From 1962-67 Jim Walls was principal keyboardist at Portland’s swanky Aero Club. Three-nights-a-week, he played the piano and a Hammond B-3 organ up on its third floor Art Deco Ballroom. This was a high-toned scene out of a Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers movie: ladies in a new formal every week, and gentlemen in tuxedos or dinner jackets, strutting their “Dancing With the Stars” moves whom many had learned while aboard Cruise Ships.
Playing Career
Playing Career
Following college in 1962, Walls was contracted by the Lowrey Corporation of Chicago to play and demonstrate its line of electronic organs at the Seattle World’s Fair. During the 1960s and 1970s, Lowrey was the largest manufacturer of electronic organs in the world.
From the World’s Fair to Tri-County Fairs
The following year, after playing mini-concerts and demonstrations at the Seattle World’s Fair, Jim got a job as manager of the organ department for the G. F. Johnson Music Co. in Portland (Est. 1923). There he gave keyboard classes and concerts for the Conn Organ Club, as well as many other venues, as pictured right. (In Hollywood News.)
How about that price for Broiled Australian Lobster, “Stuffed with crab and shrimp,” for $2.50, as advertised in the Hollywood News August 15, 1963? The AT (Atwater) prefix for the Portland phone number dates this faded newspaper clip-
ping to a tea!
Aero Club
The lower floor of the Aero Club had an Olympic sized swimming pool, as well as squash and basketball courts. On the top third floor there was an Art Deco Ballroom and Lounge, featuring a large hardwood dance floor.
On the mezzanine was a formal Dining room Restaurant, featuring a 12-piece orchestra three nights a week. Wednesdays were famous for elegant buffets.
Later, the S.W. Taylor Street Aero Club site was demolished to make room for Portland’s new Paramount Hotel.
Walls also played a weekly radio show, “Down Memory Lane,” hosted by Graham Archer, over Portland KXL—750 AM Radio.
One Big Beautiful Sound
In the 1970s Jim appeared on BBC Radio-3 London, where his LP record “One Big Beautiful Sound” (recorded on a custom three-manual Rodgers theatre organ) was lauded by host Robin Richmond as one of the favorite albums voted by BBC listeners to his “The Organist Entertains” show. It was the first “electronic” organ ever aired over the popular theatre pipe organ broadcast.
The Golden Age of the Department Store
During the 1980s Portlanders knew what it meant to say “meet me under the clock at Meier & Frank’s.” A few steps away they could take the elevator to the tenth floor for lunch in the historic Georgian Room where, for 10 years,
Jim Walls played a seven-foot grand piano as M & F’s staff pianist.
Generations of Portlanders have fond feelings of the Georgian Room, which some old-timers still refer to as Meier & Frank’s “tearoom.” In earlier years, it was the most formal of several restaurants at the massive downtown store, a quietly refined setting for ladies' lunches, a place where grandmothers took grandchildren for a treat and a lesson in table manners.
The Georgian Room
During the years when Jim Walls was Meier & Frank’s pianist, and competition from a wide range of new downtown Portland restaurants cut into business at the Georgian Room, its “tearoom” trade was widely expanded by catered lunches for men and special events for women and children.
Macy's Thanksgiving Parade
Following Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade, with bleachers set up in front of Macy’s S.W. Alder Street entrance, there was a mad dash to the tenth floor to visit Santaland — then have lunch in the Geor gian Room. During the holidays special Georgian Room events included “Breakfast with Santa and Mrs. Claus,” as well as special music by baritone Aaron Kirk Douglas, accompanied by Jim Walls.
Aaron Kirk Douglas, Baritone sang with Seattle's
sensational Moonlight Express mixed vocal jazz quartet from 1994-1997. When he moved to Portland in the late 1990s, he joined Jim Walls’s “High Society Jazz Ensemble,” appearing in many concerts and fund raising events including: Epilepsy Foundation of Oregon, Multnomah Athletic Club, Doernbecher Foundation, Governor Hotel, State Board of Higher Education, The Crystal Ballroom, and Temple Beth Israel’s Schnitzer Hall, to name a few. He appeared in numerous Meier & Frank Holiday Events in The
Georgian Room, accompanied by James Walls.
