Support the Project: Our Crowdfunding Shop is Now Open!
As of August 30th, we’ve raised $32,684 — 29.0% of our crowdfunding goal.
Perks: CDs, Posters, Postcards & More in the Crowdfunding Shop.
Make a Direct Contribution – Proceeds fund the production.
All Topcs • Project Updates • Neat Stuff • Videos • In the News • Road Trips • Crowdfunding • Events • Sponsors
As the final stop on our Midwest Tour in April, we visited Organ Piper Pizza in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Founded in 1976 by Jim Bringe, Organ Piper is special in that it is one of three remaining establishments where you can enjoy live theatre pipe organ music with your pizza, and it has been open for…
In April, as part of our Midwest Tour, we visited Organ Piper Pizza in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Organ Piper is one of three remaining establishments where you can enjoy live theatre pipe organ music with your pizza. Organist Zach Frame kindly allowed us to film a complete 45-minute set, in order to portray what it’s like…
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….
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 week, as part of our Midwest Tour, we interviewed Clark Wilson, who is an accomplished organist and silent film scorer. Clark has been called “Master of silent film and showman of the first order.” We had an animated discussion with Clark about the history of the theatre organ, his experience with the “Pizza 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…
