The Organ Grinder

The Organ Grinder opened on August 26, 1973 and was considered by many to be the "grand-daddy" of all theatre organ equipped pizza parlors. The Portland-based Forchuk brothers were the primary owners/ financiers of the endeavor with Dennis Hedberg supplying the organ and its installation. Dennis tried to collect at least one of every pipe rank and percussion ever produced by the Wurlitzer firm. In later years, he assumed 100% ownership of the restaurant.

The Organ Grinder organ was built around a Style 235 "Special" opus #1710 from Portland's Oriental Theatre. The instrument eventually grew to 51 ranks and a four-manual console from the Metropolitan Theatre in Boston was added. The original Oriental Theatre three-manual console went to Uncle Milt's Pizza in Vancouver, WA.

The Organ Grinder closed in February, 1996. The organ was sold to an investor who split it up for parts. The console went to Garrett Shanklin of Groton, MA (30 miles west of Boston) for use in his 4/34 Conference Center installation. The 32 foot Diaphones went to Organ Stop Pizza in Mesa, AZ.

A similar Organ Grinder restaurant opened in Denver, Colorado on February 7, 1979. The organ was based on the 4/20 Wurlitzer Publix #1 from Portland's Paramount Theatre. This restaurant also closed after just a few years.

The Organ Grinder was located on Southeast 82nd Ave. Its big show was to play the theme from 2001; Space Odyssey while releasing Lawence Welk like bubbles over the dance floor and throughout the restaurant. It was loud and a lot of fun!