FIRST PACIFIC ADVISORS, INC.
11400 WEST OLYMPIC BOULEVARD - SUITE 1200 - LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 90064
     WRITER'S DIRECT DIAL NUMBER
           (310) 996-5430


                                                  January 9, 1997



Filer Support
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
Operations Center, Stop 0-7
6432 General Green Way
Alexandria, VA 22312

Re:  Schedule 13G
     Relating to the Ownership of CPI Corp.

Gentlemen:

Enclosed herewith pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 is one (1) copy of Schedule 13G for the period ended December 31, 1996
which has been filed through the EDGAR system.

If you have any questions regarding this filing, please contact the
undersigned.

                                         Sincerely,

                                         /s/ Julio J. de Puzo, Jr.
                                         
                                         Julio J. de Puzo, Jr.
                                         Principal and Chief Executive Officer




JDP:vb 

Enclosures


            UNITED STATES
 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
       Washington, D.C. 20549



            SCHEDULE 13G


Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

     (Amendment No.          )*


              CPI Corp.
          (Name of Issuer)

            Common Stock
   (Title of Class of Securities)

              125902106
           (CUSIP Number)



Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement [X].  (A fee
is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file
reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of
securities described in Item 1; and (2) has filed no amendment subsequent
thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class.) 
(See Rule 13d-7).

*The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of
the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see
the Notes).















          PAGE 1 OF 4 PAGES
CUSIP No.  125902106         

1)  NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
    S.S. OR I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON

               First Pacific Advisors, Inc.
               04-3118452

2)  CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP*
                                                        (A)  [ ]
               N/A                                      (B)  [ ]

3)  SEC USE ONLY



4)  CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

               Massachusetts

                   (5)  SOLE VOTING POWER
                                                                 -0-
  NUMBER OF        
   SHARES          (6)  SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY                                                       501,550
OWNED BY EACH      
  REPORTING        (7)  SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
 PERSON WITH                                                     -0-
                   
                   (8)  SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
                                                                 1,242,850

9)  AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

               1,242,850

10) CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES*

               N/A

11) PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW 9

               10.6

12) TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON*

               IA







*SEE INSTRUCTION BEFORE FILLING OUT!


          PAGE 2 OF 4 PAGES
ITEM 1(a)    NAME OF ISSUER.

               CPI Corp.

ITEM 1(b)    ADDRESS OF ISSUER'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES:

               1706 Washington Avenue, St. Louis, MO  63103-1790

ITEM 2(a)    NAME OF PERSON FILING.

               First Pacific Advisors, Inc.

ITEM 2(b)    ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL BUSINESS OFFICE, OR, IF NONE, RESIDENCE.

               11400 West Olympic Boulevard, Suite 1200, Los Angeles, CA 90064

ITEM 2(c)    CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION.

               Massachusetts

ITEM 2(d)    TITLE OF CLASS OF SECURITIES.

               Common Stock 

ITEM 2(e)    CUSIP NUMBER.

               125902106

ITEM 3       REPORTING PERSON.

               See Item 12 on cover page

ITEM 4       OWNERSHIP.

               See Items 5 - 11 on cover page

ITEM 5       OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT OR LESS OF A CLASS.

               N/A

ITEM 6       OWNERSHIP OF MORE THAN FIVE PERCENT ON BEHALF OF ANOTHER PERSON.

               N/A

ITEM 7       IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY WHICH ACQUIRED
             THE SECURITY BEING REPORTED ON BY THE PARENT HOLDING COMPANY.

               N/A









          PAGE 3 OF 4 PAGES
ITEM 8       
IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERS OF THE GROUP.

               N/A

ITEM 9       NOTICE OF DISSOLUTION OF GROUP.

               N/A

ITEM 10      CERTIFICATION.



     By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief,
the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of
business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect
of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and
were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction
having such purpose or effect.

     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.


           January 9, 1997

Date


      /s/ Julio J. de Puzo, Jr.

Signature



Julio J. de Puzo, Jr., Principal and Chief Executive Officer

Name/Title



















          PAGE 4 OF 4 PAGES