COWTOWN BALLROOM...That Was Special
07.21.08 | Art Hadley
I was at the King Crimson/ Gentle Giant concert at Cowtown, too, and you'd never guess who else was there. I went back to get a Coke, and I saw an oddly dressed couple kind of sneak in, and slip around the side aisle up towards the stage where they stood and listened to King Crimson for a half hour or so, before they left. It was Karen and Richard Carpenter. They were all dressed in stagey flowing shirts that sort of matched, so I assumed they were playing a concert in town, and as soon as it was over they slipped into Cowtown to hear KC in KC.
Also, when Ashton, Gardner and Dyke opened for Badfinger, I may have seen the best live concert of my life. I was no big AG&D fan, but they rocked the house down and surprised everybody. Badfinger waited about 45 minutes for the excitement to die down, then tried to top them by being the loudest band in the world. It was awful, and I was a big Badfinger fan before that.
Where are all those guys these days, Stan, Herb Palmer, Paul Peterson, Frank Polte?
07.18.08 | Sara Koron
I wasn't even born when CTBR was open, but remember running around in the t-shirt before I even knew that was a joint in the cow's mouth. My father, Stan, worked in the KC music scene for some 30 years. He used to drive me around on business errands to the Lone Star, Cassidy's BFD and more. But, all the time he would be sure to tell me the legend of the cowtown ballroom and how none of these clubs could reach that level. Thanks to everyone involved in this film, maybe I can taste a bit of that history! Sara.
07.18.08 | Shannon (Smith) McNeely
In response to an earlier poster, the editor of the Westport Trucker was Dennis Giangreco (sp?)- I along with other street kids of the era used to peddle the Trucker for a quarter apiece, and got to kerp a dime of that for ourselves... And the concert venue with the artificial grass was not Cowtown but Freedom Palace. And yeah we did used to try to twist it up and burn it as a plastic reefer!!! I have many vivid memories of that era while being foggy about the events of last week or last month!! The Sign coffee house on Westport Road was/is more sacred to me than any religious site I have trekked to. Beautiful Day cafe (now The Corner) where I used to get an avocado tomato beansprout sandwich and drink Red Zinger tea nourished more than my belly.. Even if there weren't as many "big names" for these gigs, my favorite concerts at the Cowtown were the fundraisers for the Westport Free Health clinic (at that time on Baltimore just south of 39th) out of my gratitude for a doctor named Tom Filardo (who looked like us in tie dye and a beard to his midchest that went into two separate pointed tails) who tried and succeeded in saving my life when I got abscesses in my arms from shooting dope.. I remember Tiny Tim's Magic Circus on Broadway and of course the Temple Slug and the Vanguard, etc.. I am true to my early roots and still spell Amerika with a K!!!
07.17.08 | Bill blanck
I have a 4'" x 5" Cowtown Ballroom sticker - guess it went on the bumper or window. Anyway, never used. Several ticket stubs. I don't know who or how many but Van Morrison is one. I stopped regularly attending concerts after Cowtown closed. Will try and be there tomorrow.
Bill
07.17.08 | Jack Hanrahan
Joe, Jimmy, Tony... what a wonderful thing you are doing! I just donated $100 . I'm travelling on music business to Chicago so I can't make tomorrow nite's auction but I would love to have one of the Black Oak Arkansas or Foghat posters. That would be terrific. The experiences at Cowtown helped me not only become a better bass player in my bands Moonstone and Cobalt Rose but helped shape my future as I so wanted to get into the music business. It took ten years but I made it, opening and co-owning the Lone Star, The Hurricane and Guitars & Cadillacs among others. To this day, I still promote concerts in various markets! Thanks for doing what you do! Can't wait to see the final product!
Sincerely, Jack Spencer Hanrahan 12207 Avila Dr., KC, Mo. 64145
07.17.08 | Joanne Plevka
My husband at the time, Kerwin, was the staff photographer for much of the later years. When the Dirt Band recorded a live album, they were here for the weekend. Kerwin worked at the Westport Trucker and the editor (can't think of his name - many brain cells ago, he had long black hair and last name was something like Giocano or something - I hear he now is a War History Proffessor or something, go figure !?!?!?) - anyway, he and I prodded Kerwin to work his butt off all weekend to get a good bunch of photos together. He did end up with a few photos on their album, Stars & Stripes. He went on to photograph many more famous artists and I was very lucky to be with him at most of the shows. No one could remember my name, I was known as "Kerwin's Wife". K passed away a few years and I wish I had just a few of the photos he took.
Anyway, I am very anxious to see the Bill's, Brandy, Becky, anyone from back then. Hope they will be there Friday.
Joanne Plevka
07.16.08 | John Gauld
I have some Royals tickets to donate for the auction. I will bring them to the party.
07.15.08 | Cathy ( Hoyt) Van Hecke
Hey Joe,
I went to several concerts at the Cowtown Ballroom.
I seem to remember that Sly and the Family Stone and
Eric Burdon and War played there also. Did
the Cowtown Ballroom have a fake grass floor where
everyone sat. If not then I am confusing it with another
venue. Please e-mail if you get a chance. I need to put
this issue to rest. Great idea for a documentary. I plan
on coming down on Friday to the fundraiser.
See you then.
Cathy
07.15.08 | Doc B
Never was there but got the Tshirt
07.13.08 | Mary S. Willis
I have the August 10 and October 22, 1973 issues of Westport Trucker with a Nitty Gritty Dirt Band interview and the other with a list of upcoming Cowtown concerts. Also have a KCStar review of a NGDB performance which I attended (along with Marla Burkett) at Cowtown Ballroom and ticket stubs from various shows in 1972 and 1973.
My grandparents danced the El Torion, my mother roller skated there and as my friend Marla wrote, we attended many shows there during high school. Great memories.
07.11.08 | Tara King
Joe, I just want to support you in alll your endeavors. I was born in 1973, but I love all that old music. You can count on my support on the 18th. I am working at a club now, but I have the evening off & will make an effort to bring some appreciative cowtown fans to help get your soundtrack going and your documentary finished. Any word on your next documentary? I love documentaries and have some ideas..... I was a video production major. Anyway, I will enjoy seeing youat your big to do.
07.11.08 | greg clevenger
i practically lived there.
i have photos from every show i saw as well as some other things. if you are interested, please call.
07.10.08 | Cheryl Denney White
I've been in NY for over 20 years, and in DC for 10 years before that, but a friend from the old days sent the KC Star article to me. I freelanced as an entertainment writer for some of Kansas City's alternative newspapers during the Cowtown Ballroom years and attended and reviewed concerts there. I'll look to see if I have any old articles in a file of clippings. I remember meeting Danny Cox, Earl Scruggs, Steve Martin, the Dirt Band, and interviewing Arlo Guthrie in the back room (which was no more luxurious than the Ballroom itself, except for the chairs).
07.09.08 | Marla Burkett-Ruiz
THANKS FOR THE REPLY. I WILL BE SENDING THE CONTRIBUTION IN A FEW DAYS.
MY FRIEND,MARY WILLIS, AND I WERE YOUNG TEENAGERS DURING THE COWTOWN BALLROOM DAYS BUT WE DID MANAGE TO MAKE IT TO A GREAT NUMBER OF THE CONCERTS. WE BOTH HAVE SOME OF THE BEST MEMORIES OF OUR LIVES FROM OUR EXPERIENCES AT THE BALLROOM.
MARY AND I WILL BE CELEBRATING OUR 50TH BIRTHDAYS THIS YEAR AT THE END OF OCT. I WAS HOPING TO MAKE IT HOME FOR THE FUNDRAISER (I NOW LIVE IN SANTA FE,NM AND MARY LIVES IN NEBRASKA) BUT WILL BE UNABLE TO DO SO. I AM INTERESTED,HOWEVER, IN PURCHASING SOMETHING COWTOWN RELATED TO SURPRISE MARY FOR HER BD--- ARE YOU GOING TO HAVE ANY T-SHIRTS OR OTHER CBR THINGS AVAILABLE FOR SALE??? PLEASE LET ME KNOW.
ONE OF OUR FUNNIEST MEMORIES OF CBR WAS THAT WE WERE SITTING OUT ON THE CURB AFTER A JOHN MAYALL CONCERT WAITING TO BE PICKED UP BY OUR PARENTS . WE WERE TOO YOUNG TO DRIVE AND WE HAD SET IT UP SO OUR PARENTS ALWAYS ARRIVED AT LEAST AN HOUR AFTER THE CONCERT SO WE WOULD NOT BE SEEN BEING PICKED UP. ANYWAY, THE AFTER CONCERT CROWD HAD DISBURSED, IT WAS QUITE LATE AND THE STREET WAS DESERTED AND WE WERE SITTING ON THE CURB AND OUT WALKED JOHN MAYALL ALONE. HE PROCEEDED TO SIT AT CURBSIDE WITH US AND OFFERED US SOME PISTACHIOS AND CHATTED WITH US AWHILE-- THIS WAS QUITE THE THRILL IN THOSE DAYS FOR 2 YOUNG GIRLS .
THANKS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO KEEP THOSE MEMORIES ALIVE.
MARLA BURKETT
07.08.08 | Steve Barrett
Thanks for emailing back. I'm glad to hear that you're going to get this movie about the Cowtown Ballroom done! I attended the King Crimson/Gentle Giant/Charles Lloyd concert. It was my only time at Cowtown. I came to see King Crimson as one of my drumming idols of the time Bill Bruford had just left YES and joined them. They played songs from their Lark's Tongues in Aspic lp. Here are some of my impressions of the night.
I had never been to Cowtown and sat right down front and center the entire night. WOW, were our butts sore sitting on the hard wooden floors! Charles Lloyd came out and played one long hour, instrumental song with no vocals, no grooves played together, nor did they speak to the audience. This was "avante guard" jazz at it's worst. Musical chaos! Nothing to sink your teeth into musically. The drummer had a double bass drum setup that had candles burning on them with the huge piles of different colored candle wax adhered to them. The guitar player must have been on a bad trip or something as he played a solo then sat down on top of his amp, put his head in his hands and cried like a baby. At the time, I couldn't wait to see and hear King Crimson.
