The only “player ” piano in the Fox is the one that is part of the 4/36 Wurli in the chambers. The original lobby organ had an Moller Artiste PlAYER CONNECTED TO IT but it is long gone. It had no piano connected to it. There are no other player piano in the theatre.
James
Recently completed, is a Stan Kann interview of some 56 pages and illustrated and annotated and a Complete History of the St. Louis Fox Theatre Lobby Pipe Organs by James Grebe of some 78 pages profusely illustrated with color photographs.
James Grebe
The former Barracks theatre of Jefferson Barracks is now St. Bernadette RC Church. The building was bought from the government for $1.00 Inside , the projection booth wall is now opened into the sanctuary and the electronic organ and choir now sit in that area. The address the church uses is 68 Sherman Rd.
James Grebe
responce to fujiwest
When the New Shenandoah was converted to the Apache on the marque in the very front there was an indian head in neon. Could this be what you were thinking of?
James Grebe
On the ohter hand, there was a Thom’s Ponticaa dealership that always had Indian Tom-Toms in their comercials beating. It may have come from there. I do not remember an Indian bust at the Apache.
James
Hi Jerry,
I lived down close to there at 815 Geyerthen and I do not remember a fire but I do not think it would have destroyed the entire building or I would remeber that. But then I am an old guy with sloppy memory.
James
From my friend Richard Rogers-
When my family moved to 2336 Brown Rd in Overland, The Overland Theatre must have been closed only about 1 year. Being 11 years old I often rode my bike into Overland’s neat little downtown shopping district. On the very first trip I spied the closed theatre and stopped to look into the lobby through the glass of the locked doors. On one such trip I pushed the door and it opened. I walked into the ticket lobby and the inner concession lobby looking around. Not much to see except that the place was filthy and the floor littered with bits and pieces of 35MM film, I would have liked to check out the auditorium but it was pitcvh dark and I didn’t have a flashlight. The next time I brought a flashlight but never found one of the doors unlocked.
James Grebe
info from my friend Richard Rogers-
This is the theatre where, as a kid, I saw all of my movies. For most of my childhood we lived in north St. Louis, so regardless of where we moved, the Rio continued to be convenient. I seem to recall that the Rio exterior was faced with glazed terra cotta. About the only thing else I remember was that before the movies they always played the SAME scratchy recording of some popular music tune with the melody played by a trumpet. It became such an anoyance, that to this day when I hear that song I cringe.
James Grebe
My comment is always, What did they show before sound movies? I have seen no comments on whether they used a piano for sound to accompany. I have found no evidence of any other musical instruments. Surely they were not just silent period.
Jim
The Majestic in East St. Louis was similar to the St. Louis Granada facade. The organ , Wurli 2m\8r, originaly a 2/6), now a 2m/10r, from the Majestic is in the Fox lobby. A name used in the 50’s for the Majestic was, “The House of Blue Lights,” used as a night club. Norm Kraemer bought the organ from the Majestic owners and lastly belongs to the St. Louis ATOS.
Jim
The only “player ” piano in the Fox is the one that is part of the 4/36 Wurli in the chambers. The original lobby organ had an Moller Artiste PlAYER CONNECTED TO IT but it is long gone. It had no piano connected to it. There are no other player piano in the theatre.
James
I have one of the art deco chandeliers that came out of the lobby and a matinee sign form the theatre.
James Grebe
That particular organ was a Kilgen tracker that was previously installed in the Cinderella on Cherokee Str.
James Grebe
Recently completed, is a Stan Kann interview of some 56 pages and illustrated and annotated and a Complete History of the St. Louis Fox Theatre Lobby Pipe Organs by James Grebe of some 78 pages profusely illustrated with color photographs.
James Grebe
There is a pic in Mary Bagley’s ,‘The Front Row: Missouri’s Grand Theatres"
jJames Grebe,
The Will Rogers was at least one of two theatres that were converted churches, the other being the Gayety at 14th & Locust.
James Grebe
The former Barracks theatre of Jefferson Barracks is now St. Bernadette RC Church. The building was bought from the government for $1.00 Inside , the projection booth wall is now opened into the sanctuary and the electronic organ and choir now sit in that area. The address the church uses is 68 Sherman Rd.
James Grebe
I would be interested i a list of your albums
Yes, it would if you can send me it as an attachment to
responce to fujiwest
When the New Shenandoah was converted to the Apache on the marque in the very front there was an indian head in neon. Could this be what you were thinking of?
James Grebe
On the ohter hand, there was a Thom’s Ponticaa dealership that always had Indian Tom-Toms in their comercials beating. It may have come from there. I do not remember an Indian bust at the Apache.
James
I wonder who their source was?
Hi Jerry,
I lived down close to there at 815 Geyerthen and I do not remember a fire but I do not think it would have destroyed the entire building or I would remeber that. But then I am an old guy with sloppy memory.
James
From my friend Richard Rogers-
When my family moved to 2336 Brown Rd in Overland, The Overland Theatre must have been closed only about 1 year. Being 11 years old I often rode my bike into Overland’s neat little downtown shopping district. On the very first trip I spied the closed theatre and stopped to look into the lobby through the glass of the locked doors. On one such trip I pushed the door and it opened. I walked into the ticket lobby and the inner concession lobby looking around. Not much to see except that the place was filthy and the floor littered with bits and pieces of 35MM film, I would have liked to check out the auditorium but it was pitcvh dark and I didn’t have a flashlight. The next time I brought a flashlight but never found one of the doors unlocked.
James Grebe
info from my friend Richard Rogers-
This is the theatre where, as a kid, I saw all of my movies. For most of my childhood we lived in north St. Louis, so regardless of where we moved, the Rio continued to be convenient. I seem to recall that the Rio exterior was faced with glazed terra cotta. About the only thing else I remember was that before the movies they always played the SAME scratchy recording of some popular music tune with the melody played by a trumpet. It became such an anoyance, that to this day when I hear that song I cringe.
James Grebe
The seats were probably the laminated variety and the veneer would peel off.
James
What did he do to work on the seats?
James
My comment is always, What did they show before sound movies? I have seen no comments on whether they used a piano for sound to accompany. I have found no evidence of any other musical instruments. Surely they were not just silent period.
Jim
Was your Dad there when live shows were being presented ?(rock shows)
There is onhe shot of the stage area with the piano in it in Mary Bagley’s book, “Missouri’s Grand Theatres
The Majestic in East St. Louis was similar to the St. Louis Granada facade. The organ , Wurli 2m\8r, originaly a 2/6), now a 2m/10r, from the Majestic is in the Fox lobby. A name used in the 50’s for the Majestic was, “The House of Blue Lights,” used as a night club. Norm Kraemer bought the organ from the Majestic owners and lastly belongs to the St. Louis ATOS.
Jim
Hi,
I used to live at 4027 Conneticut in the 60’s. Born and raised in Soulard, 815 Geyer and before that 2002 A S. Broadway.
Jim
Joe,
You could send it as an attachment to an email to me
I would lovge to see the pic you spoke about.
James Grebe
The Wabash has a neat old style ticket booth inside the lobby as well as the old time popcorn machine. It seat 480 people.
James Grebe