Now
Review at yelp.com, dated 4/2/2000, of the Municipal Auditorium, by Sean O., aka "K.C. kid living in D.C."
This magnificent building is sort of like the Radio City Music Hall of the Midwest. Built in 1934 in the beautiful Art Deco style, this building is one of KC's many architectural Gems. It can be deceiving from the outside. Yeah, the tarnished stone building looks solid, looks like it needs a bath, and gives you a hint of what awaits inside...but you have to go inside to really be blown away.
Miles of Marble, brass, and other fine materials clad the interior. Beautiful murals that are in a deco style (reminiscent of Thomas Hart Benton's) adorn the walls. The Princeton Architectural Press called it one of the top 500 most important architectural works in the US in 2000. (Considering how many great buildings the US has, that's impressive!) It was designed by, Hoit Price & Barnes, the same firm that did the even more striking Power and Light building, down the street.
I'm not sure if you can just walk in here and look around, maybe you can. But if you ever get a chance, go check it out.
It's one of KC's most beautiful buildings!
A bit from article on Kansas City at Wikipedia:
Kansas City was founded in 1838 as the "Town of Kansas" at the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas rivers and was incorporated in its present form in 1850. Situated opposite Kansas City, Kansas, the city was the location of several battles during the Civil War, including the Battle of Westport. The city is well known for its contributions to the musical styles of jazz and blues as well as to cuisine (Kansas City-style barbecue).
Kansas City music made in the U.S.A.
Kansas City Here I Come-Fats Domino
Robbie Peaple, Austin Drage and John Parry playing some rather fine blues
Kansas City Kitty-Johnny Bond
Kansas City Music with an international flair
Kansas City Blues-Homesick Mac and the "Keys, Sticks 'n' Strings" band captured live at the Blues Tent (Bluestält) during the Malmöfestivalen 2007, Malmö, Sweden.
Music Video for 'Kansas City' by Sneaky Sound System. Produced by The Feds, Sydney 2008
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9 comments:
Love the Fats Domino Kansas City. Very cool.
Don't forget KC BBQ! My Dad's family is from KC and my grandmother was a very good mid-western cook. Nothing like KC food. Yummy!
@Nancy- Yup, he's the bomb.
@Belette- but, but, but....the bit from Wikipedia ends with a note about "Kansas City-style barbeque"!
(I know, it's called speed-reading!)
My grandparents were from KC and I've written a few posts with OLD pictures from those days. Just search my blog under "Kansas City" if you want to see 'em.
Oops, I didn't read the Wikipedia bit. I was more interested in your writing, the postcards and the music!
It seems we have lots in common: KC and Oregon and pet children.
xoxo
I love these postcards. I kept going back and forth between them.
Soooo cool :)
@Belette- Yes, lots! I forgot to tell you that my husband attended the OSU/AZ game a few weekends ago with his birth father (who left the family when Mike was a little kid). They had a great time, in spite of OSU losing -- but they corrected that loss back in Arizona, huh!
@Looking to the Stars- I bet you were picking out certain buildings shown in each shot? I was too. From street-side old photos I saw online when I was working on the post, I must say that the Kansas City of old was a beautiful and hoppin' town. :)
This is a lo0vely post. I much enjoyed it!
I, too, was comparing the post card to the modern photo. I found many of the same buildings, but new ones are more obvious. Very interesting.
@Phivos- O, thanks so much!
@Darlene- That's fun that you did it too. The old ones are, for the most part, the best. :)
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