Next up was the surprise of the night. Gentle Giant came out and played the most complex, pristine music I had ever heard or seen performed live. They played about 32 different instruments between the five of them. The roadies stood at the sides of the stage and just threw them instruments constantly. They weren't just blowing "parts", but actually played each of these sometimes "unrelated" instruments on a virtuoso level. All of them played on the drum set at the same time completely coordinated musically. The recorder fugues they played, as well as their totally original vocal arrangements were jaw dropping. They performed with incredible showmanship and excitment and whipped the crowd into heights unknown. They totally blew King Crimson off the stage.
By the time King Crimson came out, the audience was completely drained. Robert Fripp the leader/guitar player sat on a high stool the entire night, John Wetton played bass and sang lead vocals, David Cross played the Mellotron and violin and Bill Bruford was terrific on his drumset. Their songs were long and drawn out. They just didn't connect with the audience. When someone hollered out for Robert Fripp to introduce the band, he dismissed the request by saying, "That is not important, however what is important is the name of our next song". Man that was cold and disappointing as I really wanted to love them. I remember a sigh or moan go through the crowd after he said that.
In short the entire night belonged to Gentle Giant and to this day after seeing hundreds of live performances by sooo many different types of artists over the years, Gentle Giant's performance at the Cowtown Ballroom remains in my Top 10 list. I've been surprised that no one else has ever written about this concert. A friend who was with me that night saw Gentle Giant a few years later and got to talk with them. He brought up their night at the Cowtown and they said that that had been one of their best live performances and memories ever. They were totally aware that they captured the crowd.
I really miss the Cowtown Ballroom and wish it could make a resurrection. Please add me to your email list as I'd like to know when the movie is completed.
Sincerely,
Steve Barrett
07.08.08 | Cheryl Crumley
I was part owner of a custom design leather shop in the River Quay. We made a snakeskin guitar strap and arm bands for Alice Cooper and talked our way into the concert and backstage for free saying he had ordered them. He actually was impressed with the work and bought them!
07.07.08 | Kathi (Wingate) Simpson
Though most of my memorabilia from my days at Good Karma/Cowtown Productions was lost in a basement flood about 12 years ago, I do have a few posters and handbills that I would like to donate - they might help you raise a few bucks.
If you are interested, please let me know how and when I can get them to you in time for the fundraiser.
Peace -
Kathi
07.07.08 | MARLA BURKETT-RUIZ
I WOULD LIKE TO DONATE MONEY IN HONOR OF SOMEONE (FOR THEIR NAME TO BE IN THE CREDITS) BUT AM UNABLE TO DO SO THROUGH PAYPAL. IS THERE AN ADDRESS TO WHICH I CAN MAIL A CONTRIBUTION ?
07.04.08 | Scott Duncan
I have photos I took of King Crimson, Gentle Giant, and Charles Lloyd at Cowtown. Visited for quite awhile with Robert Fripp after the show.
I'm also a composer/producer, my instrumentals have been used worldwide for film, radio, tv, etc. Let me know of you need anything in that regard.
I'm glad you are making this film.
Scott Duncan
07.01.08 | Sarah Benson
Hello,
I'm a reporter for ink, a new magazine from the Kansas City Star. I'd like to write a story about the documentary you're working on as sort of a precede to the July 21 Record Bar fundraiser show. Would anyone working on the film (the director, maybe?) be able to speak with me over the phone Wednesday or Thursday about the documentary? Let me know at sarah@inkkc.com. Thanks!
Sarah Benson
writer, {ink}
inkkc.com
07.01.08 | Roquey Schofield
I've got wonderful memories of the Zappa show w/ Flo & Eddie and the last show w/ Brewer & Shipley. So much of the rest is pretty foggy, but these were my first and last shows there. Cowtown will live on in our hearts forever.
06.25.08 | Larry Salvato
Hay I worked on the Wesport Trucker during this HI:
I used to write for the Wesport Trucker during this time and I have a lot of Trucker issues with lots of CowTown ads in them If you would like to reproduce them you are welcome
06.23.08 | Pat Luebbert
Fay Street Columbia Missouri 1971.I was 12 years old and just so happened to live caddycorner to a wonderful group of merry music makers called "White Eyes". A house full of kind,friendly and creative folks who kept me out of trouble and stoked my own musical interests. They offered me an escape from my poor pitiful broken-home poverty situation that was leading me into juvinile delinquency. This union gave me new direction of an experience of music that to this day inspires me and enriches my life everyday as I hearand play the sounds of that era. I only experienced the ballroom once but will never forget the impact it has left in my life. truly a magical place of Peace and harmony. Thanks Pat Luebbert
06.19.08 | Bill Kotzias
Dear Joe,
It's been fantastic talking with you about the truly magical times we all spent at Cowtown Ballroom. To update the other readers and those who have shared their "blurred" memories of experiencing alot of groups that went on to be a major part of rock n roll history, I have given Joe my b&w negatives & color slides of some groups for all to enjoy! I am still searching for more negatives and am hopeful that they are worthy of being included. It's an honor to be part of your project Joe. Thank You for letting me part of a part of K.C. history that lives in our hearts and good memories of those who experienced a time of musical freedom and creative thought.
Bill Kotzias
06.11.08 | Bill O'Brien (O'B)
When I read the article in the paper the flood gates opened and so many grand memories of that place splashed in my head. The times I had there with family and friends were priceless. I think singing with WIZZO (Steve Miller Band) on Holloween night was the 1st memory that popped up (and was mentioned in the article). There'll never be another venue like "Cowtown", but at least I have the memories (some foggier than others of course). I wish I'd kept every stub from every show I attended. It would have been quite a collection. A good friend off mine gave me a CB poster from the last night as a birthday present a few years ago. They were passing them out as a tribute to the final curtain. Can't part with though... Sorry. See you at The Record Bar in July. I'll bring some dough. Bill (O'B)
06.11.08 | JOHN THOMAS
I had a friend that had a band called "The Impulse Federation Electric Rock & Blues Band" that played at Volker Fountain a few times around then. Cowtown events are a touch fogged out. Great memories should be remembered! I wish I could remember some of mine! Keep up the work! Thanks! "JT"
05.23.08 | Ron VanBenthusen
I saw Savoy Brown there, and it was great. They rocked that place to your very soul.
I also went there for an all night concert and remember a guy who set up a 8' ladder inside the building to watch the bands.
05.22.08 | Lori Klaudt
I loved the article in the KC Star. It made me think about those good old days. This was one of my favorite places in high school. I didn't get to start going until October 1971 when I finally turned 16 and was allowed to date. I met a lot of good people and saw Zappa and Alice Cooper for the first time at the ballroom. We even had special pillows we would take to sit on. It was our regular place to go listen to good music, met good people, have a great time and hang out. Those were different times for sure. I remember one night when we were standing out front waiting to go in and a guy went across the street and was climbing up a pole. He was pretty wasted and his friends keep calling to him to come back over with them and laughing at him. He was still over there when we went in. I always wondered what happened to him. This was my second exposure to Brewer and Shipley. They played at Memorial Hall a year earlier and that was my first time to go to a concert, see them and get stoned. Oh the memories:-) And to think my dad took me to that concert and picked me up. Yep, those were the days. I am glad you are doing the documentary. I know there are many more out there like me that LOVED the ballroom and everything it embodied. Rock on!
05.22.08 | Ronnie Weir
Beginning in St Joe. MO. I knew the White Eyes band when they were Dillions Children, Water Works Road and then W.E. Phillip Jackson was married to my youger sister Roberta, and Greg Camp and I went to high school together and later became (Butch and Sundance) best friends. When they got their first gig at Cowtown, I was there. I was there roadie,brother,driver, and (as Cathy Helmick told Derik from Chrystalis records), Spiritual advisor. I met Frank Polte and the crew at Good Karma Prod. What a Great Times, those were. I worked a couple qccasions and concerts for Rocky Roads and Rat, doing lights and sound.I attended almost all the shows in 1971 and even drove Frank's getto limo to the airport to pick-up Steve Miller. Long hair,tie-dyed Cowtown T-shirt,bell-bottoms, and scandals. When we got to Cowtown, I rushed him to the dressing room and he demanded "girls, where are the girls"? I stepped outside the dressing room and outside was all the girls that I knew, waiting to catch a glimpse or get an auto-graph. I pointed to five of the sexiest girls, and told them to come inside. Not only did I become the Cowtown's first pimp, but also the first who half- streaked the place during a Halloween costume party dressed as an indian brave, wearing NOTHING but a short leather loin cloth. The memories are still in tact and never a dull moment. Those were the best of my times. I have kept contact with most of White Eyes and Greg and I are still the best of friends. Go catch his act with Jimmy at the Levee with Camp Harlow, if you want a bit of that memory at Cowtown. Their version of Mike and Tom's, Witchy Tai Tai, will set it in motion. Love what you are doing here Joe...couldn't be better than this.
05.21.08 | Roberta Weir
I have a picture of the group White Eyes around the time of their Cowtown ballroom days. I was married to Phil Jackson, bass player, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter in the group (back when I was Roberta Jackson). Let me know if you would like to see it. Roberta Weir
04.25.08 | Kathie (paxton) Gillaspie
Wow! My sister who still lives in Kansas City met me in LA, and brought me the Star Magazine article. It brings back so many memories that changed my life forever.
When I was a kid growing up on Union Hill. My sisters and I would spend every Friday night at the skating ring, meeting our boyfriends or hoping we would meet the boy of our dreams.
So it is not a far jump when on April 22 I did meet the man I would fall in love with, and 1 year later marry. We just celebrated our 34th year anniversary on April 20. But I am getting a head of my story.
