Chicago’s famed orchestra leader and pianist Stanley Paul will share “Songs & Stories of a Glamorous Era” in a free multi-media, one-man show on Tuesday, September 16 at 12:15 pm in Claudia Cassidy Theater of the Chicago Cultural Center, 77 E. Randolph Street. The public is invited to be part of the audience as Paul tells stories and plays the piano accompanied by tapes of the Stanley Paul Orchestra, while some 300 rarely seen photographs from the golden era of show business are shown. The performance will be videotaped.

Stanley Paul began his career in Chicago on December 2, 1964, when “Stanley Paul and his East Coast Society Orchestra” opened in the Pump Room of the Ambassador East Hotel. For more than ten years, he and his orchestra performed in the historic Pump Room at Goethe Street and State Parkway (now called Stanley Paul Way), when it was said that “anybody who was anybody wanted to be seen at the Pump Room and to dance to the orchestra of Stanley Paul.”

As friend and confidant to many famous stars, he tells revealing stories about the entertainment legends of the 20th century, including Fred Astaire, Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Joan Crawford and many others. Highlights of the show include a hilarious story of Bette Davis as she joins Stanley on his piano bench on stage at Chicago’s Pump Room, cigarette and drink in hand. Other anecdotes include staying up all night playing for Judy Garland in her suite; performing Cole Porter songs for the Duchess of Windsor without knowing who she was; and his adventure as a 16-year old pianist playing for an aging Sally Rand as she performed her legendary fan dance and many more.

For information, call the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs at 312.744.6630.