Photograph by Kevin A. Roberts
There are only a handful of cinemas left in the world where an organist serenades the crowd before the lights go down. In fact, Gerry Marian claims there are only two that offer live organ music daily: Hollywood’s El Capitan Theatre and St. Louis’ own Chase Park Plaza Cinema, where Marian has been tickling the ivories for 13 years.
• I play the organ seven days a week. At the Chase, I do shows from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekends and before the evening shows on weekdays. I’m also playing the piano at Galleria 6 Cinema during the day.
• What I do feels wonderful. It’s a historical thing; they used to use the organ every day because they didn’t have sound in movies. Then they used it less, after real sound was added to films. Then, in ‘52, ’53, when TV came out, the movie theatre business had a terrible time. The movie theatres survived, but there aren’t many organ players left.
• I usually play show tunes—people just love Phantom of the Opera. I play a lot of dame Shirley Bassey, which goes over just great; you know, “Goldfinger” and “Diamonds are Forever.” I usually have a set program, but occasionally I take requests.
• Sometimes I do try to match the music to the movie. A few weeks ago, when we were showing Cedar Rapids, there was a song, “Break My Stride,” that came out in the ’80s, so I played it.
• My dad actually installed the Fox organ back in ’29. Then, I interned from ’68 to ’78 under Stan Kann at the Fox. He was my mentor; he showed me a lot: registration changes, the phrasing of the song. When you’re playing the instrument, it’s like you’re the singer. There’s any number of ways you can go.
• Before the Chase, I played at the old Avalon Theatre on South Kingshighway.
• They love me at the Chase. The college kids love it especially, and it reminds the older people of how they used to show movies at the Fox.
• The organ at the Chase sounds like a theatre pipe organ, but it’s digital. It’s the equivalent to a 12-rank theatre pipe organ.
• I do “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” and even “Here Comes the King,” just like at Busch Stadium.
• After the film, I hand out Tootsie Rolls and ask people if they enjoyed the movie.
