Comments from JamesGrebe

Showing 1 - 25 of 76 comments

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Fox Theatre on Apr 15, 2008 at 12:35 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Kingsland Theatre on Sep 7, 2007 at 9:42 pm

I have one of the art deco chandeliers that came out of the lobby and a matinee sign form the theatre.
James Grebe

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Kingsland Theatre on Sep 7, 2007 at 9:40 pm

That particular organ was a Kilgen tracker that was previously installed in the Cinderella on Cherokee Str.
James Grebe

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Fox Theatre on Sep 4, 2007 at 2:02 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Missouri Theatre on Jul 25, 2007 at 6:42 pm

There is a pic in Mary Bagley’s ,‘The Front Row: Missouri’s Grand Theatres"
jJames Grebe,

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Will Rogers Theatre on May 3, 2007 at 11:03 pm

The Will Rogers was at least one of two theatres that were converted churches, the other being the Gayety at 14th & Locust.
James Grebe

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Barracks Theatre on May 3, 2007 at 10:31 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Theater organ records available - what now?! on Jan 24, 2007 at 8:27 pm

I would be interested i a list of your albums

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Apache Theatre on Jan 17, 2007 at 11:25 pm

Yes, it would if you can send me it as an attachment to

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Apache Theatre on Jan 17, 2007 at 8:02 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Apache Theatre on Dec 28, 2006 at 3:10 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Apache Theatre on Sep 4, 2006 at 3:50 pm

I wonder who their source was?

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Apache Theatre on Sep 2, 2006 at 1:59 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Overland Theatre on Jul 27, 2006 at 8:04 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Rio Theatre on Jul 26, 2006 at 10:10 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Princess Theatre on Mar 18, 2006 at 12:49 pm

The seats were probably the laminated variety and the veneer would peel off.
James

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Princess Theatre on Feb 19, 2006 at 12:58 pm

What did he do to work on the seats?
James

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Peerless Theatre on Jan 20, 2006 at 10:40 am

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Ambassador Theatre on Jan 8, 2006 at 12:56 pm

Was your Dad there when live shows were being presented ?(rock shows)

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Missouri Theatre on Jan 5, 2006 at 11:00 pm

There is onhe shot of the stage area with the piano in it in Mary Bagley’s book, “Missouri’s Grand Theatres

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Fox Theatre on Oct 14, 2005 at 10:23 am

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Armo Skydome on Jul 12, 2005 at 10:35 pm

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

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Armo Skydome on Jul 12, 2005 at 3:02 pm

Joe,
You could send it as an attachment to an email to me

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Armo Skydome on Jul 12, 2005 at 8:56 am

I would lovge to see the pic you spoke about.
James Grebe

JamesGrebe
JamesGrebe commented about Wabash Theatre on Jun 10, 2005 at 8:39 am

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