Pipe Organ Pizza Parlors
Wayne Lutters
A quick restaurant question for the experts...
It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
locations in the Bay area (Santa Clara, Redwood and Campbell).
Do any such restaurants still exist or have they gone the way of the drive-in?
I have some relatives coming out for vacation the last week in July who have
always wanted to visit one of these restaurants. If some do still exist, do
you have any leads as to their location? Lastly, might there be any in the
Southland (I live in Irvine)?
Any help is greatly appreciated in this hunt. Thanks!
- Wayne
John Hanna
In article <940706140...@paris.ics.uci.edu> Wayne Lutters,
wlut...@st-anns.ICS.UCI.EDU writes:
>It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number
of
>unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
>organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
>locations in the Bay area (Santa Clara, Redwood and Campbell).
I remember seeing a Capt'ns Galley in Redwood city a couple of years
ago.... at least I THINK it was redwood (plainly visible from the 101
freeway)
I also fondly remember the Pipe Organ Pizza in Tustin. That was a GREAT
place... pretty good pizza, and a really BIG Wurlitzer that just FILLED
the place. You could hear the big bass pipes from WAY out in the parking
lot. Must have drove the neighbors crazy!
Also, a Shakey's had a smaller theater organ somewhere in Anaheim (near
D'Land, I think)
The most bizzare location for a theater organ HAD to be Joe Coons
Motorcycle Shop in Long Beach, Cal. During the day, it was your basic
motorcycle shop, but on Saturday night, they pulled out chairs, uncovered
the console and played away on a fairly large Wurlitzer. Mr Coons was a
theater organ fan, bought an old organ, didn't have room to put in his
house, so set it up in the back of the shop. The organ chambers were
built in old storage rooms, the electrical run all OVER the place to
connect it all together.
It was cool!
---------------------------------------------------------
John P. Hanna - Orange Coast College - Multimedia Services
"Everything in moderation, including moderation" - anon
jo...@tech.mm.occ.cccd.edu
---------------------------------------------------------
Don Bertino
>
>A quick restaurant question for the experts...
>
>It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
>unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
>organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
>locations in the Bay area (Santa Clara, Redwood and Campbell).
I know you live in Irvine, but there is a great place in Northern Cal.
called Belle Roma, its a pizza palor with a pipe organ. It has a lot
of other devices controlled by the organ then pipes. Drums, sirens,
model train, flashing lights in the window casements to make it look
like thunder outside, etc etc etc. Its in Martinez, CA, next to the
John Muir House state park.
don
--
ber...@netcom.com ____/^\_____________________________________
Disney ascii art & / \ || || / \
animations are at <______\ [] [] [] || [] [] [] || [] [] [] /______>
ftp.netcom.com ======\----------------||----------||----------------/===
/pub/bertino ========\______________||__________||______________/=====
Mark Perew
corner of Shields and First. It's been about three years, though, so I can't
say for sure that it is still there. I seem to recall that there was a sister shop in either Sacramento or
Stockton.
The big Wurlitzer came originally from a theater in NYC and moved to a church
and then to a private home in Canada, I think. From there it came to Fresno.
The pizza was good, but pricey. I enjoyed the pipe and pedal music. Hearing
the Contata and Fugue in D Minor on a genuine pipe organ is an experience
beyond description.
Richard E. Ravich
I seem to recall having visited a place in the LAX area called Pipes and
Pizza, back in the 60's -- great pizza and the organ was terrific.
Unfortunately, I live about 30 miles north, and haven't been back since.
Anyone remember the place?
In El Segundo is the Old Tyme movie Theater, not really a pazza place, but
they have a great organ program preceeding an old film. Some films have
sound, and others are of the silent variety. I highly recommend the place for
either reason.
--
Richard E. Ravich -- de wd6fie | Woodland Hills, California
Tel: (818) 718-5331 | CIS: 76004,3364
FAX: (818) 718-5352 | INTERNET: rich...@kaiwan.com
Steve Taylor
: It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
: unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
: organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
: locations in the Bay area (Santa Clara, Redwood and Campbell).
: Do any such restaurants still exist or have they gone the way of the drive-in?
The Capt'ns Galley in Campbell is gone (closed many years ago) but the
Santa Clara location is still there, renamed (I think) Pizza and Pipes.
Not sure about the RC location.
Angelino's in San Jose has a theater organ. It's been aruond for about 20
years. The food there isn't very good, IMO, and the place is really too
small for such a large organ, so it's pretty loud.