My girlfriend had come into town from Florida for a visit. We decided to go to a concert. That afternoon she went to get the tickets for B.B. King's performance that night. On our arrival she hooked up with the stage manager for the opening act and left with him before the concert started. Since she had driven, that left me without a ride home.
As I was looking for some one to hang out with and a possible ride home, a tall thin long-haired blonde guy, Steve, who I had noticed earlier that night, came up to me and put his arm around me and said hi. My response was hey I got some good stuff, you want to go upstairs and get high. After the concert he said he would give me a ride home. Which he did and we started dating and the rest is history. We moved to Mexico in November '06, after my husband was unable to work due to Parkinsons. We now volunteer with the Vineyard Church in Mazatlan. So Cowtown Ballroom holds, and always will hold, a special place in my heart. It changed my life forever.
04.22.08 | Bob Fowler
Love the site. I have so many memories of Cowtown in the early '70's. Hot Tuna, Van Morrison, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I could go on. I remember It's a Beautiful Day coming in and playing several nights back in June of '72, right after I graduated high school. As I recall, they were scheduled for Thursday and Friday and the response was so overwhelming that they stayed over and played a 3rd show Saturday night. A show that i'm trying to track down was one that included Blue Oyster Cult and Charlie Daniels Band. It may have been in the December '73 timeframe???? What folks may remember about it was that CDB was to open, but ran late. BOC agreed to open the show, and CDB arrived and came on later. If anyone remembers that one and can help to confirm the timeframe and circumstances, I'd love to hear from you. Thanks again for the great site and the memories.
04.17.08 | Kimberly Kitterman/Kim Williams
Hello again! It has been so great to re-connect with old friends that I've lost touch. After seeing MaryKay Savage's note, It just reminded me how I need to get in touch with her. We have been close friends since the Cowtown days, in fact thats where we probably met? We don't see each other nearly enough. This Web site helped me to reconnect with Paul Peterson my Boyfriend from back then. I would Love to see Danny Cox, he lived with us for a while out on the Farm in Raytown. Mike Brewer and Tom Shipley lived down the road, Wow! Those were the Days. KK
04.16.08 | Joe Flynn
What a great site! Remember the big ole fire marshall who always tried to scoot everyone back from the stage? Dirt Band, Daredevils, Steve Martin, Ravi Shankar (asking everyone to quit smoking). Thanks for all the memories. Peace.
04.15.08 | Bev Humphrey (formerly Isidore)
I just found this site. Interesting..... I worked for Stan at The Vanguard, later worked at Cowtown. It was while I was working there one night and Robin Trower cancelled his show because he didn't like the sound system or something...and I went out with the drummer, Reg Isidore. We kept in touch for months after. He invited me to join them on tour, which I did, and later to come to England. We got married, had two children, and divorced in 1985. So Cowtown has good memories for me because it is where I met the father of my children. And I have lots of other good memories of good times there.
04.13.08 | Mary Kay Savage
I think my favorite memory of Cowtown, besides hanging with Danny above Paul's office, is the evening I was at the - what - IHOP? -across the street. I was in Cleveland chiropractic college and a group had been studying, we broke for breakfast. I am thinking it was James Brown had performing - 1973? And every imaginable person of color was in the restaurant or on the street so totally decked, so completely fly. Jeez, can I just have one second back now to see and taste, just one more "there" moment of beauty tinged with soul and passsion?
04.13.08 | Kimberly Kitterman/ Kim Williams
Hi Joe,
I regret missing the reunion but something came up. I found a few Pictures. One of the last concert, last song with a bunch of us on stage singing" Will the Circle be Unbroken" Call or e-mail me when you want to meet up....
Kim
04.13.08 | Kelly Hostetler
Cowtown, wonderful memories. I saw my first concert there, it was either It's a Beautiful Day or Canned Heat, they had chairs that concert and we sat up front in the first few rows. It was also my first 'date' and my dad drove us there in the station wagon. It was an eye opener for me. There was a couple in the row in front of us really enjoying each other, the days of 'free love' to say the least. I guess you could say. The joints were always flowing freely. You actually never had to smoke any to get high since the room was full of smoke. I would love to have a poster original or a copy if anybody has one for sale. I look foirward to seeing the documentary. The people at those concerts were so much more real than today.
04.08.08 | chuck boyd
Hi Joe----Just want too let you know I have a poster of the Westport free clinic benefit,let me Know if you need a copy. I have a good storie about the lead singer for K.C.Grits I`ll send It out too you. Chuck
04.07.08 | Margaret Ragan
Joe - yesterday's get-together was so much fun. Thank you for having it. I'll see you July 18th at the Record Bar. I took lots of pictures - will e-mail them to you, Joe. Pilgrimage - I haven't seen you all together since I was in college the 1st time!! That summer of '73, visiting you on the farm was fun. Carl - it was great seeing you again and meeting your wife, Chris. Moby and Allen, I don't get to see you often enough. Hugh - I'm glad I got to see you again and give you those old pictures of you and the band. Jungle Bill - I'm glad you drove into town - seeing you is too rare an event. Rick (not w/ Pilgrimage, but from my Baker days, and of Morningstar) - I'll be seeing more of you, because my husband and I will be seeing more of RPS when they play around mid-town. I will never forget Cowtown and all the fun I had there w/ my friends when I came up from college for a concert, and especially the summer of 1973 when I was living only a few blocks away.
04.04.08 | Carl Washington w/Pilgramage
Looking forward to Sunday, this should be a great event for our city. It's been a long time since we've all been together. Also looking forward to seeing the Hot Ice band together again. Joe, I think that your vision is incredible and I look forward to meeting you. My wife and a few friends will be stopping by. Take care.
04.02.08 | Corky
Joe, Count me in for the reunion on Sunday afternoon. As of this writing it should be just me unless my wife decides to come along.
Looking forward to it.
Corky
03.31.08 | stephen williams
i was there when the battle of the bands went down,i remember 'hot ice band' they played right before 'the charlie daniels band' came onstage, i also remember that people were coming back to life after a ' blistering guitat solo by dennis laplant , doing ''situations '' by jeff becks ''truth' album. when they ended thier set people were screaming more more more, slaming the metal chairs on the floor as charlie daniels set up, i also remember larry saying sorry but we have more bands to play man.and saying they were good and never heard of them ! shock and awe as k.c. produced alot of real talent
03.31.08 | DENNIS LA PLANT W/HOT ICE BAND
WE PLAYED AN ALL NIGHT SHOW WITH TONS OF LOCAL BANDS. WE OPENED FOR CHARLIE DANIELS BAND & GARLAND JEFFERYS WE DIDN'T GO ON STAGE UNTIL ABOUT 4:00 AM . KUDL RECORDED THE WHOLE SHOW WITH LARRY MILLER AS THE M.C. WE RECEIVED A LIVE RECORDING OF OUR BAND FROM THAT SHOW ! I GOT AHOLD OF ALL THE BAND MEMBERS & WE ARE ALL SHOWING UP SUNDAY W/A CD FROM THAT SHOW !
THANKS FROM "HOT ICE"
03.31.08 | Rudy Passonno
I played there 7/3/73 with my group "Hot Ice"Also on the bill were singer/songwriter-Garland Jeffries with drummer Billy Cox formerly with Jimmy Hendrix.Charlie Daniels was the headliner and blew the house down during his 1st. performance in K.C.
Great Days they were
Thanks
Rudy Passonno
03.29.08 | JimD
Are you ready for some Rock & Roll?" shouted the announcer and we cheered "Yes!", three times. Then he announced there would be a comedian, first. It was Steve Martin with arrow and balloons. After his act, we applauded and after he walked off stage, he was yelling things like, "That guy is great." He joined the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on banjo.
On a rainy Halloween Night the Steve Miller Band put on two shows. Three of us road 2 motorcycles in the rain for the midnight show. There was a costume contest and one of the contestants was in a full gorilla suit, but he did not win. After the contest the others joint and the syringe left the stage, but the Gorilla stayed. The SMB walked up on stage and started playing. The gorilla took off his mask and it was Steve Miller. We were in the balcony and fell asleep during the concert. Ha.
03.24.08 | CAROL WENDLAND-STASI
I HAVE A TICKET (NOT LIKE THE USUAL ONES) FOR SAT. JUNE 30, 1973, 12 MIDNITE. IT IS THE KUDL-FM 1ST ANNIVERSARY FREE CONCERT. PHASE 2 NO BUMMER SUMMER, COWTOWN 2ND ANNIVERSARY. WITH THE TICKET YOU WERE ADMITTED FREE.
I ALSO HAVE A TICKET STUB FOR STYX, ON JUNE 27, 1974 IT LOOKS LIKE IT STATES COWTOWN BALLROOM, AND KUDL.
I HAVE A LETTER FROM COWTOWN BALLROOM THAT LISTS CONCERTS SCHEDULED FOR THE 1973 SUMMER (WHICH ALSO STATES THE JUNE 30 KUDL-COWTOWN PARTY), AND THAT BY BRINGING THE LETTER, I COULD GET JETHRO TULL TICKETS EARLY AT COWTOWN. THE TULL CONCERT WAS ACTUALLY AT MUNICIPAL AUD.
I HAVE A COWTOWN POSTER WITH THE COW/JOINT IN THE CIRCLE, WITH THE BACK PART LISTING BANDS THAT PLAYED THERE. ALSO THE WESTPORT TRUCKER WITH THE COWTOWN COW/JOINT.
I SAVED A NEWSPAPER ARTICLE, NOT SURE OF THE DATE, THAT HAS WHITE EYES, MORNING STAR, AND GRITS TO PLAY AT COWTOWN ON SUNDAY EVE.(NO DATE) FOR THE WESTPORT FREE HEALTH CLINIC. IT PICTURES WHITE EYES AND MORNING STAR.
I CAN E-MAIL YOU PICTURES FOR ANY OF THESE IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM.
