Updated 4:08 p.m. with reaction from Harper Barnes, a former St. Louis Post-Dispatch cultural editor and critic.
Long-time St. Louis theatre, movie and food critic Joe Pollack died early this morning.
He was 81.
Pollack worked at the Post for more than 20 years until his retirement in 1995.
He then became host of the arts program Cityscape here at St. Louis Public Radio and later contributed movie and theatre reviews.
Harper Barnes, a former Post-Dispatch cultural editor and critic, says Pollack had a big impact on St. Louis.
“I think he was particularly important in the growth of the restaurant business and theatre in St. Louis," Barnes said. "When he first started out there was the St. Louis Rep and that was about it. And now there are 15 or 20 or more successful theatre companies in town, and I think Joe had a lot to do with that.”
Pollack and his wife, Ann, most recently wrote a blog called St. Louis Eats and Drinks.
His last review, on a movie called “We Need to Talk about Kevin”, was published today.
