The Celebrity History of The Chase

Written by Craig Kaminer / Photos by Barry Mandel

To help celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Chase Park Plaza, we are featuring the photographs of St. Louis photographer Barry Mandel who had his studio in The Chase from 1964-1989 and whose celebrity photos were featured throughout the hotel.

It all began when Harold Koplar called Mandel to photograph an important event and afterward hired Mandel to do all the Chase functions until it was closed for renovation in 1999. In addition to photographing hundreds of celebrities who performed at The Chase, Mandel was the premiere advertising, annual report, and catalog photographer of his day, during a time when St. Louis was on the map for high profile national tours.

Mandel recalls being called by Jeanne Venn, the chief concierge of The Chase then, to photograph all of the celebrity guests in 30-minute sittings. The stories abound about everyone from Jackie Kennedy to Bob Hope.

Others photographed by Mandel include Lassie, John Forsyth, Dom DeLuise, Perry Como, Phyllis Diller, Lou Rawls, Liza Minnelli, Yul Brynner, Red Skelton, Ray Mancini, Carol Channing, Doc Severinsen, John Davidson, Coretta Scott King, Liv Ullmann, Mel Torme, Jim Nabors, Marie Osmond, and Tony Orlando.

Built in 1922, The Chase Park Plaza boasts historic significance and an unrivaled location in the heart of the Central West End. The hotel features 398 newly renovated guest rooms and suites, an 18,000 square foot fitness center, multiple dining and entertainment options, an outdoor Mediterranean-style swimming pool, and more than 65,000 square-feet of flexible meeting and event space.