James Kawa Pizza from p 17 restaurant’s website. Lovingly called the “Mighty Wurlitzer,” the instrument is one of a dying breed of theater organs. The American Theatre Organ Society, an organi- zation founded with the purpose of saving and preserving theatre organs, has chroni- cled the history of these musical marvels. Theatre organs formerly were used in silent movie theaters and were built to replicate the individual instruments of an entire orchestra as well as the sound effects of the films they accompanied. As “talkies” became more mainstream in the 1930s, many of these mechanical wonders were dismantled or destroyed. However, some came to find new life in unexpected places. This particular Mighty Wurlitzer was originally built for the Denver Theater in Colorado. It was purchased and reassem- bled for the Mesa location of Organ Stop Pizza when it opened, according to Barz. But the massive instrument wasn’t simply rebuilt. Its new owners continuously added to it and expanded its capabilities over the years, piece by piece. The most recent formal appraisal of the organ valued it at more than $6 million, Barz says. It’s a figure that has likely reached approximately $8 million due to additions and market changes, he adds. “The organist must be worth at least that much, too,” Snyder jokes. 50-Day Celebration Organ Stop Pizza is a cultural footnote, a surviving relic from the past, a delicious and nostalgic restaurant, and a wholesome family experience all wrapped up in one. The restaurant holds fond memories for many, including Mesa resident Julie Spezzano. The longtime customer has dined at the Mesa pizza parlor at least once or twice a year since it opened in 1975. She picked that location because it “had the best organist.” Organ Stop has become her family’s de 18 facto spot for celebrating birthdays of grandparents, parents, and kids alike. “We An old menu featured the organists’ bios. all love the music, and the kids dancing. First it was me, then my kids, and now my grandkids. Three generations coming here,” she says. Spezzano also patronizes Organ Stop in memory of her late father. “Every December ... we come and celebrate his birthday here. If you knew the man, you would not think he would like a place like this, but he loved it,” Spezzano says. Before Barz became an owner, he had a personal connection to Organ Stop, as well. “My family moved to Arizona in ’73, and we actually lived about two blocks behind the first Mesa location,” he says. “So, I remember when Organ Stop opened back in ’75.” He visited the restaurant for the first time when he was 6 years old and was awestruck by the experience. “I was just blown away by the place and thought it was so cool. And, you know, to be able to celebrate [the 50th anniversary] now, as ... one of the owners is just, it’s amazing to me,” he says. “It’s extremely humbling knowing that for 50 years, this place has been an institution.” In honor of its semicentennial, Organ Stop Pizza is holding a “50 Days to Celebrate 50 Years of Fun!” event, which runs through Saturday, October 8. As part of the commemoration, the restaurant is offering a $50 meal deal, nightly food and merchandise giveaways, and 50 percent off small and large sundaes every Sunday. Now is the best time to take a step back in time, enjoy some jaunty organ music, and make memories as families did in the 1970s and ’80s. “It’s like something that you’ve never experienced before, and you just have to come in and check it out at least once,” Barz says. “It’s quirky. It’s weird. It’s fun. It’s good. It’s comfortable, and you know, it’s pizza. What can go wrong with pizza?” Organ Stop Pizza 1149 East Southern Avenue, Mesa 480-813-5700 organstoppizza.com SEPT 15TH–SEPT 21ST, 2022 PHOENIX NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | CULTURE | NIGHT+DAY | FEATURE | NEWS | OPINION | FEEDBACK | CONTENTS | phoenixnewtimes.com