THE EARLIER YEARS WERE GREAT THERE. EVERYONE WAS LIKE ONE BIG FAMILY. THE LATER YEAR WAS NOT THE SAME. I REMEMBER SEEING PEOPLE WALK AROUND, AND THEY WOULD YELL TO QUIT SMOKING POT. I SAW THEM KNOCK EITHER A JOINT OR PIPE OUT OF SOMEONES HAND BECAUSE I THINK A COP WAS COMING UP THE SIDE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN RIGHT BEHIND THEM. IT WASN'T THE SAME AS THE EARLIER YEARS. THE EARLY YEARS WERE GREAT!!! I DON'T REMEMBER GETTING THERE, OR LEAVING THERE! I JUST REMEMBER THE SUN WAS UP WHEN I GOT HOME.
03.19.08 | Candice Calhoun
I have many fond memories of Cowtown Ballroom; just recently I recalled seeing Steve Martin open for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This was one of dozens of GREAT shows I saw there! See you in April for the reunion!
03.19.08 | Dennis McAllister
One memmory I have of Cowtown was a free concert sponsored by then radio station KUDL FM. I believe it was Labor Day weekend in 1973. There were several local bands that played and some regional talent as well. Our group was close to the stage and it was crowded. A couple of us went to the concession stand to get something to drink between acts. While trying to make our way back to our spot on the floor this really big guy started plowing through the crowd, we got right behind him and he lead us all the way to our spot. One of the DJ's, Larry (The Moo) Miller was sitting close to us and told us how good the nex band would be, a southern rock band. The band opened with this powerful song and the really big guy was their lead singer, Cahrlie Daniels!!! They also played their hit song Uneasy Rider. Needless to say we had a pretty good laugh and a great time that night. I could be wrong about the date but it was one heel of a night, the show started on Saturday night and lasted into Sunday afternoon. I can still remember averyone laying on the floor, some passsed out others having a whole lotta' fun!!! I can't wait to see your film.
03.18.08 | bearjg
I mentioned this site to Ken Pearon of Omega Coffee in Laurie (he remembers the Mason Profit show).
We listened to Wishbone Ash at his shop. We were taken back to that wonderful time when it was about the music. If we wanted to be down front at the Cowtown then we got there early and got a space near the stage.
What I liked about that era was the warm tones produced by tube-type amplifiers. As I recall, Wishbone Ash used Orange amps. Golden sounds from a special.
03.18.08 | Dale Hill
I have lots of great memories of Cowtown (and Freedom Palace). My friend and fellow Westport High student Clark Lough worked at both places and got me in free a few times. The show that I remember the most was Alice Cooper. I wasn't very familiar with them at the time and was so impressed I ran out and bought
"Killer" the next day. Also, many fond memories of seeing Brewer and Shipley at Cowtown, the Vanguard and free concerts all over town.
03.17.08 | Aimee Rae Kraus
I may be your youngest respondent. I’m 37 and remember Cowtown Ballroom. As the family legend goes my parents (Ed McLain and Glenda Campbell) would take me to Volker fountain for Sunday afternoon concerts and I liked the music. So when Cowtown opened (and even little kids had to have a ticket) they could afford to take me to the $1 shows where mostly local talent played. They’d spread out a quilt to set my boundaries and at ages 1 to 3 years old I’d dance to Danny Cox, Brewer and Shipley, White Eyes and Robin Trower “and his tower of power”.
But my favorites were the Ozark Mountain Daredevils and especially Chicken Train. We had their albums which I’ve had framed and I go to see them whenever they play close by. When I’ve met them and gushed like a groupie I tell them “I’ve been going to your shows since Cowtown. They say, “Cowtown!?! You’re not that old!”
My folks drank Kansas 3.2 beer, but didn’t smoke pot primarily because my mom was afraid they’d get busted and the courts would take me away (paranoid without weed). So as I danced, bouncing up and down, and swaying to the music it took them a while to notice that I would start stumbling, giggling and nod off in the middle of that noisy hall. When they realized their 3 year old was getting a contact high my Cowtown Ballroom days were over!
03.17.08 | Bearjg
A flood of wonderful memories, vague as they may be, rush in when I think of the Cowtown. Poco w/Whizzo was my first and Robin Trower (cancelled) show was my last. I remember Sid Page (w/Dan Hicks) was GREAT. Also, It seemed like those twin guitar licks from Wishbone Ash would surely summon the fire marshall. However, I thought they opened for Steve Miller.
03.16.08 | Carol Spears-Latham
Billy Spears is my father and I do remember playing a cowtown gig with the Ozark Mt. Daredevils and I think Leo K. was playing there the same night.
I went to many concerts at Cowtown Ballroom. I have fond memories of hearing so many great musicians and telling my own children how lucky we were to hear great music in such a cool and fun place without having to spend a ton of money.
03.15.08 | Rick Hellman
Hey, a bit more looking produced all my old ticket stubs, including at least 10 from Cowtown. I have two halves of a Firesign Theatre ticket, making up a whole. But it doesn't end the confusion about the location of the Commander Cody pic, since I have a '73 Music Hall stub, too ...
03.15.08 | Rick Hellman
I found a couple of B/W pix of Commander Cody, but am not sure if it was taken at Cowtown of perhaps Music Hall in the same era. Maybe if I hadn't lost my box of ticket stubs, I could tell ... I will scan 'em and submit if you like. When Abe opened up the punk club, I gave him my Cowtown T-shirt to display. But he never did, so far as I could tell ...
03.15.08 | Gary
Harry Chapin - Cowtown Ballroom - 1974
“Well I came into town
with a knapsack on my shoulder
and a pocket full of stories
that I just have to tell……
I was fortunate enough to record Harry’s concert on my Akai reel to reel tape deck. The whole concert was great and when he started into Taxi with … ‘it was raining hard in Frisco’, the place went berserk. The band kept playing rhythm while the crowd roared and Harry came back with “Kansas City here I come”. I transferred that tape to CD and it is as good as or better than any album he released in my opinion.
The set list: 1.) Sunday Morning Sunshine / 2.)Greyhound / 3)Talkin’ about Love / 4.) Better Place to Be / 5.)Ron Palmer – Lesson #18 & Experience #9 / 6.)Pigeon Run / 7.)Twelve String Orchestra / 8.) W O L D / 9.)Hillbilly’s Medley / 10.)30,00 lbs of Bananas / 11.)Ron’s Lesson #21 & Experience #36 / 12.)Taxi / 13.)Greasy Spoon / 14.)Mr. Tanner / 15.)Goin to Kansas City / 16.)Empty Closets / 17.)Sniper / 18.)Circle / 19.)What made America Famous.
In order to get the crowd into Greasy Spoon song he told them to put themselves in line at Wolfburgers. I liked Harry before the show but after it I became a lifelong fan.
I see a March 11, 1974 listing for Harry but there was also a February 1, 1974 Dollar show so I do not remember for sure which one I recorded. I actually went down to the KC Star in 1999 and printed a copy from their archives, I still have that printed copy of the Feb 1, 1974 KC star listing.
I know there were a few concerts I went to at Cowtown but I can’t ever remember who played. Reefer memory loss I guess, but I still remember the ticket window on the lower north corner, sitting on the floor, the arches, and balconies. What an atmosphere!!
My Mother tells me she went there to dances in the late 30’s when it was the El Torreon Ballroom. If you drive there and look in the west entry door you can see El Torreon in the tile floor at the bottom of the stairs. In the early 60’s I went roller skating there when it was a skating rink. So that building is a part of many good family memories.
I did some research on the Ballroom in 1999 for something related to WHY (the organization to fight world hunger that Harry Chapin founded). I copied a few KC Star articles including the Sept 12, 1974 Obit for the Ballroom and a Sept 17, 1997 story Jack Phinney at the Star wrote about Stan Plesser. I went to Stan Plessers house and had a good talk with him. He told me all about how it started and how much he enjoyed it. Before I left he gave me one of those Cowtown Ballroom stickers with the smoking cow. What a great guy! I also ran into a local photographer selling Cowtown concert pictures on eBay. I gave him a copy of the Chapin concert and he gave me some concert pictures. I have his name somewhere if anyone is interested.
A couple of months after that Shawnee Days had a free outdoors Dirt Band concert. Jeff Hanna was talking about their fond memories of playing in the Cowtown Ballroom. I caught up with him backstage and we had a few words about the place.
There are few things in life that you not only remember but cherish. The El Torreon Ballroom/Roller rink / Cowtown Ballroom is certainly one of the few. Thanks for making this documentary and LMK if there is anything I have that would help.
Gary
03.14.08 | carl latham
Billy Spears is still alive and well at 77 years old in Lawrence, Ks. He played at the Cowtown [ where you have it listed] and maybe more. This address is his daughter Carol who sang with the band.
Any memories would be gladly shared.
Planning for Billy`s 78 B-day at Liberty Hall in Lawrence are under way,,,,,,,Nov 8
I personaly was at the Van Morrison concert in 74. It has always been in my top 5 all time concerts and remains there still......Great memories.,,,,.keep up the good work.
Carl Latham
03.14.08 | Cardy Quintero
I want to clarify that on my last post I said that the first Frank Zappa appearance was the one with Steely Dan as the opening act, but I'd forgotten about the year before with Rich Hill as the opening act for Zappa. I was at that one too. What a great show. I've got a very good close up pic of Zappa from the second year he played at Cowtown, by the way....Flo and Eddie, oh man...
