Stan Kann: No One Loved Vacuums More
The GoVacuum family was saddened to hear about the passing of Stan Kann last week, at the age of 83. For those of you who are unfamiliar with him, Kann was a world-class organist who honed his skill in St. Louis. But he also made a name for himself as possibly the world’s biggest vacuum cleaner aficionado.
Kann was an antique vacuum collector, his fascination with them stemming from childhood when his parents were too poor to afford one. But it was a chance encounter with Phyllis Diller, the famous stand-up comedian, that thrust Kann and his collection into the national spotlight. The two met when she was in St. Louis for a guest appearance on The Charlotte Peters Show (Kann was the co-host and musical director). After Kann showed her his collection, Diller introduced him to Johnny Carson, who invited him to showcase them on The Tonight Show on June 8, 1966. He was an instant hit with Carson and the audience, and Kann and his vacuums would subsequently make 76 more appearances on the show.
Kann’s childhood love of vacuums resulted in some humorous stories. Amazingly, he developed the ability to identify different models of vacuums by sound alone, and was known to knock on strangers’ doors if he heard one he didn’t recognize. And according to Kann, his parents used to bribe him to finish eating his dinner by promising that a neighbor would turn on her vacuum for him if he did.
At the time of his passing, it was said that Kann’s vacuum collection totaled over 180 machines.
While he’s sure to be remembered for his contributions to the world of music, we here at GoVacuum will remember Stan Kann for his love and passion for vacuums, both of which are surpassed by none.
