The location in this photo is actually the ballroom of the Hotel President, located at 14th and Baltimore, just across the street from the Main Street Theater, and 5 or so blocks from the Tower Theatre. Thankfully, the Hotel President still stands.
I never had the pleasure of seeing this beautiful theater, nor the Tower Theater, built originally as the Pantages. Kansas City had many beautiful theaters, now only faint memories for anyone who had the privilege to see them. I’m grateful we still have the Midland and the Uptown to remind us of how incredible movie palaces were.
On a recent drive by the theater, I see damage from a fire or a roof collapse, on the Belmont Ave. side. From the roof line, down about 3 feet, and all along the length that east wall, there are no bricks, which allows the passerby to stare into a totally gutted interior space. This is the storefront that used to be Tull’s Drugstore, later a café whose name I don’t recall. Mike Gallagher and I have spoken recently about the neglect of this eastside treasure. It now ranks high on Historic Kansas City’s “Most endangered buildings” list. Anyone have news on it’s ownership and any intended steps to prevent further decay?
The location in this photo is actually the ballroom of the Hotel President, located at 14th and Baltimore, just across the street from the Main Street Theater, and 5 or so blocks from the Tower Theatre. Thankfully, the Hotel President still stands.
I never had the pleasure of seeing this beautiful theater, nor the Tower Theater, built originally as the Pantages. Kansas City had many beautiful theaters, now only faint memories for anyone who had the privilege to see them. I’m grateful we still have the Midland and the Uptown to remind us of how incredible movie palaces were.
On a recent drive by the theater, I see damage from a fire or a roof collapse, on the Belmont Ave. side. From the roof line, down about 3 feet, and all along the length that east wall, there are no bricks, which allows the passerby to stare into a totally gutted interior space. This is the storefront that used to be Tull’s Drugstore, later a café whose name I don’t recall. Mike Gallagher and I have spoken recently about the neglect of this eastside treasure. It now ranks high on Historic Kansas City’s “Most endangered buildings” list. Anyone have news on it’s ownership and any intended steps to prevent further decay?