Twenty-five years into my life as a Milwaukeean, I made my debut at Organ Piper Pizza, 4358 S. 108th St., in Greenfield. Having heard about the place, I found I had only vaguely understood what the place was about.
I'm still trying to decide which part I liked the best. Was it:
The Mighty Wurlitzer organ with its exposed pipes? At places like the Oriental Theatre, you need a behind the scenes tour to see the pipes, but at Organ Piper, they're right there behind plexiglass.
Or:
Amazing organist Ron Reseigh, whose feet, hands and fingers are flying as he plays "Take Me Out to The Ballgame" (at our request) or "Battle Hymn of the Republic" (at someone else's)? He plays there Wednesdays through Sundays.
Or:
The ordering and picking up at the counter, getting your own plates, silverware, napkins and picking up your beverage at the bar? Quaint and kinda fun in an odd sorta way?
Or:
That insane trapeze Raggedy Ann?
Or:
The game room?
Or:
The long tables that recall a German beer hall, or your auntie's basement set up for a graduation party?
Or:
The New South Rampart Street Paraders, a talented, sparky group of brass, banjo, drums and clarinet players that purvey a mix of "good time" jazz and old pop songs your grandma might know?
Or:
The pizza, which was thin-crusted, hot and good, although I wouldn't say great?
Or:
The crazy assortment of automated percussion up on the shelves above the stage that includes a row of "singing" ducks, too?
Or:
The wacky lighting, including full-on siren and spinning emergency light?
Actually, I'm pretty certain it was watching my son's reaction as the entire, bizarre, glorious experience unfolded before our eyes.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
