CRTOS is dedicated to theatre organ preservation and promotion of this uniquely American instrument. We sponsor theatre organ concerts, silent films screenings, music workshops and theatre organ restoration projects in Oregon and Southern Washington.
Upcoming Shows
- October 7th, 2023 – 1 pm & 4 pm
Organ Grinder 50th Anniversary Concerts
Join us for one of two concerts filled with nostalgic tunes as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Organ Grinder — get ready to party!
Saturday, October 7th – 1 pm and 4 pm
Cleveland High School
3400 SE 26th Ave., Portland, ORBUY TICKETS ($10 per person): organgrinder50.eventbrite.com
Join us for a groovy celebration of the Organ Grinder’s 50th anniversary! on Saturday, October 7th, 2023. It’s gonna be a blast from the past, filled with music, memories, and good vibes. Don’t miss out on this epic event happening at Cleveland High School in Portland, OR, USA. Get ready to rock and roll with some of the best theatre organ music you’ve ever heard. This concert is a one-of-a-kind experience featuring original organists with a surprise or two that you won’t want to miss. So mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate 50 years of Organ Grinder magic while raising money through ticket sales for Cleveland’s Choral and Music Departments!
NOTE: The top of your ticket will clearly indicate the concert you select (1 PM EARLY AFTERNOON or 4 PM LATE AFTERNOON) even though the time indicates 1 pm beneath. This is because there are two different concert time tickets sold under a single event.
Portland remembers the celebrated Organ Grinder Pizza Restaurant located on SE 82nd and Foster. This afternoon’s performances help bring back those electric times with family and friends including 2001: A Space Odyssey, Star Wars medley, a short clip from one of the famous silent movies accompanied by the organ and some bubbles thrown in for good measure. Enjoy!
Pipe Organ Pictures Series
Each of these films presented as they were meant to be experienced – with live organ accompaniment! Every film in this series is complemented by an original score, created and performed live by a professional musician.
The Hollywood organ is dedicated to the memory of Beverly Ruth Nelson and is the result of a partnership between the Hollywood Theatre and the nonprofit Columbia River Theatre Organ Society. It is the only such instrument in a public theatre in Portland.
Tickets are $12.00 at the door of the Hollywood Theatre.
About Our Instruments
The Hollywood Theatre
While previous events at the Hollywood have featured live organ accompaniment, the organ sound itself was digital, powered by large speakers backstage. Now, the sound will once again come from real pipes. The Columbia River Theatre Organ Society has spent thousands of volunteer hours meticulously refurbishing the theater organ, tracking down vintage organ parts and pipes, restoring the original Hollywood organ chamber, and installing electrical lines, wind lines, and a mammoth 15hp organ blower in the basement. Ours is the only pipe organ in a public theatre in Portland.
The Hollywood is located at: 4122 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97212, two blocks from the Hollywood MAX station.
Cleveland High School
The Kimball pipe organ in the 1100 seat auditorium is maintained by CRTOS. The core of the instrument was originally from the Columbia theater in Longview, Washington. In 1936, it was moved to Benson high school in Portland where it resided until it was moved to Cleveland in 1990. The organ was enlarged and improved there and is one of the best sounding organs of its type in the Pacific northwest.
Disaster struck in 2016 when a steam pipe burst and over one half of the pipe wind chests and other wood components in the north (main) chamber were damaged beyond repair. The damaged items have been temporarily substituted with digital equivalents. Restoring the instrument to its original sound will cost thousands of dollars. If you would like to assist with this project, please make a tax deductible donation to the Columbia River Theatre Organ Society.
Cleveland High School is located at: 3400 SE 26th Ave., Portland, OR 97202
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