Historic Hotels and Theaters of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri Walking Tour

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The historic Folly Theater is Kansas City’s oldest theater and entertainment venue, dating back to 1900. It still operates as a functional theater today (showing live theater, jazz performances, national touring shows, and other programs) and it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Although the Folly Theater is seen as a place of quality, family entertainment, the theater’s origins were based in vaudeville, burlesque, and, later, striptease performances, showcasing nationally acclaimed artists such as Gypsy Rose Lee and Tempest Storm. In the 1920s, however, the Folly Theater (then named the "Shubert's Missouri”) produced dramatic productions and even featured the Marx Brothers and a young Humphrey Bogart. After falling into disrepair in the 1970s, the KCMO community took up the cause and saved the Folly Theater, and it is now one of the most important theatrical and historical sites in the downtown area.

2. Barney Allis Plaza and Fountain

This large fountain was built in 1985 as part of a redesign of the Barney Allis Plaza, and urban park located above a parking garage at the site of the city's first convention hall which was built to host the Democratic National Convention of 1900. That convention hall was used until the 1930s and today, the plaza where it once stood is a tree-lined urban park that features several statues and is named after the manager of the former Muehlebach Hotel which was located across the street. That historic hotel is now part of the Marriott Hotel. Barney Allis managed the hotel for three decades beginning in 1931. Despite his short stature of 5 foot 3 inches, Allis had a tremendous presence and ran the hotel in a way that left a positive impression on visitors to the city. Allis earned a reputation as a perfectionist and his leadership bolstered the hotel's reputation which compelled a number of celebrities, including the Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and future President Harry Truman, to choose to stay at the Muehlebach. The fountain is on the north end of the plaza and features 112 water jets. The plaza was first created in 1956.

3. Aladdin Hotel

When it opened in 1925, the Aladdin Hotel was the tallest building in Kansas City. The 16-story building was designed by architect Phillip T. Drotts in the Italian Romanesque style, with architectural highlights that included a white limestone facade on the first through third floors with arches and terra cotta detailing, ten-story brick pilasters topped with life-size terra cotta female figures, sets of five arched, recessed windows on the 16th floor, and a pyramidal roof. The Aladdin is architecturally significant but also serves as a reminder of the city's prosperity during the early 20th century when grand hotels helped attract major conventions, a critical part of the local economy, and a source of civic pride. As of August 2022, the hotel is closed but its current owners acquired it in December 2021 and plan to redevelop the historic hotel. The Aladdin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Downtown Hotels in Kansas City, Missouri district, which consists of seven hotels and numerous other structures.

4. Gayety Theater (1909-1935)

The Gayety Theater operated at this location, the SE Corner of 12th and Wyandotte, from 1909 to 1935. The theater was constructed at the site of meatpacker A.W. Amour's former mansion and showed movies and also hosted musical performances and the occasional burlesque performance. Many of the leading jazz musicians performed here during the 1930s. The College Inn nightclub operated in the budling in the 1940s and the building was demolished around 1950 when the Muehlbach Hotel (now part of the Marriott) expanded.

5. Hotel Phillips

The Phillips House Hotel was Kansas City's tallest hotel when it opened in 1931, replacing the previous Glennon Hotel. Future President Harry S. Truman ran a men's clothing store at the hotel in its early years. The Great Depression was marked by job losses, construction slowdowns, bank failures, and other types of financial disorder throughout the country, yet downtown Kansas City enjoyed relatively consistent growth in the 1930s, partly as a result of the backroom deals organized by the city's political "boss," Tom Pendergast. Until his downfall, Pendergast used his connections and influence within the city's political system to keep taxes low (roughly half of other comparable cities) during the 1930s, primarily due to the fraudulent manner in which his city handled and recorded financial and political deals. While the immediate and long-term effects of Pendergast's actions harmed many residents, it also helped others and facilitated some of the construction projects in downtown Kansas City that included the construction of Hotel Phillips which was only one of several Kansas City skyscrapers built during the decade. Similar to this historic structure which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, many of Kansas City's historic downtown buildings from this era include detailed ornamentation and architectural details that reflect the connection between skilled labor and the city boosters who secured the votes of workers.