DaveHatunen
John Hanna <jo...@tech.mm.occ.cccd.edu> wrote:
>The most bizzare location for a theater organ HAD to be Joe Coons
>Motorcycle Shop in Long Beach, Cal. During the day, it was your basic
>motorcycle shop, but on Saturday night, they pulled out chairs, uncovered
>the console and played away on a fairly large Wurlitzer. Mr Coons was a
>theater organ fan, bought an old organ, didn't have room to put in his
>house, so set it up in the back of the shop. The organ chambers were
>built in old storage rooms, the electrical run all OVER the place to
>connect it all together.
Perhaps not quite so bizarre, but I have a similar story.
About 25 years ago I was visiting friends in LA, who wanted to take me
to dinner at a new place they had heard of on Melrose. We were early
and the restaurant hadn't quite opened, so we started strolling. Most
of the stores in the area were closed for the evening, but at one store
the door was open. There were massive cut glass chandeliers hanging
inside, and we wandered in. The owner came out to chat, and explained
that he bought old theater stuff, like the chandeliers. As we wandered
into the back area, we found a large room with some stuff here and
there. One wall was mostly mirrors, vertical strips of mirror about
12-inches wide and 6-feet tall, making a glass area about 15 feet long.
One object in the middle of the floor attracted my attention and I
said, somewhat puzzled, "That looks like an organ console". The owner
piped up that it was an organ console for a Wurlitzer theater organ. I
said "oh" when he asked if we wanted to hear it.
Now this was not a terribly large store, and the room was maybe 30 ft x
30 ft at most. And I didn't see no damned organ. Even more puzzled, I
said "Sure".
At this the man threw a wall switch in the back of the room and I could
hear a motor starting up in the basement. He stepped to the console as
the vertical mirror strips rotated louvre-like and a bank of pipes was
revealed. The louvres were controlled by the swell.
I expected Rod Serling to step out with a smoking cigarette and explain
about Mr David Hatunen who did not know he had passed into the Twilight
Zone.
And he began to play the thing. Loudly (what else in a little room like
that?). Being a Wurlitzer, it had all kinds of things attached. All of
a sudden a piano across the room started playing on its own, like a
player piano, as it remotely followed his fingers on the console. Then
a xylophone could be heard somewhere.
Then he took us on a quick tour through a door near the glass wall to
reveal a smaller room with a lot of sound effects, and drums and the
xylophone in it, and a very large terminal panel with an awful lot of
wires coming from it.
We were a little dazed when we finally left for the restaurant. I've
always wondered if the place was still there, but I haven't a clue just
where it was.
--
********** DAVE HATUNEN (hat...@netcom.com) **********
* Daly City California: *
* where San Francisco meets The Peninsula *
* and the San Andreas Fault meets the Sea *
*******************************************************
DaveHatunen
>The last time I was in Fresno there was a place called Pizza 'n Pipes at the
>corner of Shields and First. It's been about three years, though, so I can't
>say for sure that it is still there. I seem to recall that there was a sister shop in either Sacramento or
>Stockton.
There was a Pizza 'n' Pipes in Daly City at the corner of the
Serramonte Mall parking lot, but it departed a couple of years ago to
be replaced by a Good Guys. Our little girl had her third birthday
party there.
There was also one in Redwood City right near the CalTrain
station. It was there a couple of years ago, but I don't know if it
still is.
Ed Greenberg
to the south, and Moorpark/280 to the North. For more precise location,
as well as info on the organ, call them at 248-5680.
Disclaimer: Never been inside. I've seen them from the Sizzler Parking
Lot, and called dir. assistance after reading your post. I also called
P&P at the number I listed above. They confirm that they have an organ.
--
Ed Greenberg e...@netcom.com Ham Radio: KM6CG
Richard Ottolini
left in Southern CA. Norman Bushnell, the Atari founder centi-millionaire
started the chain, but I thought it had went bankrupt until I came to
Southern CA.
David S. Broudy
hat...@netcom.com (DaveHatunen) writes:
[wild Wurlitzer tale deleted, but enjoyed]
> We were a little dazed when we finally left for the restaurant. I've
> always wondered if the place was still there, but I haven't a clue just
> where it was.
I live very close to Melrose, and believe me if there were a place I
could go hear a Wurlitzer singing away, I'd know (unless I'm wrong,
and just have not found it yet).
Some friends have a large Wurlitzer set up in their home. How they
did it is beyond me, and it took years of patience and great expense.
But, they did it.
