Pipe Dreams and Pizza Crusts Documentary
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pipedreamsfilm.com
Pipe Dreams and Pizza Crusts Documentary
@pipedreamsfilm.com
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A new documentary now in production, chronicling the rise and fall of the weird and wonderful Organ Grinder restaurants in Portland and Denver. https://www.PipeDreamsFilm.com/
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Blacklight! John Ledwon at the console at Old Town Music Hall. #organgrinder #theatreorgan
November 11, 2025 at 5:38 AM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Inspecting the setup for today’s shoot at Old Town Music Hall in El Segundo, CA, where we interviewed organist John Ledwon. John performs at the El Capitan in Hollywood. He talked about putting pipe organs back in to restored movie palaces, bringing our story full-circle. #organgrinder #theatreorgan
November 11, 2025 at 5:36 AM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Setting up to film at the legendary Bandrika Studios earlier today to interview film composer and pipe organ enthusiast Nathan Barr. Assisting is my friend Kate Holdaway who I’m happy to work with again since her move to Hollywood! #theatreorgan #organgrinder
November 9, 2025 at 3:16 AM
pipedreamsfilm.com
"A Story in Three Pictures."
An image consisting of three separate photographs, placed side-by-side. Photo 1: A vintage photo from 1975 of a chimpanzee in a Santa jacket turning a crank on a "street organ" (portable pipe organ used by traditional "Organ Grinder" street performers), with its front painted in a decorative flower motif. Photo 2: A recent 2025 photo of the same street organ sitting behind a vehicle with Oregon license plates. The street organ has painted letters stenciled on its side, "Organ Grinder Pizza Parlor - Portland, Denver", and the same flower motif on the front. Photo 3: The street organ, laying on its side, loaded into the back of a car, about to be transported.
November 7, 2025 at 3:44 AM
pipedreamsfilm.com
The Organ Grinder road trip continues. Greetings from beautiful Palm Springs, California. (Monkeys not advised.) #organgrinder
Photograph of the desert outside of Palm Springs. Palm trees in the distance are framed by mountains and a party cloudy but deep blue sky. A thick wooden post in the foreground bears a sign, "No Pets". Atop the post is a toy mechanical monkey , about 10" tall, with tiny brass cymbals in its hands. Colorful graphical text overlaid on the image says "Greetings from Beautiful Palm Springs, California".
October 31, 2025 at 9:23 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
The last big road trip for the documentary has begun. First stop on Wed was in Coos Bay, Oregon - home of the Egyptian Theatre, where Organ Grinder organist Paul Quarino took care of and performed on the theatre's original Wurlitzer. The theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary. #organgrinder
October 25, 2025 at 4:35 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Soon! The first batch of official Organ Grinder T-Shirts went into production today! pipedreamsfilm.com/shop/ #organgrinder
October 16, 2025 at 9:52 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Spent a full day last Wednesday covering a truly unique and special place. #theatreorgan #organgrinder
A mechanical toy chimp is sitting on the edge of the balcony rail in what appears to be an ornate movie palace complete with chandeliers and plasterwork. A Wurlitzer pipe organ console is in the background, on the stage. Pipework, not in its chests, is arranged in crates on the lower level.
September 23, 2025 at 6:49 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
In addition to theatre pipe organs and pizza parlors, Wisconsin offers many recreational activities. #organgrinder
September 23, 2025 at 6:45 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
When visiting the Milwaukee area, discriminating chimps know that you can always have an entertaining time at Organ Piper Pizza in Greenfield, WI. Organist Perry Petta is at the console. #theatreorgan #pizza #organgrinder
A mechanical toy chimp is being held up into view of the camera by the photographer. In the background is the console of a theatre pipe organ inside a pizza restaurant. The organ is illuminated in shades of blue and teal. Glowing inflatable Halloween decorations are on the floor nearby and on top of the console. We see the back of the performer, Perry Petta.
September 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Last Wednesday, organist Dean Rosko stopped by while we were filming at Carma Labs to perform on the instrument - just for fun! Dean also has experience performing in “pizza and pipe organ” restaurants like Organ Piper Pizza. We hope to have his video up on YouTube soon. #theatreorgan #organgrinder
A bearded man sits on an organ bench in front of a large theatre pipe organ inside a warehouse. He is holding a Hollywood-style clapper board, and smiling at the camera. "Dean Rosko - Extras - Take 1" is written on the board.
September 23, 2025 at 6:31 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Greetings from Carma Labs! We returned to the magnificent pipe organ inside a warehouse in Wisconsin last week to pick up some additional shots for the documentary. #theatreorgan #organgrinder
A mechanical toy chimp sits on the bench of a large theatre pipe organ console - four keyboards and many colorful stop tabs are behind the chimp.
September 23, 2025 at 6:25 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
When people encounter a theatre pipe organ for the first time, they become enchanted with delight! The documentary returned to Carma Labs last week to pick up some additional shots. #theatreorgan #organgrinder
A gigantic theatre pipe organ is inside a large, mostly-empty warehouse. A group of five workers who had previously been moving furniture from an event stop everything when the organ begins playing, and hold up their phones to record the music.
September 23, 2025 at 6:15 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
The Organ Grinder documentary was back in Wisconsin last week, starting off with a visit to the historic Kenosha Theatre. #theatreorgan #moviepalace #organgrinder #kenosha
September 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
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Behind-the-scenes photo of from yesterday's interview shoot with David Lee. David was the youngest staff performer at Organ Grinder Portland, starting at age 14. #organgrinder
July 30, 2025 at 3:31 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Did someone say Golden Hour? Yes, this setup is part of the Organ Grinder documentary (truly!) - soon you will learn more. #organgrinder
In a high-desert setting with some trees and vegetation, a low-mounted camera at the back of a motorcycle captures a tall black leather harness boot on the footrest, centered in the frame. The bike is on a brown dirt and gravel path. The sun is low in the sky, casting long shadows and a golden hue onto the scenery. The surrounding area reflects off the chrome of the bike. In the background, a man (presumably the director) wearing a T-shirt featuring a unicorn in a gas mask, claps his hands to sync the cameras and audio recorder.
July 24, 2025 at 5:39 AM
pipedreamsfilm.com
That feeling when you realize your interview subject does not have the highest confidence in your abilities. (We actually got a long great, but I couldn't resist sharing this rather unfortunate freeze frame.) Thanks to @stevespangler.bsky.social for participating in the documentary!
A movie director is about to clap a Hollywood-style "slate" in front of an interview subject. The interview subject is giving critical side-eye glance toward the director, possibly indicating derision.
June 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
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I was just upstaged by this little guy on Colorado's CW2 "Daybreak" morning show! Will post a link to the segment when it's available online.
May 8, 2025 at 3:06 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Doing a bit of Organ Grinder research at the Denver Public Library today.
May 5, 2025 at 4:45 PM
pipedreamsfilm.com
Hello, Chicago!
Photo of a mechanical toy chimp with crash symbols in its hands, sitting on a balcony overlooking a portion of the downtown Chicago skyline. Superimposed text reads "Hello, Chicago!" and "The Organ Grinder Documentary is On the Move!"
March 28, 2025 at 5:03 PM