The Oregonian
Arts & Entertainment Guide
“James Walls sat at the grand piano in a dove gray
morning coat, as elegant as his High Society Eddie
Duchin-isms, with a jazz twist.”
One of Portland’s Most Popular Pianists
During Jim’s playing career, he has played literally hundreds of high toned events in the Greater Portland area — plus Seattle, San Francisco, and Hawaii.
“Dinner With Friends” events for Friends of Chamber Music (“Rock the Boat” reception and yacht cruise on the Columbia River, and “Ships Ahoy!” Parade of Christmas Ships Galas at All Classical 101), Waverley Country Club, the Pittock Mansion, Oregon Wine Association, U.S. Naval Academy Alumni, University Club, The Benson Hotel on Broadway, Portland Arts Council, Intel Corporation, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Temple Beth Israel, Epilepsy Foundation of Oregon, Episcopal Diocese of Oregon Convention Dinner at the Marion Hotel Ballroom in Salem, First Baptist Church, Saks Fifth Avenue, Fund-raisers for Oregon Public Broadcasting, Ronald McDonald Cancer Research fund-raiser at the Governor Hotel Ballroom, Columbia River Yacht Club, Hyland Estates Winery “Paws for Pinot” dog rescue benefit, Mother & Daughter Afternoon Tea for The International School — plus many private parties and receptions.
Comments and Reviews
HIGH SOCIETY PIANO
“Dear Jim: We can‟t thank you enough for playing for our „Rock the Boat‟ Dinner with Friends event on Saturday, hosted by Stan and Nancy Bishoprick in their gorgeous home set right on the Columbia River — first class all the way starting with the fantastic music you provided on their lovely Steinway. You were the perfect person to perform for this event, setting the mood for our two-hour 72-foot yacht cruise that followed. You are so accommodating and flexible, but most of all — so talented!”
—PAT ZAGELOW
Executive Director
Friends of Chamber Music
“We want to thank you for the wonderful touch you added to our corporate Christmas party. The music you provided was professionally presented, as well as in keeping with the holiday spirit. The entire arrangement — from our first phone call to the performance — was handled with professionalism, and we look forward to working with you in the future.”
—KEN AND GINGER HARRISON
(Mr. Harrison is past Chairman of Portland General Electric)
“Jim Walls is a musician‟s musician; the technique is superb and the music comes from the heart.”
—JONATHAN GRIFFITH, D.M.A.
Past Principal Conductor in Residence
MidAmerica Productions
Carnegie Hall, New York
“Jim plays with a touch and sensitivity that warns the listener from the very first note.”
—SCOTT KRITZER
World renowned Classical Guitarist
Concert & Recording Artist
“An informed and tasty jazz player — Using sophisticated and delicious harmonies.”
—DENNIS K. COX, D.M.A.
Conductor / Pianist
Professor of Music / Graduate School
University of Maine
School of Performing Arts
“My Mother‟s eightieth birthday bash was a page out of 1940s High Society — Thanks to you, Jim!”
—GEORGENE USHER
San Francisco
“Jim plays with an elegance and sensitivity seldom heard today.”
—DAVID HEGARTY
House Organist, Castro Theatre
Staff Pianist, Metropolitan Club
Sunday Pops Organist, Palace of the Legion of Honor
San Francisco
“Jim Walls is always creative — musical with the right touch of sophistication.”
—JONAS NORDWALL
International Concert Artist
Director of Music / Organist, First United Methodist Church
Portland, Oregon
Music Teachers National Association
Oregon Music Teachers Association
National Association for Music Education
Mailing Address
15727 S.E. Alder Street
Portland, Oregon 97233
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