I remember a pizza place in Orange or Anaheim that had an organ, but
being about 5 at the time I can't remember where it was. I'm sure
it's gone by now.
------------
bro...@mizar.usc.edu
Will that be one lump, or two?
DaveHatunen
"Still"?! They're just finishing construction on a brand new one in San
Bruno.
DaveHatunen
>In article <hatunenC...@netcom.com>
>hat...@netcom.com (DaveHatunen) writes:
>
>[wild Wurlitzer tale deleted, but enjoyed]
>
>> We were a little dazed when we finally left for the restaurant. I've
>> always wondered if the place was still there, but I haven't a clue just
>> where it was.
>
>I live very close to Melrose, and believe me if there were a place I
>could go hear a Wurlitzer singing away, I'd know (unless I'm wrong,
>and just have not found it yet).
25 years is a long time, but I seem to recollect that the restaurant
was called the Black Rabbit, or something like that. But it's probably
not there anymore, either.
The guy did say he was a member of some theater organ or wurlitzer
society. But he was no spring chicken, and he might not be around
anymore, either.
David S. Broudy
> The guy did say he was a member of some theater organ or wurlitzer
> society. But he was no spring chicken, and he might not be around
> anymore, either.
Ah, the LA Theater Organ Society, who also broadcasts a radio show on
KPCC (89.3, Pasadena City College) called "Gee Dad, It's a Wurlitzer"
on Sunday evenings at 7pm. Hit or miss, but they do play some real
fun ones on occasion.
David A. Kaye
: It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
: unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
: organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
: Do any such restaurants still exist or have they gone the way of the drive-in?
Dan Bellomy, an extraordinary organist who does many world tours,
regularly performs at two pizza places with pipe organs. I don't know the
names of the places, but one is on SE 82nd Avenue in Portland, and
another in Vancouver, Washington (just north of Portland). Sorry, wish I
remembered the names of these places.
--
d...@crl.com Now available for contract, fill-in, or
San Francisco temp work in broadcasting or PC plaftorm
David A. Kaye
: Do any such restaurants still exist or have they gone the way of the drive-in?
And, there's always the Castro Theatre in San Francisco (Castro near
Market, just upstairs from the Castro subway station). The theatre, built
in 1922 has a Wurlitzer. It's played twice every night before the start
of the evening shows (usually about 7pm and again around 9pm, though this
varies depending on the feature shown). Heck, don't go out for pizza, go
to a movie and enjoy this treat. The Castro Theatre specializes in
foreign, offbeat, and 1940s-50s revival programs. Their phone number is
415-621-6120.
Merlin Dorfman
: : It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
: : unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
: : organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
: : Do any such restaurants still exist or have they gone the way of the drive-in?
There's a "Pizza & Pipes" at the corner of Homestead and Lawrence
Expressway in Santa Clara. I haven't been inside an don't know if they
have a "grand pipe organ" but I drive by there fairly often and noticed
the sign.
Merlin Dorfman
DOR...@NETCOM.COM
James H. Haynes
In article <2vn49g$2...@apple.com>, Mark Hartman <emma...@apple.com> wrote:
>It did, actually, but has since emerged from bankruptcy (Chapter 11, not 7)
>and, by SIGNIFICANTLY improving both the pizza and the environment, is
>actually beginning to become popular. I have an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old,
>and Chuckie Cheese's is where we go for pizza. Period.
Is Nolan Bushnell still connected with it, or has he moved on to other things?
"Ya can talk all ya wanna, but it's dif'rent than it was!"
"No it aint! But ya gotta know the territory!"
Meredith Willson: "The Music Man"
Geoff Chew
>unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
>organs. One such chain was "Capt'ns Galley" which had at least three
>
>
>always wanted to visit one of these restaurants. If some do still exist, do
>you have any leads as to their location? Lastly, might there be any in the
>Southland (I live in Irvine)?
>
>Any help is greatly appreciated in this hunt. Thanks!
>
>- Wayne
If its any help, up in Portland, Oregon, there's a pizza place called The
Organ Grinder, on SE 82nd Ave. They purchased the Whirl. Organ out of
the Paramount Theater in downtown PDX. The resturant really hit its
stride in the late '70s and early '80s. While the resturant has slid
some, it still has a good pie, and the music is still terrific.
Haven't been there in a little over a year (live on the other side of
town), but they used to rent the thing out for organ lessons (when the
store was closed). If you travel much, might be interesting to visit
such places town to town. Good Luck!
