September 29, 2008
R.I.P.: Stan Kann
Just saw word that Stan Kann, the venerable concert and theatrical organist, TV entertainer and bon vivant, passed away earlier today. There's a short tribute up at the St. Louis Theatre Organ Society's webpage, which reads:
"Former concert organist and television star Stan Kann has died at St. Louis University Hospital. He was 83-years-old.
"Kann began his performing career at Washington University where he planed the organ. He went on to become the best known concert organist in North America. Kann played the Fox Theatre for 22 years before moving to Los "Angeles in 1975. Before the move, he appeared on the local program, "Charlotte Peter's Show." Following that, Kann co-hosted The Noon Show with Marty Bronson. For that work, he received the Silver Circle Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1997 and the Avis Blewett Award in 2001. Kann was inducted into the ATOS Hall of Fame in 1999 and was named ATOS Organist of the Year for 2003. Kann was also well known for his comedy. He appeared 77 times on "The Tonight Show" and 89 times on the "Mike Douglas" show as well as dozens of other programs. Kann was also known as an enthusiastic collector of vacuums. A memorial service is being planned to take place at the Fox Theatre. More information will follow. A Stan Kann Scholarship Fund is being established to encourage and promote young theatre organ talent. Contributions can be sent to the fund in care of the Fox Theatre, 539 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis MO 63103.
"This is just a small tribute to Stan Kann. For more on Stan visit StanKann.com sponsored by the Lincoln Theatre in Belleville Illinois. Stan Kann known to many as the guy with all the gadgets that don't work from his 77 visits to the "Tonight Show with Johnny Carson".
"For the rest of us it's been his ability at the Theatre Pipe Organ."
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I had a chance to see the man play in person just once, at a New Music Circle production on The Hill, where he played the organ, then watched the NMC players perform with (a small portion of) his collection of vacuums. It was a magical night, with a silent film playing, numerous bats literally flying through the open-air venue and Kann at the keys.
Mike Steinberg's definitive, 70-minute documentary, "The Happiest Man in the World" should also be noted. It deserves another showing on local TV in the near future, as a nod to the showman depicted.
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Photographer David Torrence sends along a note, with pics of Kann found at his blog. Here's the address for his nice note on Stan Kann: http://davidtorrence.blogspot.com/2008/09/stan-kann.html.