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Stan Kann, impresario of the theater organ, dies at 83

Stan Kann
(UPI file photo, Bill Greenblatt)
Stan Kann

By Matt Sepic, KWMU

St. Louis – St. Louis organist Stan Kann has died.

Kann became famous during his regular gig at the Fox Theater, where he played the Wurlitzer organ between movies from 1953 until 1975.

By the early 50s, the Fox organ had fallen into disrepair, and Kann persuaded the theater's owner to let him fix it.

Kann was also known for his vast collection of vacuum cleaners, which earned him more than 70 appearances on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show.

Kann died Monday of complications from heart surgery. He was 83 years old.

Stan Kann was a guest several times on KWMU's St. Louis on the Air, most recently on January 2.

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