In The Loop: July 24, 2022
Your connection to Downtown Kansas City
Greetings, Loopers!
We’ve made a few tweaks to our “In The Loop” email newsletter design, which may or may not be all that noticeable. First, we’ve added brief, bold-face headlines where we used to rely on making the first phrases of paragraphs boldface. Hopefully, this helps with readability.
Secondly, we’re experimenting with using Instagram links instead of GIF files for the “Quick Clip” video section. Not only will the IG videos be higher resolution, but we can also share videos longer than 15 seconds in duration.
Also want to thank all of our new subscribers: This week may have set a record for new sign-ups! We also appreciate everyone who has shared our email newsletter and our website to help build our KC Downtown Loop community.
And now, onto The Loop….
Bandits foiled at Mainstreet Theater
On today’s date in 1922, two armed men entered the Mainstreet Theater in the morning, before it was open, with the intent to rob the venue’s safe of the previous two day’s receipts of approximately $5,000—the equivalent of about $88,000 today. However, the safe was controlled by a time lock, and the gunmen had to wait a half hour before the safe would be accessible. They decided to settle in with one robber pointing a gun at the manager and a few employees in the manager’s office, while the other spotted a young female employee outside the office. The second bandit approached the 25-year-old woman, placed his arm around her waist, at which point she screamed and fought back, causing both men to flee to a waiting Cadillac with a driver facing north on Main Street. Heavy traffic impeded a quick get-away, and at least one employee climbed onto the car before he was forced off by threats with a gun. The robbers, at least one of whom exited the car and fled on foot, were not apprehended.
Mayor William Ewing Kemp
This Friday in 1968 marks the date when William E. Kemp, the longest-serving mayor of Kansas City, passed away at age 79. From 1946 to 1952, he served consecutive terms of two years, three years, and four years. Prior to becoming mayor, the Pettis County, Mo., native was appointed as Kansas City, Mo., city counselor and prosecuted several city employees associated with the Pendergast Machine.
Michael Wells of the Kansas City Public Library writes about the history of Downtown baseball and more in this KCQ article.
"Many failed to mourn the demolition of Municipal Stadium in 1976, but nostalgia for what was lost has grown with time. Those who sat in its stands tell about arriving there on public transportation or by foot. They talk about sitting so close to their favorite players that they could almost reach out and touch them. They recall the Monarchs marching through the neighborhoods surrounding the stadium in the annual opening day parade. And, of course, they remember the barbecue."
Link: KCQ: What Happened to Kansas City's Downtown Sports Stadium?
And speaking of baseball, here are a couple of good-news stories for two of our local baseball legends
The first being the late Buck O’Neil’s induction into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame today at 12:30 p.m. on MLB Network. Coverage begins at 10 a.m.
In the story below, Ollie Gates’ of Gates Bar-B-Q reveals that, for years, he really wasn’t a fan of Buck O’Neil.
Link: Ollie Gates, Bob Kendrick reflect on Buck O'Neil's legacy ahead of Hall of Fame induction (KSHB-TV)
Also, back here in KC about a mile southeast of the old Municipal Stadium site, things are happening to preserve Leroy “Satchel” Paige’s 112-year-old house:
Link: Kansas City moving forward with plan to turn Satchel Paige's home into a museum (KCUR 89.3 FM)
For those of you who remember the Kansas City Carnival Supply Company….
The purveyor of party favors, costumes, masks, and other novelties operated from the 1950s to the 1990s at 8th and Broadway (a great place to shop for Halloween before it closed). Plans now are to convert the building to lofts:
Link: Loft Project Proposed for Historic Carnival Building on Broadway (CitySceneKC $)
Meanwhile, in the River Market….
1906
Here’s a postcard featuring the second Kansas City Board of Trade building, completed in 1888 at the northwest corner of 8th and Wyandotte. The building, designed by the prominent Chicago architectural firm of Burnham and Root, was supposedly so well built that when it was brought down in 1968, the workers found it to be a much more difficult task to demolish than other similar buildings. The only Burnham and Root building known to remain standing in Kansas City is the William Chick Scarritt mansion in the Historic Northeast neighborhood.
The site of the heralded second Kansas City Board of Trade Building is, 54 years after being demolished … now a parking lot. If you have the stomach for it, you can see more images of what Kansas City lost through its destruction of the Board of Trade Building by clicking on these two links from urbanremainschicago.com:
Link: Urban Remains: September 2021 link
Link: Urban Remains: May 2022 link
Artful City: One weekly selection with a Downtown connection
Quick Clip: The city in motion—just a few seconds at a time
Downtown Lens: A single image depicting the urban aesthetic
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 final performance at the Music Theater Heritage
WEDNESDAY the 27th
The Shins at the Midland
THURSDAY the 28th
American Academy of Family Physicians National Conference continues through the 30th at Bartle Hall
COIN at the Midland
Miller Lite Hot Country Nights at KC Live! Block in P&L
FRIDAY the 29th
77 Jefferson & Zach Mufasa Band at KC Live! Block in P&L
SATURDAY the 30th
Big Time Rush with Spencer Sutherland at the T-Mobile Center
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!
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
Give The Loop a boost: Become a Founding Subscriber
In addition to having access to all content, and receiving invitations to The Loop’s Downtown events, Founders Level subscribers ($200 annually, or any amount above) receive a Downtown Loop sticker, a T-shirt in their choice of fit, size, and color, and recognition on the website.
THANK YOU TO THESE FOUNDING SUBSCRIBERS….
Chris Gahagan
The Kiwinda-Tinsley Family
Todd and Donna Martin
Jane Reed and Mark Patterson