6. Muehlebach Hotel

From the time of its construction in 1915 to mid-century, the Muehlebach Hotel was one of the centers of Kansas City social life. The luxurious hotel was built by the son of the city's famous brewer and hosted celebrities, famous athletes, and even presidents and foreign dignitaries. The hotel is also the site of the first band performance to be broadcast over the radio, the birthplace of the Barbershop Harmony Society, and the place where Harry Truman stayed while waiting for the 1948 presidential election results. The Muehlebach, along with several other downtown hotels, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. After closing in 1986, the Muehlebach was acquired by Marriott Hotels and incorporated into the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. In 2018 it was announced that Platform Ventures will convert the historic hotel into an apartment building.

7. Kansas City Club Building; Hotel Kansas City

Now home to Hotel Kansas City, this historic structure Gothic Revival-style building served as the headquarters for the prestigious Kansas City Club for nearly 80 years. The Club was first formed in 1882 to provide a place for the city’s business class to socialize. In 1922, the organization celebrated the completion of this building which offered numerous amenities for club members, including guest rooms, meeting spaces, athletic facilities, and a banquet hall. With declining membership reflecting trends in other cities, the club sold the building in 2001, and most of the structure was converted into apartments. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. In 2020, Hyatt Hotels converted the building into Hotel Kansas City, preserving its historic features such as the two-story stained glass mural in the main ballroom crafted by Ronald Neill Dixon.

8. Kansas City Power and Light Building

The Kansas City Power & Light Building is a leading historic landmark in the city’s Power & Light District. The building was constructed in 1931 and served as the headquarters for the Kansas City Power & Light Company for six decades. The building’s Art Deco style and ornate rooftop lantern quickly made it a Kansas City icon, and to this day, the lantern appears as a symbol within logos for the Power & Light District. KCP&L occupied the first nineteen floors of the building's thirty-six stories when their new headquarters was complete, renting the other half until 1957, when they sold the property and became a tenant. The company continued to rent space here until 1991. In 2014, the KCP&L Building was sold after its last tenant left. The historic office tower underwent refurbishments and reopened in 2016 as a luxury apartment complex. The building was the tallest in Missouri for nearly fifty years and remains the fourth-tallest in the city.

9. Hotel President (Hilton President Kansas City) and the Drum Room

From its opening in 1926, Kansas City's Hotel President reflected the opulence of Kansas City during the 1920s and was selected to host the 1928 Republican National Convention which nominated Herbert Hoover for President. Other notable guests have included Bob Dylan, Charles Lindbergh, and Presidents Hoover, Truman, Eisenhower, and Nixon. The hotel’s Drum Room lounge, which opened in 1941, hosted legendary entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, the Marx Brothers, the Glen Miller Orchestra, Sammy Davis Jr., Benny Goodman, and Tommy Dorsey. The President closed in the late 1970s and sat vacant for over 20 years. Saved from demolition, the hotel underwent a $45 million renovation in 2006 and reopened as a Hilton franchise, dubbed the Hilton President Kansas City. The President, along with multiple other hotels, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.

10. Mainstreet Theater, Kansas City, MO

Located in downtown Kansas City in Jackson County, Missouri, the four-story Mainstreet Theater is one of the city's most visible historic landmarks. First opened on October 30, 1921, during the vaudeville era, it was built for promoter Martin Beck by the distinguished architectural firm of C.W and Geo. L. Rapp of Chicago designed some of the most significant theaters in America in the 1920s and 1930s. It was the largest theater in the city until the Midland Theater was built in 1927, and it is distinctive for its Beaux-Arts design and prominent Byzantine-style dome. With a seating capacity of 3,250, it was one of the first theaters of its type to cater to the working class. Between 1921-1949 it presented vaudeville acts, movies, and traveling shows. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007. After many years of being closed, the theater reopened in 2012 after being purchased and renovated by Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas. The theater closed during the pandemic and was purchased and reopened by B&B Theatres in 2021 and now operates as B&B Theatres Mainstreet KC at The Power & Light District.

