Kansas City Missouri

Music Hall

More From Kansas City More From Missouri

While most spirits who enjoy this space are model spectral
guests, there is always one in every crowd…

DESCRIPTION

The Kansas City Music Hall is described in several sources as being “a large proscenium theatre with a striking Streamline Modern interior that is still most impressive in 2018.

Described as being one of Kansas City’s “shining jewels,” the Kansas City Music Hall is a first class theatre with an auditorium and balconies which provide seating for 2,363; with orchestra seating for 1,185, Loge and Box seating for 260, and Balcony seating for 918 patrons. The theatre has an impressive “orchestra pit, chorus dressing rooms, star dressing rooms, green room, and high-quality lighting and sound systems.”

The ’30s era ambiance” decor inside is beautiful and impressive to behold. Features a spectacular 3,600-square-foot foyer and grand staircase. The walls and floors are made of Italian marble, which go along beautifully with the “magnificent floor-to-ceiling murals and elaborate art deco chandeliers.” The Music Hall’s Art Deco lighting fixtures are the inspiration for the Sky Stations atop Bartle Hall’s four pylons.

The Music Hall has a glorious, antique, 1927 pipe organ, originally used to provide background music for silent movies. The organ has an ivory and gold console, with more than 2,000 pipes, and has the ability to create a variety of special effects. This organ was built by the Robert-Morton Organ Company of Van Nuys, CA, during the time when theatres were built like palaces. Though it was first installed in 1935, during the high point of the “Great Depression,” it wasn’t operational until the KCTPO agreed under pressure from the Kansas City government to allow a mutual use of the hall for “the Robert-Morton’s rebirth.”

HISTORY

It opened in 1936 as a typical glorious musical entertainment hall that was beautifully designed in the Streamline Moderne style, created by the architectural firm of Alonzo H. Gentry, Voskamp and Neville, with a mix of Art Deco architecture and architectural details. The streamline moderne architecture was designed by the lead architectural firm of Alonzo H. Gentry, Voskamp & Neville.

Throughout the years, The Kansas City Music Hall has always been kept up to look its best, to remain relevant as a performing stage location and never suffered a “long in the tooth” moment.

The building has always been maintained to be at its best; to remain relevant as a performing stage location and never suffered a “long in the tooth” moment. The lack of money to do small and big renovations has never been the case here. Massive overhaul projects are funded whenever they are needed.

Because they have always updated their facilities, The Music Hall has long offered a variety of the arts. They have presented “touring Broadway shows, as well as visiting symphony orchestras, opera and ballet companies, and other events. It was the main hall of the Kansas City Philharmonic for several decades.”

HISTORY OF MANIFESTATIONS

People who enjoy a favorite place of entertainment, sometimes like to still go there to enjoy the activities even in spirit form.

The Kansas Music City Hall was created to be a glorious place to go to where one could escape the pain and troubles of this world and enjoy the performing arts in a first rate theatre with all the bells and whistles of the time. As there are no recorded deaths, suicides or murders committed in this building, one can assume from deduction or studying other theatre hauntings, the entities who come to enjoy the musical/dramatic/dance performances here loved coming to this theatre while alive and wish to continue to come and enjoy this piece of heaven found in this world.

MANIFESTATIONS

Spirits of theatre enthusiasts

Wearing a variety of clothes styles from the 20th century.

Living patrons and perhaps some staff have noticed see-through theatre goers discreetly take empty seats near them to enjoy a musical production or concert.

These performing arts spectral enthusiasts are probably well-mannered, not wanting attention by the living, but have come to enjoy the performances.

Spirit of an older gentleman

Dressed all in gray with a fedora.

Isn’t quite as polite as the other spirits… there is always one in every crowd.

Stands in the middle of the seats, and sits down, whether there is someone living already sitting in the seat or not.

Doesn’t mind scaring the living.

Only appears to women.

STILL HAUNTED?

Probably so! The reports of so many personal experiences probably point to spectral theatre enthusiasts.

They still come to enjoy the performances perhaps to forget their issues for awhile which are keeping them from going to the other side. Or perhaps they are just visiting.

Many patrons and some staff have experienced both the polite theatre enthusiasts and the Spectral patron who insists on picking a seat, whether taken or not.

While no professional paranormal investigators have posted any hard evidence, a building manager did catch on photos some interesting light anomalies that suggest the presence of spirits but don’t necessarily prove their existence. He had the personal experience of a Music Hall employee who was scared to death of working in the Music Hall to the point of refusing to do so, even if she was fired. She may have seen the spirit of the older gentleman not known for his manners.

LOCATION

301 West 13th Street,
Kansas City, Missouri

The Kansas City Music Hall can be found in the Kansas City’s Art Deco Municipal Auditorium complex.

It is one of 4 “versatile special event and banquet venues”:The Arena, the Exhibition Hall and The Little Theater. This gigantic, massive Municipal Auditorium complex can’t be missed, unless your GPS gets the vapors.

Tom and I eventually found it just down a block or two from The Folly Theatre. The Kansas City Music Hall, while sharing a wall on its right side with the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium, has its own entrance on the south side of 13th Street, complete with lighted marquee, and box office. Patrons can also find their way to the entrance to the Music Hall through the Municipal Auditorium’s Grand Foyer, or from the Auditorium Plaza Garage, by way of what is described as “a beautiful underground walkway.”