Last week, the documentary’s Southwest Road Trip commenced.
The first stop on that journey was a somewhat solemn affair, despite being a visit to what is normally a location created to be beautiful and joyful: A pilgrimage of sorts to the Egyptian Theatre in Coos Bay, Oregon, where organist Paul Quarino performed on, maintained, and served as a feisty advocate for the theatre’s Wurlitzer pipe organ.
Organ Grinder fans likely remember Paul – he was the most frequent performer at the original Portland restaurant (as well as making many trips to perform at the Denver location) – and he was the last one to perform for the public when the restaurant closed in 1996.
After 23 years at the Organ Grinder, Paul eventually moved to Coos Bay, where he more-or-less adopted the theatre’s Wurlitzer. The instrument is special because it is the only remaining Wurlitzer in Oregon which is still in its original location.
It’s not a particularly large or glamorous instrument – but it is a workhorse. Making music for audiences for nearly a century, the console bears many signs of wear, and of modifications done and undone. (Some decades ago, the console had been modified with a fourth manual, but according to Paul, the layout made little sense for a performer, and the way in which the console was modified was not visually successful, so one of the first things he did was to return the setup to something closer to its original configuration.)
Paul was supposed to be interviewed for the documentary, but last year he experienced a medical event which, after weeks of hospitalization, led to his passing. We are lucky that he sat for a full interview with another filmmaker during the pandemic to talk about the Egyptian and its Wurlitzer, and that footage has been obtained for use in the documentary, so Paul will be in the film. Last Wednesday’s visit to the Egyptian was to gather B-Roll for a segment in the film about Paul’s legacy.
Paul became a beloved member of the theatre’s governing board (and of the local public) – and some might say he was an institution in and of himself. His office door – which also was one of the organ’s pipe chambers at the top of some rickety backstage stairs – bears a plaque reading “Main Chamber – Office de Paulito Q” and a framed sign stating “Warning: Beware of the Organ Player”.
The theatre is keeping Paul’s memory alive in the lobby, with two photos, one of young Paul, shortly after high school, and one of him at the Egyptian’s console, with a costume hat making him look like a pharaoh, with an inscription reading “The Mighty Wurlitzer Wizard”.
But a theatre is not a place for sustained melancholy (even the most tragic plays and films have their moments of levity), and as I’m sure Paul would agree – The Show Must Go On!
And, in keeping with that, the theatre and the pipe organ are about to celebrate a century of entertaining audiences – the Egyptian’s centennial anniversary is this November, and a big celebration is planned for November 15th. If you happen to be in the area, check it out – the theatre is lovingly cared-for and photographs don’t quite do its interior justice.
After the show, if you listen carefully, you might just hear Paul’s laughter emanating from the chambers.
Special thanks to David Engholm of the Egyptian who facilitated this shoot – and who plays the Wurlitzer quite well himself!
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