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In The Loop: July 17, 2022

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In The Loop

In The Loop: July 17, 2022

Your connection to Downtown Kansas City

Kevin Worley
Jul 17, 2022
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In The Loop: July 17, 2022

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The KC Downtown Loop is a reader-supported publication. To receive additional access and support our work, please consider becoming a paid subscriber at $6 a month or $60 a year.


This Saturday, the public is invited to a Celebration of Life for Jim Leedy, the artist, teacher, gallery owner, and Crossroads pioneer who helped Kansas City—and Downtown, especially—become a nationally prominent center for the arts.

Jim died at age 91 in late December, and the Celebration of Life on July 23 coincides with an exhibit of his life’s work at the Leedy-Voulkos Art Center entitled “Jim Leedy: Across Boundaries.” The exhibition runs through the end of this month.

Celebration of Life organizers suggest that guests bring food, drinks, and stories to share about Jim. The event begins at 4 p.m.

You may also share condolences or memories you have of Jim by using the form on this page. With your permission, your words may be used for a slide show celebrating and commemorating Jim’s life and legacy. 

More information is available at the Celebration of Life Facebook Event page.

Jim Leedy self portrait

This Friday, July 22, marks 150 years since the birth in St. Joseph, Mo., of famed political boss Thomas J. Pendergast. He was known as “T.J.” and “Boss Tom,” and he certainly has had more influence over the history of Kansas City than any other individual at this point in time. (Yes, even more than Patrick Mahomes.)

Pendergast campaign literature while running for Jackson County marhsal in 1906. Kansas City Public Library

Pendergast was generally considered to be either altruistic or criminal, with one’s viewpoint skewed by whether or not a person benefited from the Pendergast political machine, or was harmed by it. There is no doubt the Pendergast machine gave a boost to the poor and the working class in Kansas City, and likewise it is certain that the machine stole from, violated, and abused the citizens, government, and organizations of Kansas City as well.

Cartoon by Daniel Fitzpatrick in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch showing Pendergast as an octopus with his grip around Kansas City. St. Louis Post-Dispatch Editorial Cartoon Collection, March 31, 1939

As the State Historical Society of Missouri wrote, “Pendergast’s control … was the result of fraud, manipulation, and violence at the ballot box as well as service to the people of Kansas City and Jackson County.”

The Pendergast mansion at 5650 Ward Parkway. State Historical Society of Missouri

Pendergast’s best-known office was on the second floor of a two-story building located Downtown at 1908 Main. It remains standing today, located on the modern-day streetcar line.

POST-PUBLICATION NOTE:

Reader Kaler Bole pointed out to me that Pendergast's Ward Parkway mansion, pictured above, was the home he lived in for the last 20 years of his life, but the home where Boss Tom actually raised his family was at 200 W. 54th Street.

Bole says that before T.J. died he stated, "I never had a bad day in our first home and never had a good one in the last"

When I looked it up online, I thought the house looked familiar—and it was—because longtime KMBC anchor Larry Moore used to own and live in this Pendergast house near Loose Park.

I also learned that there are rumors that T.J. buried enemies in the concrete of the basement, and that there are apparently tunnels leading to who-knows-where under the house.

The home where Tom and Carolyn Pendergast raised their family at 200 W. 54th Street, near Loose Park. The home was designed by architect Frederick Gunn and built “out south” in 1914. Missouri Valley Special Collections

In the mid to late 2000s, I worked for a video production company that produced marketing videos for The Reserve Condominiums, a planned residential conversion of the former Federal Reserve Bank at 9th and Grand Downtown. It was right before the financial crisis of 2008, and it seemed a certainty that buyers would soon be moving into the old bank building at the time. With the ensuing economic recession, a housing crisis, and other factors, the project stalled and died. A 2014 proposal by a different developer to convert the building to a hotel never occurred, either.

Earlier this month, a group called Exploring the Abandoned posted a YouTube video of the inside of the ol’ Federal Reserve Bank Building (apparently with permission). Here’s what they found:

Part two of Exploring the Abandoned’s visit to the Federal Reserve is also now online.