Cardy Quintero
03.13.08 | Ricardo "Cardy" Quintero
To JOE HEYEN: WOW!! I can't believe this interest in Cowtown is so huge. I know that by now you've made contact with John Paussa, the JOINT at the Halloween concert. John and I have known each other since '63. As you know by now, the JOINT won hands down!! I must have attended a good number of the concerts at Cowtown even the first Frank Zappa appearance in KC which featured an unknown band called Steely Dan. This was the original Steely Dan with Skunk Baxter and they had not scored on the national charts at the time. When I heard "Do It Again" some weeks later, I immediately recognized the tune as it had been played that night. The tune was that alluring and catchy and the band was remarkably well-rehearsed and professional. Along with Cowtown there was quite a lively scene on Sunday afternoons with local band cocerts at Volker Park. If the cops could've thrown a giant net over the park on any given Sunday afternoon, it would have been the biggest bust in counter culture history. One afternoon a fim crew showed up and they started to film all the freaks hanging out by the fountain waiting for the band to begin. This film played a couple of years later in local theaters and was called "Shoot It Black, Shoot It Blue," a real boring urban cop flick starring the unknown Michael Moriarty. At any rate, at the beginning of the movie, the scenes from Volker Park are shown and my brother Tony, our friend Charlie Ragusa and me are very prominently shown in several scenes. When we saw ourselves on the big screen we went absolutely apeshit and everyone in theater was looking at us like we were nuts. I've got a videocassette tape of that scene and would love to talk to you about it for your film. I also attended tons of shows at Freedom Palace and dug that just as much as Cowtown, which opened not long after Freedom Palace closed, if my memory serves me. Anyway, I know you will be very busy with this project, but if you find the time I could share plenty of stories about those days--like the night I got dosed with some really horrible, toxic LSD that rendered me stark raving mad for about 8 hours. My left ear was melting off my head and sliding down my shoulder--that kind of shit. WHEW!!
I don't wanna ramble too much, but I should have some old Westport Truckers stashed away and remember Dennis Giangreco, Fat Frank and a host of characters that made that time very special. As I enter my mid fifties, I now have a straight job, but I keep busy still playing music with a well-known and respected blues band in KC called The Blues Notions. By the way, how did that grizzled old Frank Polte get so many beautiful hippie chicks? Hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience and thank you so much for what you're doing. Sincerely,
Cardy Quintero
03.13.08 | Susan Helton
great story. you should reprint the posters and t shirts and make them available for purchase. judging by all the comments and memories, they would be guaranteed hot sellers. i have a poster and have been looking for another one for my brother for years with no luck.
03.12.08 | GAry Johnson
Love the idea of a documentary about the Ballroom. I along with all my friends were regulars at Cowtown and have many great memories and stories. However I have always been puzzeled by 2 people who worked at Cowtown. One guy, who was probably in his late 20's and had the longest hair of anyone there would run around before the show started and tell people to quit smoking dope. At first people would usually think he was joking but he could get very serious about this. Of course no one ever listened to him but he would go through this routine till the show started. Who was he? There was another older fellow may be in his 60's (or appeared so to some prety stoned kids) who wore an old fire dept uniform and would herd people around, probably to keep exits cleared. He had a tough job, kinda like herding cats, but always was cool and seemed total out of place in the weird world of the Ballroom. Again who was he?
When we started hanging out at Cowtown my mother could remeber skating there before WWII. Which she thought was great that we would hang out at the same place 30 years later.
Of all the places to see bands in the early 70's (Memorial Hall, Soldiers and Sailors Hall, Kemper) in KC Cowtown was the place that felt the most like in was truely "our place". You had to have been there to get it.
03.12.08 | Gina Wood Guilfoil
Hi, my dad, Gene Wood, purchased the Cowtown Ballroom in the late 80's, & he & I ran "Adventures in Motoring" -- an antique & classic car museum for about 5 years there. I have lots of pictures of the beautiful autos on the hardwood floors. I would be glad to share memorabilia & photos. The auto museum was also featured in Star Mag.
03.12.08 | Joyce (Farmer) Smith
1973, I was 15 yrs old and a sophmore in high school. That was the first time I went to cowtown. It was Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (not the Dirt Band) and I was hooked! After that I went every time they were in town. I also enjoyed Brewer and Shipley along with Ozark Mountain Daredevils. I was at the Steve Martin concert also the very last concert held at cowtown. I don't remember to much of any show, thanks the the generous passing of the joints. Which was something of it self. I knew if I put my roach clip on the joint I'd never see it again, which seemed to be the unwritten law. So the next time I took cheaper ones. :) I was very naive at that time in my life. It took me awhile to figure out what that couple up in the balcony window was doing. After my friend explained it to me. I realized that must what free love was, and that they must be doing some serious drugs!:) I was never able to buy any merchadise at cowtown beings my allowance was only $5.00 a week. But I did get a free poster of the cowtown logo the night of the last concert held there. Fast forward to 1986 or 1987 maybe 1988 (still smokin then) I went to Sandstone in Bonner Springs to see Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and took my cowtown poster. During the Show I held it up and Jimmy Ibbotson pointed it out to John McEuen while they were playing! After the show I went up stage for autographes. I felt so good when Jimmy pointed to me and said "That gets the first signature" every body just moved over with some type of respect. I still want Brewer and Shipley's signatures on it and of course Ozark Mountain Daredevils. I'm hoping that will happen at some point. I can't wait to purchase a copy of you documentory.
Joyce
03.11.08 | Carla Higbee
Oh wow! So happy you're making this film. Sadly, I only went to one event at Cowtown, The Firesign Theater. It was so fantastic to see this group perform in person after only hearing them on albums. I was a huge fan and really appreciated the opportunity to see them in such a unique atmosphere. There we were sitting on the floor, just happy to be. Can't wait to see the film. Bless you for bringing such a special time and concert venue to the screen.
03.11.08 | JOE CLYNE
I PLAYED THERE WITH BACKWOOD MEMORY. WE OPENED UP FOR FANNY, AN ALL GIRL GROUP. WE HAD A SINGLE ON THE RADIO ABOUT THAT TIME CALLED 'SPEAK OUT'. MY FAVORITE EVENT THERE WAS THE COMEDY GROUP FIRESIGN THEATER. GREAT MEMORIES
03.11.08 | zach thompson
hi. i saw the article in the kc star on your film about the cowtown ballroom. i,ve got some pictures from a canned heat show there in the early 70,s and a poster from the cowtown ballroom. if you,re interested let me know.later
03.10.08 | Lance Breshears
Saw my first concert there! A true night to remember. I also vaguely remember a Canned Heat show. The drummer thru his sticks into the audience and played with his HEAD. It was so loud that night that I still had problems hearing hours later. It's sad that those days are gone, all the head shops, Volker Park concerts, Temple Slug and FREAKS. Where have all the FREAKS gone? Well if not in our heads still in our hearts.
03.10.08 | Patrick Chambers
During Cowtown's heyday, I was a suburban high school kid with an inside connection. The ex husband of my mother's lifelong friend was the Ad Sales Manager for KBEY, the reigning "underground" FM radio station in town. Uncle Paul (Sharon) had my name put on the permanent guest list so that four tickets were always waiting for me at every show I wanted to see. This was a primo perk for an aspiring hippie musician in those days, and I saw many amazing performances there over the years.
Still and all, my favorite memory of Cowtown was the infamous Free Concert, featuring numerous local bands and Jerry Corbetta and Sugarloaf as the headliner. There was quite a frenzy to get the free tickets at local headshops and record outlets when they were made available. Indeed, it would appear that the show was to be sold out, so great was the demand. As it turned out, the event was about 14 hours long, and it never really did seem that it was all that terribly crowded for the most part. What made it hysterical was the fact that, while we stood in line waiting for the doors to be opened, some kid was running around waving a fistful of tickets, telling anyone who would listen that he'd forged them. Indeed, they looked pretty forged...very badly forged. No one could seem to get him to explain, though, why he felt it was necessary to forge tickets *to a free concert*. As it turned out, the guy at the door immediately recognized the tickets as fraudulent, and sent him packing. Chalk it up to the allure of that wonderful place, I suppose.
So strong was the influence of Cowtown that, many years later, when The Uptown was reopened as a concert venue, an empty space was left on the floor immediately in front of the stage. The first show held there was Wishbone Ash, and I attended with a friend. When we arrived, everyone was sitting in the seats behind the open area like good citizens. After a bit, someone came out, grabbed the mic and yelled something along the lines of "What are you all doing out there?! Come on and sit down on the floor. Its Gonna be just like Cowtown again!" And indeed, for one smoky, cross-legged evening, it was.
One other Cowtown item of interest...if you look closely at the cover of Dr. Hook's "Belly Up" album, you'll note that one of the band members, all of whom are sitting at a bar, is wearing a Cowtown T-Shirt. I saw the show that the shirt probably came from, one of countless killer performances at a space that will never see that magickal vibe again.
Looking very much forward to tripping back though my youth when you release your film. Count me in for four free tickets to the premiere? :-)
Patrick Chambers
Raytown , MO
03.10.08 | Richard Todd
I just read the article in the K. C. Star. Wow! talk about bringing back old memories. All the fun times and all the great concerts. I have a ticket stub that I've carried in my wallet since 1974 (Firesign Thearter, April 25, autographed by Phil Proctor, one of the members) lucky I had it laminated. I can't wait to see the film.
03.10.08 | John Gauld
Thank You ! I had the opportunity to see several shows at Cowtown...Alice, Black Oak, Bloodrock, Nitty Gritty and Brewer and Shipley. Going to a concert for around $3 at Cowtown and setting on the floor passing whatever came by was the greatest. Thank you for bringing back the good times.
03.10.08 | Kimberly(Kim) Williams Kitterman
Joe,
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Yesterdays Article in the Star was good. It feels like a Family Reunion seeing all the names and Pictures of old friends. I will locate the Photos I was telling you about, they are in my storage unit. Looking forward to speaking with you.
Kim Williams/ e-mail- kkitterman332@yahoo.com I'm also on mySpace. if anyone wants to connect
03.10.08 | Michael J Nicholson
Wow! Talk about having a flashback. I really enjoyed reading the article and it brought back a flood of great memories. I would tell people about Cowtown Ballroom and they would be amazed at some of the bands I was able to see before they hit it big. I remember the dollar concerts and the heat. I would take a fishing chair that didn't have any legs but had a back so I would be comfortable. There were a few times that I "slid" out of it. I think it was at the Strawbs concert where some one passed a joint to us and after a few tokes, I was very thirsty and went to the concession stand with my buddy and proceeded to pass out while standing in line. All I remember was waking up seconds later and some one stating that they would like to have what I had. Ah, the great many memories of that era and the Ballroom. I can't wait to watch your documentory.
