quickly and pace was great the whole rest of the way and finished in just over four hours, which is standard at Arizona Golf.

Unfortunately, Marc needs to "change his swing" (LOL) once again -  his new putter is working wonders but he lost four balls today!   Back to the driving range for him.

Canal Bike Rides

Just showing the 'control' this woman has while cycling past the four of us, with her three terriers.  

En route, we see a variety of housing; from decrepid, to expansive and huge, to farming on lots and acreages.  This peacock farm was en route to Gilbert along the canals; neighbouring residences housed goats, donkey, llamas, and lots of the horses.   Some with cattle - one huge house of about 5,000 sq ft had a sectioned off portion for the back yard and the rest was housing six cows.  All, within city limits.

Fishing along the canals - carp, bass, trout - occasional shopping cart & tire.

 

Tazz goes to April & John's for a regular massage! (friends from the Comox Valley who are living two streets over).  Next door to them lives "Jellybean" - the goat & several rabbits (not your regular rabbits).   

Not at all like this wild rabbit on the AZ Golf Course.

On an end note (for now), we have both visited Walgreens & while waiting for a prescription, spotted some very eye catching hair products:

Gorilla Snot -The ultimate hair gel - for punk, mohawks and extreme hair holding styles.

Made in Mexico, it is the only hair gel that is made for all day hold, and with three levels of hold factor, some has been known to hold for three to four days without flakes or residue!   Hmmmm ... may need to trade my "Dumb Blonde" and "Bed Head" products in!