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During each performer’s 45-50 minute set at the Organ Grinder, there were a few routine bits that were usually included, such as a silent movie, or a round of Happy Birthday. One well-known bit was to play “Tiny Bubbles” while running the bubble machines located high above the audience. Children (and some adults!) would run…
In Franklin, Wisconsin, a suburb of Milwaukee, there exists an ordinary distribution warehouse in a large office park. To the average passer-by, this is just one of several buildings in the community owned by Carma Laboratories, the makers of the famous yellow tins of Carmex lip balm and other products. But listen closely, and over…
On April 8, Toby Washburn stopped by Carma Labs in Franklin, Wisconsin to demonstrate the unusual pipe organ constructed in the warehouse. As part of our Midwest Tour, The Organ Grinder Documentary project visited Carma Labs (which you may recognize as the manufacturers of Carmex lip balm) to explore the wild and over-the-top things people…
After visiting Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, the next stop on our Midwest Tour was Beggars Pizza in Lansing, IL. Beggars Pizza is a regional franchise chain in Illinois and Indiana, with about two dozen restaurants. The Lansing location is unique because it was originally a cinema – the Lans Theater, which first opened in 1947….
(Two monkeys, to be precise. The little one in the yellow jacket, and the goofball with the weird hair.) The Denver tour has been amazingly productive. As of today, six interviews have been completed, with at least two more coming up this weekend. In addition to all the production activities, there have been multiple opportunities…
A lot has been happening with the production… not only are there multiple news items yet-to-post from last month’s five-state tour of the Midwest (some really amazing stuff), but a lot has already happened during the still-ongoing Denver road trip. On Monday, I visited the Denver Public Library’s research floor. There’s a special room for…
There’s a lot that drives this project: A passion for an amazing story, a sense of nostalgia, and the desire to deliver a complete, compelling feature-length documentary. But there’s also the literal drives. Hard drives are the modern equivalent of film canisters – but more fragile. That’s why for this project, there’s four sets of…
Veteran Organ Grinder performer Paul Quarino is being remembered by his community in Coos Bay, Oregon, at the Egyptian Theatre. From their event page: Celebrating the Life of Paul Quarino. This is a FREE event. Paul Quarino was the Egyptian Theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer Wizard. Paul took gentle care of our Wurlitzer Organ for decades, and…
On Sundays at lunchtime, organist Paul Quarino would perform gospel tunes to appeal to the “after church” crowd, before the regular secular/pop program began later in the afternoon. This recording is from January 30, 1996, five days before the Portland Organ Grinder closed. Tuning Note:A sudden cold snap (part of a series of unusual weather…
It sure looks like the Organ Grinder, doesn’t it? But it’s not! While visiting Shawn Kenney as part of our Midwest Tour, Shawn provided a notebook filled with photos and documents of “Pipe Organ and Pizza”-themed establishments. There were over 100 restaurants with pipe organs created throughout the 1960’s-1980’s, most of them independently owned and…
While we were recording interviews at Shawn Kenney’s residence as part of the Midwest Tour, a visitor dropped by – organist Richard Gregory. As is becoming an emerging theme in this documentary, Richard became hooked on theatre organs as a toddler – in this case, at just one year of age – after visiting Roaring…
After wrapping up the Ohio leg of our Midwest Tour, our travels took us through Indiana. There, at a freeway interchange just outside of Indianapolis, is an unassuming small cemetery. A fitting symbol, as just around the bend lie the remains of the once grand and much beloved Paramount Music Palace. Much like the Organ…
Last Monday, kicking off the Ohio leg of our Midwest Tour, we interviewed Shawn Kenney at his home. In addition to his duties directing a museum in Columbus, and his position as Vice Chair of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), Shawn, with the help of many friends, has managed to put together an amazing…
On Sunday, we traveled to Detroit, Michigan for the first shoot of our Midwest Tour and interviewed organist Lance Luce at the historic Senate Theater. Lance is a man of many talents – and of many duties. He’s currently the organist at Little Caesar’s Arena for the Detroit Red Wings, and was once the organist…
Update: The Midwest Tour is complete – check out the updates! A whirlwind of activity commences later this week! Have you heard of the book (and films) titled “Around the World in Eighty Days“ ? How about “Around the Lakes in 18 Days” ? Well, that’s the less-than sane, destination-packed trip that is coming up…
The remastered “At the Organ Grinder 3 1/2 Volume Collection” is selling out, with fewer than 10 copies remaining in stock from our initial production run. There’s good news, however – The next batch of CD sets is coming soon! We are accepting preorders now at a $20 discount below the in-stock price. That’s a…
As part of the rerelease of the original “At the Organ Grinder” albums on CD, a portion of the net proceeds is directed to the American Theatre Organ Society’s youth programs. Based on CD sales in February, a payment was sent today to the ATOS in the amount of $84.62 – all thanks to your…
This is a fun coincidence that happened recently. It’s not specifically Organ Grinder related, but it ties in nicely with the theme, and it wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t embarked on this documentary project. Back in September, when I interviewed Mark Reed, he made several comments regarding a book called “The Best Remaining Seats…
We announced some great news earlier this month: A backer of the film gave us a Challenge Award – any contributions received in February will be DOUBLED – fully matched by the benefactor, up to a total of $5,000. And the response was incredible. February was our best fundraising month ever! Thanks to a number…
On January 30, 1996, five days before the Portland Organ Grinder closed, three performers entertained the audience: Paul Quarino, Donna Parker, and Jonas Nordwall. Although not a scheduled event, it represents a “Farewell Concert”, as it was the last time these three performers would play together at the Organ Grinder. Three different fans independently recorded…