Mark Hartman
It did, actually, but has since emerged from bankruptcy (Chapter 11, not 7)
and, by SIGNIFICANTLY improving both the pizza and the environment, is
actually beginning to become popular. I have an 8-year-old and a 4-year-old,
and Chuckie Cheese's is where we go for pizza. Period.
--
=======================================================================
The above is not guaranteed to be the opinions of anyone in particular.
=======================================================================
Mark Hartman, N6BMO | E-mail: emma...@apple.com | AOL: emmayche
Macophile | Serious Disney enthusiast | CIS: 75130,1434
Bill King
wlut...@st-anns.ICS.UCI.EDU (Wayne Lutters) wrote:
>
>
> A quick restaurant question for the experts...
>
> It's an East Coast legend that back in the mid-60's there were a number of
> unique California pizza places which were built around rather grand pipe
Pipe Organ Pizza in Portland, OR.
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
************************************************************************
Karl Geiger
>
> Is Nolan Bushnell still connected with [Chuck E. Cheeses], or has he moved
> on to other things?
Bushnell resigned and sold his interest in Pizza Time Theater over a
decade ago. The company had been posting losses; Bushnell probably
knew what was coming and bailed. BTW: note the clustering of dates in
sets of references below. Bushnell appears to be very good at
generating publicity. "If at first you DO succeed, try try again..."
TI Nolan Bushnell: automated au pairs (Pizza Time Theater, Inc.)
SO The Economist, v285 (Oct 30 1982): p66(2).
TI From pong to pizza to pedagogy. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO The Washington Post, v105 (Nov 2 1982): pC8.
TI Creator of high-tech fun plays the 'ultimate game.' (Nolan
Bushnell's Catalyst Technologies)
SO Los Angeles Times, v102, V (Dec 24 1982): p1.
TI Nolan Bushnell's newest brainstorms.
SO Business Week (Feb 28 1983): p54(1).
TI The pied piper of Sunnyvale. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Inc., v5 (March 1983): p57(4).
TI Bushnell opens Lion and Compass; tests adult entertainment chain.
(Nolan Bushnell)
SO Nation's Restaurant News, v17 (March 14 1983): p3(2).
TI Atari sues former owner, says he violated sales agreement. (Nolan
Bushnell)
SO Los Angeles Times, v102, III (April 9 1983): p20.
TI Bushnell's robot venture. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Television Digest, v23 (July 25 1983): p18(1).
TI Bushnell looks ahead: computer shakeout, robot revolution, death of
the novel. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Consumer Electronics, v11 (Aug 1983): pA15(1).
TI Another launch. (Where does the money go, Nolan Bushnell)
SO Inc., v5 (Nov 1983): p128(1).
TI Sente Technologies operations begin marking the return of Nolan
Bushnell.
SO Vending Times, v24 (Nov 1983): p71(2).
TI A noisy decline: the saga of Pizza Time Theater runs into
difficulties as sales slide and enthusiasm wanes.
SO Financial World, v152 (Nov 30 1983): p40(3).
TI Sente's Bushnell unveils 'SAC' game-software lease concept, sets
national advertising backup for franchise distributors. (Nolan
Bushnell)
SO Vending Times, v23 (Dec 1983): p54(1).
TI New black box by Bushnell for interactive TV. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Back Stage, v24 (Dec 23 1983): p1(2).
TI Big ideas; Bushnell tries again. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Fortune, v109 (Feb 6 1984): p8(2).
TI Pizza Time Theater reshuffles officials.
SO New York Times, v133 (Feb 2 1984): p30(N) pD2(L).
TI Bushnell resignation fuels pizza-entertainment decline. (Nolan
Bushnell)
SO Nation's Restaurant News, v18 (Feb 27 1984): p1(2).
TI Pizza Time files for bankruptcy. (Pizza Time Theater Inc.)
SO Washington Post, v107 (March 30 1984): pF11.
TI Pizza Time Theater. (4th quarter loss)
SO Los Angeles Times, v103, IV (April 17 1984): p4.
TI When the magic goes. (the rise and fall of Nolan Bushnell, a
Silicon Valley entrepreneur)
SO Inc., v6 (Oct 1984): p82(9).
TI How do you start a craze? Ask Nolan Bushnell.
SO Business Week (Feb 17 1986): p57(2).
TI Wozniak and Bushnell to join forces on new toy. (Steve Wozniak,
Nolan Bushnell, electronic educational toy)
SO Los Angeles Times, v105, IV (April 23 1986): p3.
TI Wozniak and Bushnell talk. (Stephen Wozniak, Nolan Bushnell)
SO New York Times, v135 (April 23 1986): p29(N) pD5(L).