03.10.08 | Holly Budd
I have quite a few memories of Cowtown BR. Didn't Stan Plesser that had the Vanguard start it? My cousin worked at the Vanguard and I saw Steve Martin perform there before anyone knew of him. Back to the BR. Took my brother to his first concert there. ELO and it was a great show. Saw a trashed Steve Miller one Halloween. I partailly remember(hee hee) several shows there.
BTW, I have a June 71 and another 2 issues of Westport Truckers that I would sell if anyone is interested. 1 issue isolder and is Black and white. 1 is a 72 issue, I believe.
03.10.08 | Jeff Pence
I remember a local radio station doing promos. Like $1.02 for a ticket. I know I saw frank Zappa and I am pretty sure I sas Golden earring, Hoyt Axtion and Mott the Hoople. All but Frank may have been the summer of 1974. We had a friend who lived a couple blocks away. We would party first then hiot the concert. Thats is why I say i am pretty sure I can still see Hoyt belting out Jeremiah was a Bullfrog, and yes I know 3DN sang it too. Hoyt did it better. I also seem to recall that Frank was sitting down most of the concert and it seemed like on long song? It was all a smokey haze.
Good times!
03.10.08 | fulton wilhelm
I have a few stories about cow town as I used to heelp clean it up after concerts, as I lived and worked at puting out the Westport Trucker.please contact me .
03.10.08 | Lisa Shockley
If you are interested, the mirror ball original to El Torreon in the 1920s and still in the building during the Cowtown days still exists. It was donated to the Kansas City Museum/Union Station in 1978. I also sent this message to Eric Adler at the Star. If you are interested in more information, feel free to contact me.
03.10.08 | Tom Bowman
Great article in the Star magazine on Sunday.
I was 12 when Cowtown opened, and 15 when it closed, so I wasn't able to experience the magic of the place. I was (and still am) a big Nitty Gritty Dirt Band fan, so Cowtown held (and still holds) a great fascination for me. Parts of the Dirt Band's Stars and Stripes Forever live album were recorded at Cowtown.
I noticed on your site that you've interviewed John McEuen of the Dirt Band. FYI: the Dirt Band will be playing at Ameristar on April 4, with two more of the guys who would have played at Cowtown, Jeff Hanna and Jimmie Fadden. If you haven't had a chance to interview them, that might be your chance.
When I've seen them at shows in Kansas City in recent years, they always talk about the shows at Cowtown.
Best wishes, and I look forward to seeing the documentary.
Tom Bowman
03.09.08 | Steve
This may be a bit off the main subject of this documentary and website but for a time in the 90's (I believe) a man operated a collector car sales facility in side the cowtown called "Adventures in Motoring." Thought maybe some of the gearheads reading this might recall or care to know.
03.09.08 | Carl Raccuglia
Attended many great shows at the Ballroom. Have many
memories. The one that sticks out is of the Van Morrison
concert. Fabulous, except people kept shouting for
"Moondance". Van got madder and madder and finally
refused to play it. I was embarassed for K.C. and I'm
not sure, but I don't think he's ever returned. Alice Cooper
was amazing. Also what I remember is the shows that seemed to go on all night. That and the great drugs.
Freedom rang!
03.09.08 | Tim Tankard
Had some great times at Cowtown, though the memories are a bit fuzzy. Besides the shows, I fondy recall standing in the line outside in the cold, waiting for the doors to open, since it was first-come seating, everybody getting in the mood, if you know what I mean. I remember the Steve Miller Concert. I don't know what his problem was, but he and his band weren't playing well at all, real rough blues stuff, and people were leaving and booing. And finally Miller went to the mic and called us all a bunch of "psychodelic morons." We took that as a compliment, then we left too.
03.09.08 | Buddy Bronson
I was pumping gas at the Vickers staition on Linwood and main and always looked foward to the stoned out hippie chicks stoping in to gas up or get cigerettes, or sodas after the shows.....cool memories
03.09.08 | Jeannie Long
Loved the article in STAR magazine today--it brought back fond memories. I have three concert ticket stubs in good condition from concerts at Cowtown. Let me know if you would like to photograph them for your documentary.
03.09.08 | Scott Heptig
I am absolutely sure that I saw the Badfinger concert and one of the surprise opening acts was Elton John! It's been a long time but I wouldn't have just dreamed this. Thanks for the memories.
03.09.08 | Dennis Thornton
I really enjoyed this article about the old Cowtown Ballroom. I don’t know what I can add except to share my small experience there.
My favorite show was Hot Tuna and it was my 1st Cowtown Ballroom experience. I went with a girlfriend and we sat on the floor up close and a bit to the right of center. I at the time was 21 years old and played lead guitar in a college rock/blues band at Northwest MO State University so I was really into music and guitar players. I was totally impressed and mystified with Jorma Kaukonen’s guitar playing and fingerpicking on electric guitar. I believe he came out playing a stratocaster fingericking on “True Religion” which I remember as being the first song of the set but it has been a while so I could be wrong about that. He had about 6 different guitars but the other one I liked was a psychedelic painted Gibson ES-345. He along with Jack Casity had played with the Jefferson Airplane only a few years before.
The picture in the Star Magazine now shows me the exact date I saw that show and that the Ozark Mountain Daredevils opened.
I also saw the Nitty Gritty band, Gentle Giant, King Crimson and others.
Robert Fripp of King Crimson played “21st Century Schizoid Man” note for note and sat on a stool the whole set.
I doubt that this is the most extensive or exciting recollection about the Cowtown Ballroom but it certainly made a lasting impression on me.
Wish I could do it again.
Thanks
03.09.08 | Xavier Onassis
I was at the April 22, 1974 show featuring Captain Beefheart. I won the tickets by calling into the local FM station. I gave one of the tickets to a buddy who had a car and he drove. Captain Beefheart was the headliner, but the warmup band was a bunch of nobodys who called themselves "Kansas". I understand they went on to some minor success. Hey, great site, great memories, looking forward to the documentary.
03.09.08 | jon steinert
saw the artical in the kc star. went to the ballroom many times. greatr times. print up some ballroom shirts and sell me one.........please.
03.09.08 | Sandra Waren
Wow, what a Flashback in time. I was reading the Kansas city star, and there was this Star Magazine about :"Cowtown Ballroom" which really Freaked me out! As a young teenager, I worked there, for free of course. Payment was I/we got into the concerts for free! One of our many jobs was to go to the Westport trucker newspaper and pickup the posters for upcoming concerts and walk the streets asking store merchants if we could hang up the posters. Which most agreed to do so..! Cool..
This was all so Long ago! I still live in the Kansas City area, but not many people know about Cowtown. I AM SO PLEASED that someone is doing a documentary about Cowtown Ballroom. The Music was just wonderful. I have so many memories about the shows, and about things that happened before the shows and after the shows, as one of my jobs was helping in cleaning up the mess after the growds left. I had collect gatar picks, and drumsticks, from this band and that band... after the shows. I remember some people that worked there too.. Like Gunkey, and Wildman Fisher.
That was such a long time ago. Almost like a dream!
Thank you Kansas City Star for doing the story about Cowtown Ballroom. That was a very special time in my life. I can't wait to see the documentary.
03.09.08 | ron wrehe
The Cowtown was great! When Steely Dan opened for Zappa we were all thinking who in the hell are these guys! Then we shopped for months for the first album. B.B. King was great and we were always impressed with most of the opening groups--Hookfoot was one that stood out. I can remember the BB King concert and we were about the only white guys there but it didn't matter. As I scan the lists of the people that played there I was impressed with the list and thew fact that I must have been there about 20 times---Great memories!
03.09.08 | John Paussa
Just read Eric Adler's piece in the Star Magazine about your documentary. My friends & I grew up at Cowtown (and the earlier venue over on Main St. - Freedom Palace) and have many wonderful memories (hazy, but wonderful!)
I am the guy that won the Halloween costume contest as a 7 ft. joint mentioned in the Star Magazine piece. Actually the "red" ash part of the costume was at the top, not the bottom, and was some red foil christmas wrap. I made the costume out of checken wire & paper mache. It was hot-as-hell inside the costume. The folks that ran Cowtown went thru the audience and picked out the costumes to send up on stage for the crowd to choose a winner.
I remember feeling kind of bad for the guy next to me. He must have been a theater major or something, for he had a marvelous centaur costume, made by hand & very realistic. Much better & more detailed than my paper mache. Too bad for him, because I had my minions at work in the audience.
As we contestants stood on stage and talked with Whizzo The Clown... my buds were walking thru the audience tossing out handfulls of joints and yelling, "Vote for the joint!"
I won a $100 "Bernstein & Appleby" gift certificate & a pair of tickets to a Brewer & Shipley show.
These days along with my commercial real estate dealings, I am also running a psychedelic (and not-so-psychedelic) lightshow here in KC. I have worked with some big names and local/regional acts since I started this incarnation of it in 2004.
Unfortunately ALL of my posters from shows in KC are gone. I do have a friend who owns a Cowtown Ballroom poster. It is probably 2 x 3 ft??? Yellow background with the Smokin' Cow logo in the middle and the names of performers who played there printed across the yellow background.
Also - I saw the photo of Neil Young in a Cowtown T-shirt. I have also found a photo of Hot Tuna with Jack in a Cowtown T-shirt too!
http://www.bobsteeler.com/images/HotTuna_opt.jpg
Thanks for doing this. I can't wait to see the film.
03.09.08 | Tim Fincham
I saw the Byrds there in January of 1973. I was 21 and had just graduated from college about 30 days beforehand. It was part of my graduation paresent to myself.
