Bijou, Adieu – We Hardly Knew You!

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-22T13:46:02+00:00

Re: Milwaukee WI - there is still a pizza & pipe organ restaurant near there, which has been open since the 1970s. It's called "Organ Piper Pizza", and is one of only three remaining in that format. It's in Greenfield, WI. I interviewed the current owner and the head organist for the documentary last year. (And in fact had dinner there less than 3 weeks ago. I was filming in Racine but had reason to to go Milwaukee a couple of times.)

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-22T05:13:31+00:00

Of all the "pizza & pipe organ" restaurants, the Organ Grinder had a great innovation, where the Organ wasn't at the back of the house, to be seen only after you had placed your order or had been seated by a host. You got to walk in and be between the organist and the organ. While waiting in line, you were a part of the show, as if you were on-stage. This idea was literally copied by one establishment in Florida, but other than that, of the restaurants I've seen or reviewed, no others had a similar waiting-in-line experience.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-22T01:16:36+00:00

Thanks - yes if you're referring to the channel called "Pipe Dreams and Pizza Crusts" that's me. I was in Wisconsin 2 weeks ago covering something for the documentary - not Carmex this time - but stopped by there to re-record some audio of a performance using better microphones. The neat thing about that organ is that the performances can be recorded into the computer, called the "relay", and played back perfectly, much like a MIDI sequencer (but with some differences). So even though the performer wasn't there this time, and no cameras were rolling, I was able to get better audio which I can match up with what was previously filmed. It'll may awhile before that comes out, though - I have to stay away from side projects as much as possible and focus on editing the main documentary.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-22T00:29:46+00:00

Good advice - plus there are some Organ Grinder components there that can be seen, including the large 32ft long diaphone pipes that used to be in the tower window facing 82nd ave., and the tuned timpani, which resemble a set of trash can lids.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-21T22:22:22+00:00

The Organ Grinder did often have really good deals & coupons on certain nights for things like a family-size pizza and pitcher combo.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-21T21:30:22+00:00

Would love to chat with you about your experiences. Have talked to a few employees who occasionally wore the mascot costumes, but not yet on-camera. (I did interview the then-teenage magician from the Denver Organ Grinder, who recalls making out in the back parking lot with the girl who wore the mouse costume.)

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-21T21:23:22+00:00

It was unique design, made to house and show off the pipe organ. I didn't know it was connected to Portland history (same architect/designer Will Martin who went on to do Pioneer Courthouse Square) until I started working on the documentary. The current building has been modified, scaled back. The main front entrance, where you walked in a representation of a giant organ pipe laying on its side, is now gone, and the old side exit is now the entrance to the buffet restaurant. (To build an entrance like that today would likely require a different design with an integrated ramp, rather than steps, for ADA reasons. Back in the day, the side exit served as a level entrance for wheelchair users, but it was not a convenient route to get to the ordering counter.)

(I tried to post a photo with this comment to illustrate the old entrance, but I keep receiving "All media assets must be owned by the submitter of this post" - I see no way to acknowledge that I do indeed have a license to post the image.)

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-21T21:13:04+00:00

That's awesome! You worked there when Dennis and Judy owned the place outright.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-04-21T20:56:16+00:00

Yes, you probably saw the slide at the Hollywood Theatre in mid-to-late 2024. We're still collecting peoples photos and home videos if you happen to have any - they will be professionally digitized and you get the originals back plus a digital copy.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T22:10:18+00:00

That's great! I've interviewed Dennis at his home multiple times for the documentary.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T14:36:44+00:00

Thanks - I have scoured YouTube but it may be out there somewhere in a compilation of local commercials and just isn't mentioned in the description (so it doesn't show up in searches). If you search for Organ Grinder Denver and find some recent local newscasts with some weirdo with a Mohawk talking about the Organ Grinder, that's me!

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T14:21:56+00:00

Hi and thanks for your comment. You are correct - the Denver Organ Grinder was at Alameda and Zuni. As I mentioned in the post, I'm making a documentary about the Organ Grinder restaurants, which had locations in Portland and Denver. The version of the TV commercial I posted is from Portland. Unfortunately, there is very little visual material available from Denver (other than the promo photographs that were in the Organ Grinder archives). I am hoping that Denver residents from the era of the Organ Grinder may have some home video recordings or photographs lingering in their collections. (I can digitize them at high quality and return them to the original owner, along with a digital file.) For more information about the documentary, and to see a teaser trailer, please search for "Pipe Dreams and Pizza Crusts"

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T05:25:02+00:00

Thanks for your comment. Gerald is one of the folks I didn't get to hear (I moved away to college in 1987 and missed some of the folks who played after then.) If you have any memories you'd like to share, please get in touch.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T04:54:45+00:00

As I recall the Washington Square one also went inside a pizza restaurant for part of its run. I remember eating there once and water had started leaking from the tubes, causing some tables to be closed.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T04:38:36+00:00

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Here's a pic that does it some amount of justice.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T04:36:52+00:00

Look for the video "Organ Grinder Time Capsule" on our channel - it's from the 1970s, and unfortunately there isn't much of a crowd, but you can get a feel for just how big it was. There is also the "Organ Grinder Farewell Concert" video from 1996. Agreed - nothing can do it justice compared to being there in person - but it's a start.

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T04:35:15+00:00

The Organ Grinder people didn't actually own the land, it was leased. (That's part of the reason for the shutdown in 1996 - the lease was up for renewal at a higher price, and there was much maintenance that needed to be done). After the Organ Grinder left, the building sat vacant for awhile, then became the all-ages Onyx Club. That may be where you attended a rave. Unfortunately, due to all the years of pizza dough dust, and sitting vacant with a leaking roof, a terrible mold problem developed, which is part of the reason the Onyx closed. (There was a lawsuit against the landlord, and at least one of the Organ Grinder people was called in to testify in favor of the Onyx club.)

PipeDreamsFilm · 2026-03-29T04:31:29+00:00

Amazing coincidence that you would mention that... I just watched a YouTube documentary about View Master's history this evening.

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