The MR340 river race, the longest, non-stop paddling race in the world, launched from Kaw Point in Kansas City, Kan., Tuesday and offered this spectacular view of Downtown KCMO. Hundreds of kayakers started in KC, and a slightly lesser number of participants finished at St. Charles, Mo., a few days later.

Twitter avatar for @JordanBettsTV
Jordan Betts @JordanBettsTV
First set of paddlers are off! 340 miles across Missouri, what an adventure! Perfect weather too! #kcwx ☀️
12:08 PM ∙ Jul 12, 2022
586Likes46Retweets

Join Art in the Loop this Wednesday, July 20, at Oppenstein Park for a multi-disciplinary performance featuring music, theatre, and puppetry by local performance artists Alber, Emily Bartlett & b.hive theatre, and "Pollinators Parade" by Lavinia Roberts.

The performance begins at 5:30 p.m. in the park at 12th and Walnut. Bring your folding chairs, blankets, snacks, and cold beverages. The event is free and open to the public.

Link: Oppenstein Park Performance, Art in the Loop Series

Alber

1970

Local newspaper ad for Tom Jones’ first major American concert tour in 1970—specifically for his July 22 Kansas City appearance with Gladys Knight and the Pips, Norm Crosby, and the Count Basie Orchestra. Another ad (not shown here) said the KC show was the “Only Appearance Within 500 Miles” and touted the “Air Conditioned Municipal Auditorium arena.” Basie helped develop the renowned Kansas City style of swing while he was based here from roughly 1929 to 1936, and perhaps that is why the tour included Kansas City, but not other cities in the region.

Artful City: One weekly selection with a Downtown connection

Héctor Zamora, Brasil, 2013, clay bricks, metal bicycle. On display at 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City from April 2022 to April 2023 as part of the “Labor & Materials” exhibition. 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City

Quick Clip: The city in motion—just a few seconds at a time

The 12-story New York Life Building at 20 W. Ninth Street, completed in 1890, is generally regarded as Kansas City's first skyscraper—and it was the first in the city to contain elevators. A virtually identical building was built one year earlier in Omaha, Neb. Today, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph owns the building. The Loop

Downtown Lens: A single image depicting the urban aesthetic

Looking northwest toward the 909 Walnut building (center) from near 11th and McGee. The Loop

Answering the question “Who are all these people and where are they going?”, The Loop brings you a list of some of the biggest events happening Downtown each week. Please give a friendly Downtown-Kansas City welcome to audiences and attendees of….

TODAY

  • Prejudice & Pride continues through July 24th at the Music Theater Heritage

THURSDAY the 21st

  • Sheryl Crow at GrindersKC

  • Miller Lite Hot Country Nights at KC Live! Block in P&L

FRIDAY the 22nd

  • Mikey Needleman Band at KC Live! Block in P&L

SATURDAY the 23rd

  • Coors Light Block Party: Pop Preachers at KC Live! Block in P&L

For a more exhaustive list of everything happening Downtown, go to the VisitKC events page and use the “regions” function to search for Downtown, Westside/Southwest Blvd, West Bottoms, River Market, Power & Light, Crown Center, Crossroads, 18th & Vine—or anywhere you want to go in the KC Metro


Until next week—enjoy the city!


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Got a tip or question about Downtown KC?

Write to: tips@kcdowntownloop.com or contact The Loop via social media
Kevin Worley, Co-Publisher/Editorial
Joe Nichols, Co-Publisher/Business
Hannah Schuh, Intern
107 W. Ninth Street, Suite 210
Kansas City, MO 64105

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In The Loop: July 17, 2022

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Gayla George
Jul 17, 2022Liked by Kevin Worley

Kevin, proud and enjoying it all

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Nicci Kadilak
Writes Nicci’s Notes
Jul 17, 2022

The video from the reserve bank made me think of the images from Metro North Mall several years ago. I used to love that place but it gradually emptied as I grew into adulthood. These photos are beautiful in an apocalyptic way.

https://www.insider.com/photos-abandoned-metro-north-mall-kansas-city-2016-11

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