When McGuinn walked out on stage and waved to the crowd, I broke down sobbing -- so excited to be there and part of that whole scene! I was in the balcony with my face smashed between the railings
I was a Byrds fan from their beginnings in Folkrock all the way through Sweetheart of the Rodeo and beyond. In one form or the other, I have, I'm pretty sure, all their recordings. I just listened to a Byrds CD yesterday!
Although I have many favorites, The Beatles and The Byrds top my list.
Thanks so much -- looking forward to the special!
Tim Fincham
Leavenworth
03.09.08 | larry knight
HI JOE, I WAS LOOKING AT THE LINKS PAGE AND WONDERED IF YOU WOULD ADD MY MYSPACE LINK ?
http://www.myspace.com/larryknight49 THANKS. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON THE 24TH. LK
03.09.08 | Mark Haanstad
I have several memories of Cowtown. One of them was the Steve miller show,it was his birthday and he played two shows. There allways was strewberry wine in the dressing room and Steve had a few. By the second show he was plastered (and who knows what else). He was out of tune halfway through the set and stayed that way. The crowd dwindled as he played till at least 2am.
Another memory is of Dr. Hook. They introduced " Cover of the Rolling Stone" by saying it had become popular on juke boxes in laundramats and bowling alleys. They were the funniest band I'd ever seen. When they got to the part where they shouted "Rock n Roll!" the guitar player charged the stage ,knocking the mikes over and playing gibberish, the never did finish the song!
The lead singer tuanted the groupies with his motel keys all through the show. Funny stuff.
I probably saw 30 shows there. I ran a carbon arc at rival Freedom Palace. I think I filled in once at Cowtown(Morningstar and someone??).
(memory is a bit hazy from..... well didn't everyone?)
03.09.08 | Connie Baker
We went to several concerts at Cowtown. I am pretty sure one was Brewer and Shipley. I remember sitting on the floor and loving that place. After the concert about 15 of us stayed after the crowd had left and we were sitting in a circle--My husband ,Steve was in the middle and he had something like a piece of plastic or something and he was trying to throw it up and touch the ceiling, We were all laughing hysterically because it was never going to touch the ceiling. Finally they made us leave. During the concert there was a guy with a poncho on dancing in circles and everyone couldnt take their eyes off of him. I loved the feeling of Cowtown because it was all about the music---everyone was so into the music!
03.09.08 | Mike Trainor
This is great!! Just saw the article in Star Magazine so had to come check this out. I was there only once - I thnk - and saw Kansas - but they're not listed under "Who played there" and now I'm wondering if I had too much to smoke that night and don't remember it right!! It would have been late '73 or in '74 because I moved back to KC in August '73. Looking forward to the film! Good luck! - Mike T.
03.07.08 | Kimberly Kitterman/ Kim Williams
I just got a call from Butch Dillon yesterday, he told me about the Documentary.How great! I use to roller-scate there as a child, when it was El-Torreon. I was probably at every event that went on there. What memories. Butch and I have stayed good friends since I was about 17, my boyfriend back then played with"White Eyes". I have some great photos, I'll have to start to dig them out. One Photo in particuliar of the Very "last Concert", "last song" performed at Cowtown. I believe the line-up was Steve Martin, Nitty Gritty,OM Daredevils and Brewer & Shipley; The last Song was "Will the Circle be Unbroken" a bunch of us were on stage singing along including myself. It was like a Big Family "Good Karma Productions and Cowtown.Smokey the Fireman was on stage that night. What wonderful Memories. Feel free to e-mail me and I will start locating the Photo's if you still need some.
Kim
03.06.08 | Nona
I spent almost every Friday and Satuday night there in 1972 and 1973. Tickets cost approx $3.46 in memory serves me. You sat on the floor and it didn't matter if you could see the stage you could feel the music. The one thing i remember was the bathroom. It was up by the stage and if you were not carefull you could not find the people you came with in the sea of faces on the floor until the end when you met a the car to go home. You would just set down with anyone and share the blanket to set on. No one was a stanger and no one was afraid of anyone. Those were the days. All there was --LOVE
03.04.08 | Bob Reeder
Hi Joe,
Looking forward to the interview. I'll wear my Irish thinking cap. Thank you for doing this for Stan, the Vanguard, and Cowtown Ballroom.
All the best,
Bob Reeder
Irish Music Association.com
03.02.08 | Bill Beaumont
I worked at Cowtown for a while. I did the posters for quite a few shows and was a general equipment hauler up those steep bacl stairs and worked backstage for a lot of shows. Contact me via e mail if you like.
02.25.08 | Jim Stringer
I really enjoyed your web site. Cowtown Ballroom was a great concert venue and I had some fine times, both playing and listening. Memory is dull pencil, particularly about 7000 gigs later, but Tide played two gigs with the Dirt Band (I don't recall which dates, but one was with Steve Martin), and one date with Brian Auger, who's not listed at all, I don't think. I still have my Cow and Joint T-Shirt, though it's VERY well worn!
02.20.08 | Melody
I have a poster from the very last concert at Cowtown. It's mostly yellow with the cow smokin'. I treasure it, Do you know if anyone else has one? I went to several concerts. BTO Kansas Ozark Mountain Daredevils Frank Zappa and he wore pajamas. I can't remember who else. Those were the days. Thanks, Melody
02.12.08 | Richard Hopewell (MOBY)
Greetings ! , My name is MOBY I played bass with the band "Pilgrimage". A friend sent me an e-mail about this web site, and I really think what you guy's are doing is fantastic!. I have really great memories of the Cowtown day's, both from playing there, and attending the concerts. We are honored to be listed on the itenaray with all the other great bands that played there, However there were two additonal shows that we played that we would like to add if we could.The first is when we opened for "Bachman Turner Overdrive" on 2/27/74. The 2nd was when we opened for "Redbone" . It was the 3/16/74 show.What happened was , "Styx" cancelled at the last minute, and they moved "Redbone" to the headliner spot, We were called to see if we could open on short notice. Fortunately, we were able to. I was also wondering if we could add a band picture to the photo gallery. I have a Westport Trucker with the promo (the whole back cover) for the "Up against the wall ball" that we played on 4/18/72. I thought it would be cool to have a Trucker in the gallery. I could send you a picture of the back and the front covers ,if you like. Thanks for what your doing it's a great project. I hope this information will be helpful. Look foward to hearing from you, Thanks MOBY
02.04.08 | Steve Alexander
Joe,
Thanks for linking to the Brewer & Shipley Fan site. I already had you linked from my site. Please let me know if there is anything else I can advertise for you. Also, if you run in to any Brewer & Shipley memorabilia, i would be greatly interested.
Steve
02.03.08 | David Haggard
I was the bass player for a local band, "Country Heir". We were the opening act on the final night at Cowtown with Brewer and Shipley and The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. I have a good promotional picture of the banc and the Kansas City Star clipping from the night after the final show. Also, my memory is still intact, so I may have other information or thoughts that could be helpful.
Good luck with your project.
02.01.08 | milo
I was looking up information about Rory Gallagher's concert at the Cowtown Ballroom on March 24, 1974 for my fan site. The bootleg of this concert is fantastic and is regarded by many fans as one of his best. I would appreciate any information, pictures, or remembrances about this concert to use on my fan site. Thanks
01.25.08 | Bill Swenson
Came across this site a few days ago and finally got around to digging up my old ticket stubs. I attended about 10 shows in 1973-74. There are a couple of shows I went to that aren't listed. Ozark Mtn. Daredevils-11/16/73 (a $1.00 KUDL show), The Strawbs-2/23/74 (another $1.00 KUDL show). The ticket for this show was printed on the back of an unused Blue Qyster Cult ticket that has a 12/27/73 date. I remember seeing the end of a BOC show (when they used to let you in for free towards the end of evening) around that time, so I'm thinking that date is probably right. Bill Quateman-4/6/74 (another $1.00 show). I'm also thinking Hawkwind and the Pointer Sisters played Cowtown (not the same show), but perhaps I burned a few too many brain cells back then). I too was at the Halloween show with Whizzo. I remember people blowing a lot of pot smoke his way and a couple of folks reaching up on stage and feeling his big clown feet. To me, he seemed a little bewildered by the whole experience. Also, I don't remember Kinky Friedman being leadoff for Mott the Hoople (I was thinking it was the Daredevils....but things were a bit hazing back in those days). Anyway, this site is bringing back a lot of good memories.
The reason I came across this site was because I was looking for a Cowtown poster. Anyone know where I could get an original or a reproduction? If anyone at Good Karma still has the original artwork, or printing negs, there might be a market for printing some new ones.
I wish you guys well with your project. Keep us informed on when it will be finished. Peace.
01.21.08 | Margaret R.
To Mack, 12-22-07. I was also at the overnight show they held with mostly local bands. One of them being Pilgrimage - who were my friends. I'm forwarding this website to 2 of them and maybe one of them will respond.
01.05.08 | Debby Schenk
Firesign Theater definitely played the Ballroom, but I can't pinpoint the date. I know it was not winter, because I walked to the show, and I'm thinking it was at some point after the Van Morrison show. It was an absolutely fabulous show.
A lot of those concerts were "Dollar Shows" and quite a few were either simulcast on a local FM radio station, or were recorded and played later.
My brother, David Schenk, currently at Zebedee's RPM on 39th St in Kansas city (816-960-6900) has some original posters, I believe. Not to mention that he has almost a photographic memory of a lot of the shows and events of that era. We both worked the concert scene in the mid-70s, early 80s, but our entry onto the scene coincided with the closing of the Ballroom.
Thanks, so much for taking on this project. If you are interested in seeing concert shots of that era from other venues in the KC area, I have a very large library of slides ranging from OK to Good to Fabulous.
01.04.08 | Arne Johnson
I'd like to suggest a couple of interviewees.
Herb Palmer booked all the bands for Good Karma and Cowtown. Rocky Rude was behind the mix board.
Thanks,
Arne (Cowtown security)
01.03.08 | Rick Bacus
You have certainly done your homework here! I played Cowtown Ballroom several times with Morningstar. I was a member from 1974 until the band broke up in Feb. of 1980. Two albums were recorded on the CBS Columbia label released in 1977 and 1979.