TI Computer whizzes talk merger, may just grin and bear it. (Nolan
Bushnell, Steven Wozniak)
SO Washington Post, v109 (April 23 1986): pG1.
TI Wozniak and Bushnell set to work together on toys. (Stephen Wozniak
and Nolan Bushnell)
SO Wall Street Journal (April 23 1986): p5(W) p22(E).
TI Toy soldiers go high-tech; two wizards build a remote-control robot
army. (Nolan Bushnell and Stephen Wozniak build TechForce toy
robots)
SO Newsweek, v107 (May 5 1986): p54(2).
TI Just a pair of computer wizards looking for laughs. (Nolan Bushnell
and Stephen Wozniak)
SO Business Week (May 5 1986): p31(2).
TI Hasbro ventures into high-tech toys with RandD agreement. (Hasbro
Inc. signs joint venture with Axlon Inc.)
SO New England Business, v9, n8 (May 4 1987): p49(3).
TI Atari's founder to design video games for company. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO The Wall Street Journal (June 2 1988): p6(W) p30(E).
TI For Bushnell, deal with Atari is just a new twist on an old game.
(Nolan Bushnell teams up with Tramiel family on contract between
Atari and Axlon)
SO Los Angeles Times, v107, IV (June 2 1988): p1.
TI Atari woos back its video whiz. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Business Week, n3056 (June 13 1988): p40(1).
TI Atari founder joining in Commodore venture. (Nolan Bushnell,
Commodore International Ltd.) (column)
SO The New York Times, v139 (May 9 1990): pC3(N) pD3(L).
TI Nolan Bushnell's latest: TLC for your laser printer. (Information
Processing)
SO Business Week, n3161 (May 28 1990): p98C(1).
TI Bushnell is back. (Nolan Bushnell)
SO Forbes, v146, n4 (August 20 1990): p109(1).
TI Video-game pioneer tries once again to merge best of computers and
TV. (Nolan Bushnell and Commodore International Ltd.'s CDTV player)
(product announcement)
SO The Wall Street Journal (Jan 14 1991): pB3(W) pB6(E).
TI Big shots. (high-level industry executives discuss the computers
they own)(Picking Programs) (Technology supplement)
SO The Wall Street Journal (May 20 1991): pR12(W) pR12(E).
TI New chief and name for Office Automation. (Office Automation
Systems Inc. names Nolan Bushnell new chairman; company to change
name to Octus Inc.)
SO The New York Times, v141 (Oct 19 1991): p19(N) p37(L).
TI Nolan Bushnell. (appointed chairman of Octus, printer manufacturer)
SO Television Digest, v31, n43 (Oct 28 1991): p18(1).
TI Nolan Bushnell plans to make connectivity easier. (new leader of
Octus concentrates on simplifying network printing) (Brief Article)
SO PC Magazine, v10, n22 (Dec 31 1991): p29(1).
TI Atari founder seeks to break ground with new software; startup firm
is to launch product linking phones and desktop computers. (Nolan
Bushnell)
SO The Wall Street Journal (Feb 1 1993): pA9D(W) pB7A(E).
TI Information-industry titans get the digital religion. (profiles of
John Evans, Stephen Arnold, Nolan Bushnell) (Special Assignment:
Digital Convergence) (Interview)
SO PC Week, v10, n6 (Feb 15 1993): p22(1).
TI They're baa-ack! (computer entrepreneurs who fail and try again)
(includes related article on new companies built from failed
companies) (PC Week Inside)
SO PC Week, v10, n38 (Sept 27 1993): pA1(2).
TI Breakthrough ideas '93: this year's most amazing innovations.
(includes related articles on interview with Nolan Bushnell, on
virtual vision and on Invention Machine, a software package for
inventors)
SO Success, v40, n8 (Oct 1993): p30(7).
TI Short and sweet. (Nolan Bushnell's OCTuS venture's name) (PC Week
Inside) (News Makers) (Brief Article)
SO PC Week, v10, n48 (Dec 6 1993): pA5(2).
dale pletcher
> There's a "Pizza & Pipes" at the corner of Homestead and Lawrence
>Expressway in Santa Clara. I haven't been inside an don't know if they
>have a "grand pipe organ" but I drive by there fairly often and noticed
>the sign.
> Merlin Dorfman
> DOR...@NETCOM.COM
There's one in Sacramento on Arden Way between Fulton and Morse too. I
was just there this weekend. I think the organ is played from 6 PM until
closing.