11. The Midland Theatre

The Midland Theatre is a historic entertainment venue in the Power & Light District of Kansas City. It first opened in 1927 as Loew’s Midland Theater; at the time it was the third-largest theater in the United States. It became well known for its opulent interior, which included features such as gold leafing, hand-cut crystal chandeliers, and other ornamentations. After the original theatre closed in 1961, it was acquired and operated by AMC for a number of years. It underwent extensive renovations and restorations in 2008. Today the theatre is sponsored by Arvest Bank, and is formally known as the Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland. It hosts a number of live shows and performances throughout the year. The theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.

12. Newman Theatre (1919-1972)

Built in 1919 for local exhibitor Frank L. Newman, the Newman Theatre was known for its opulence and extravagant features. It was the biggest and most costly of any Kansas City theatre at the time, holding an audience of 2,000. Notably, in 1921 a series of short satirical cartoons called Newman Laugh-O-grams were screened, which were the first animated productions created solely by Walt Disney. The Newman became Paramount Theater in 1947 and operated for a short time as Towne Theater before eventually closing due to a decline in business. It was demolished in 1972 for an urban renewal project and today, is the site is occupied by a skyscraper called the Lightwell Building.

13. Gate City National Bank and Women's City Club; Ambassador Hotel and Lonnie's Reno Club

Built in 1920 for the Gate City National Bank and designed by the Kansas City architectural firm of Keene & Simpson, this historic structure blends two designs found throughout the downtown area. The first three stories incorporate large corniced pillars and other features typical of bank headquarters, while the upper stories resemble the design of some of the neighboring skyscrapers erected during the early twentieth century. The bank occupied the first floor and leased the upper floors to the Women's City Club and various commercial firms. Among the Women's Club's many activities, it created a "Milk Station" that fed otherwise malnourished babies using donated breast milk. A major renovation project that began in 2011 saw the conversion of the historic bank and office building into the Ambassador Hotel, which opened in 2012. The hotel is the home of Lonnie's Reno Club, a live music venue that pays tribute to one of Kansas City's historic jazz clubs where Count Basie, Charlie Parker, and many other musicians performed.

14. Baltimore Hotel, 1899-1938

One of the largest hotels beyond New York City and perhaps the most luxurious hotels in the West prior to World War II, the Baltimore Hotel was the center of social life and politics in Kansas City during the first half of the 20th century. The hotel was popular among local business leaders, visiting celebrities, and even played an integral role in national politics. A young Harry Truman had many fond memories at this hotel-including his role (which he later denied) in bringing a live moose into the hotel during one of the Democratic Party's national conventions.

15. Mark Twain Tower (Continental Hotel)

Constructed in 1923, Kansas City'shistoric Mark Twain Tower which was also known as the Continental Hotel connects several aspects of history from the rise of athletic clubs to the effects of the Great Depression and urban history. The building was home to the Kansas City Athletic Club which formed during the 1880s as the club moved into the building in the 1920s. The Continental Hotel took over the historic skyscraper in the 1930s and maintained ownership until the 1970s, although the Athletic Club continued to occupy several floors. The Playboy Franchise also operated a Playboy Club within the hotel during the 1960s. Similar to many other buildings in the downtown area, the structure now operates as an apartment complex.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Historic Hotels and Theaters of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri Walking Tour

Created by Clio Admin on July 15th 2018, 6:58:57 pm.

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This brief walking tour includes stops at over a dozen historic hotels and theaters, including those that continue to operate and some that have been lost to time or repurposed. 12th Street was the center of Kansas City's entertainment district in the 1920s, and this tour includes several of the leading theaters and hotels of the early 1900s when jazz was king and prohibition was scarcely enforced thanks. Given Kansas City's reputation as a "wide-open" town, this district was home to numerous theaters, social clubs, and entertainment venues in the 1920s and 1930s.

Entries on This Tour

Historic Hotels and Theaters of Downtown Kansas City, Missouri Walking Tour

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