More info www.rickbacus.com
Thanks for all your hard work putting this together!
Rick
01.01.08 | Ellen Law
I have some ticket stubs from the concerts but I didn't keep all of them as some people did. I went to most of the concerts at Cowtown as well as the shows that were at Memorial Hall in KCK,the Municipal Auditoium and Memorial Hall. I usually had my camera with me and I have 35mmb/w negatives of many of the shows. I have a Cowtown stub from December 9,1973 Leo Kottke and Jesse Colin Young. This is a concert that isn't on the current list. I am excited about the film. I have waited a lot of years to see it. I was at a NGDB concert that was filmed. I always thought it was a NGDB film not a Cowtown film. Maybe I will get to see my 16 year old self again.
12.22.07 | Mack Tilton
There was an all night show put on by one of the radio stations featureing mostly local bands. Since I often left the place with fewer brain cells than when I went in, I can't remember who. But Suger Loaf (Green Eyed Lady) was a head liner. There was a blizard that night and they brought in big boxes of McDonnald's hambergers to pass around. If I think of anything else, I'll let you know. I graduated high school in '74 and went to several shows. It's not impossible that I might have some ticket stubs. I'll keep looking.
12.21.07 | Chuck Pisano
I went to many shows at Cowtown Ballroom and would enjoy discussing it with you. I also host the "Blues Kitchen" on 90.1 FM - KKFI on Saturday mornings. I can also be reached at 913-492-2960.
Thanks
Chuck Pisano
12.21.07 | bob wolff
50yrOld in KC since '67...was at most shows-Badfinger,Climax,Nitty/Steve,Foghat,BluOyster,Black Oak Ark.,Black Sabbath,Uriah Heap...brother was roadie
12.11.07 | Ted Campbell
Hey, just stumbled into your site (things I do when I really should be working) and it brought back the memories indeed!
Of particular interest to me was the 11.22.1972 show w/ the Daredevils opening for Hot Tuna; a bunch of us drove up from Springfield to catch that and ending up getting pulled over and busted in Grandview (possession of, ahem, controlled substances) before we made it up the Cowtown. Later, I was a student at the KCAI and loved going there when I had $ (which was rare) but I'll never forget the Commander Cody show.......one of the best concerts I've ever seen, bar none. I remember they did two sets, the second set basically tore the roof of that old place.
Seems to me that you could buy beer there, is that correct? I was only 20, and memories play tricks on you, but I'm thinking that's right....
Thanks for the memories,
Ted
12.07.07 | Dave Peterson
Hi folks. Keep up the great work. I personally attended approx 24 concerts @ CTB since it opened up until their final show. As you may know by now- Freddie King played New Years Eve 1971 and Savoy Brown played Nov. 24th 1971. I still have the ticket stubs.
12.06.07 | Terry Woodburn
Wow, the small world closes in. I lived in KC in the early 70s, went to the Cowtown many times, so many huge memories, such great shows. Anyhoo...interesting to see Kelly Baker's name on this site. I know Kelly pretty well, though we haven't seen each other in a quite a while. I am now a producer/director at the ABC affiliate here in Portland, Oregon, same town as Kelly. Anway, am fascinated by this site and am happy to contribute in any way. Have to dig around, I do have a full sized Cowtown Poster.... even some old 8 track tapes of shows I recorded there! Probably pretty sorry ass quality, but....
Thanks again,
TW
12.06.07 | roy graham
lived in k.c. in early seventies and saw most of these
concerts during that time when i believe it was odeon
productions doing a lot of the bookings who was linked
also with the ozark mt. daredevils.
this was absolutley the no. 1 best place to see a band in
that area at the time and i remember even a lot of
english bands performing there so close you could even
learn the riffs to songs by watching.
robin trower however wasn't too pleased with the place
when that huge radio tower around the block came through his amp but that was a rare bummer, as for
the most part the place had an extreme magical aura.
i'm glad when i returned to pennsylvania i kept an
original poster and a lot of ticket stubs. i hope you continue to look further into a lot of these legendary
performances.
11.29.07 | Bill Page
How can I see this film? When was it produced?
One fantastic memory of Cowtown. Alice Cooper - December of '71. I was only 14 -- my Dad took me to the show. The most memorable evening of my young life. Think of the place often -- God, what character it had. Anyway, whatever info you could pass along about the film would be great. Thanks!
11.10.07 | Clark Lough
Hello, my name is Clark Lough. Along with Frank Polte and a few others, I helped build the stage, renovate the El Torrion,(sp?) and worked the stage for many Cowtown shows. (Saw Frank before his death also.) Many memories. (Freedom Palace too!) Good luck with this project.
Clark Lough
480.969.0297
11.07.07 | Gary Peterson
Hi,
My brother Paul tells me good things about you and I'd like to contribute. I'll be in K.C. Nov. 20th thru the end of the year. I have a nice shot of Alice Cooper at Cowtown, and lots of stories (including how I came to do the logo). Best wishes for your project
11.03.07 | Darrell Lea
I attended several shows @ Cowtown Ballroom - the first being Chet Nichols w/KC Philharmonic, the last being the closing show w/Dirt Band & Brewer & Shipley. Have ticket stubs from several of those shows. Please contact me if there's anything I can do to help you out.
11.03.07 | larry knight
I played guitar for brewer and shipley, danny cox, white eyes, chet nichols also performed with the steve miller band and louden wainright at cowtown ballroom.
11.02.07 | Dawayne Bailey
I am the former guitarist with CHICAGO and Bob Seger. I grew up in Manhattan, KS but played all over the state back in the 60s, 70s, 80s.
I recall seeing Frank Zappa at Cowtown Ballroom in 1971. Kerry Livgren was in the audience that night too and I recall seeing him giving Zappa at tape of his band at the time called Kansas.
I'll never forget that night or that classic venue.
http://www.dawaynebailey.com
10.28.07 | Mike Harvey
Hey Joe,
This is a great project. All the best to you and all of the people working with you. Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help.
10.28.07 | Chet Nichols
Hey Man,
Found this site....very cool. I played at Cowtown Ballroom in KC on numerous occasions opening for the likes of BB King, Poco, Brewer & Shipley, Hot Tuna, It's A Beautiful Day, The KC Philharmonic Orchestra...and many others. I wrote the "stoner anthem"...."I'm The Ice Cream Man" (hear it from a live-show I did at Cowtown Ballroom....at....www.broadjam.com/chetnichols.
My first two records, "Time Loop" and "Waving Prairie"......were a couple records that helped to define the loner-stoner-outside folk genre.
There is a fellow I know who is currently working on a documentry about Cowtown Ballroom.....
Thanks for the neat site, man.....
My Best,
Chet Nichols
http://www.broadjam.com/chetnichols
http://www.chetnichols.net
http://LastRidersOn66.itgo.com......"The Best Stoner Novel about the 1960's....." Bob Moore, Editor of Route 66 Magazine
10.17.07 | Sheryl Prout
I have three vivid memories of Cowtown but, since it was
the '70's, the dates are lost to me.
1. Steve Martin as a leadin for the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band:
this was his white-suit-and-arrow-through the head period. People booed him, although I was laughing hysterically at his shtick. That crowd wanted the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, not a comedian. BUT, when he came out and played banjo with the band, the crowd went wild.
2. Spending frantic minutes helping a friend crawl along the floor of the darkened room, searching for a lost contact lens.
3. One year there was a Halloween costume contest.
Local TV celebrity and performer, Whizzo the Clown, was the MC. The contest winners were decided by crowd reaction. There was a mysterious costume, white, bulging around the middle, with red around the bottom. As Whizzo held his hand over each contestant's head, the crown clapped, yelled, whistled, cheered. The white costumed contestant won by a landslide, although there were some other great costumes there. The best part
of the whole contest was when Whizzo announced the
winner. With a microphone, whizzo asked the contestant what he was supposed to be. The contestant whispered his answer to Whizzo(a joint). Whizzo turned a deadpan stare at the crowd and we all went wild. Whizzo stood there shaking his head in mock disbelief until the hoopla
died down. It still makes me smile to think about it.
10.16.07 | Kevin Montgomery
I will look through my tickets stubs for exact dates but I see several shows missing from your list. I was only 14 the first time I went to a show at Cowtown, Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks. It is listed. But I also saw ELO w/Suzi Quatro and Bachman Turner Overdrive there that you don't have listed. You also don't have the big New Years Eve all night show that had Sugarloaf as a headliner come on at 3am. There were tons of local and regional acts including my friends Pilgamage that came on at 5am.
I used to have a Cowtown Ballroom kite but it got detroyed in one of my many moves ove rthe years. I may have some ticket stubs still though. I will look. I have stories about these shows and others as well. For instance, the Robin Trower show you have listed, if 10cc was the opening act for that show Robin Trower didn't play. Their equipment was stolen and 10cc did a solo show. We got our money back because we didn't know 10cc. Big mistake. I heard the show was ecellent.
I'll be happy to offer up any other stories you may be interested in. Sounds like a great project. I'm looking forward to the end result!
KM
10.15.07 | Leasa Caron
Thank you for taking on this project. I worked for Mike Waggoner and worked the concession stand for him during many of the concerts. If you guys ever make t-shirts like the old ones, I definitely want to buy one. I had one and traded it with the drummer from Styx thinking I could run back to the office and get a replacement. Found out they had run out and no more were going to be made. I loved the building, the "feel" of the concerts and the memories. Thnks again for taking on this project, I can't wait to see it!!! Leasa Caron
10.15.07 | Sherrie Hetzel Davis
I have lots of memorie from Roller Skating at the El Torrion in the 60's to every concert at Cowtown from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with Steve Martin for a dollar to the all nighters sleeping in the towers there. It was great. Lots of memories. I live in the Virgin Islands now, but get home to Kansas City quite often. Look forward to hearing from you and seeing what you are doing. Sherrie
10.11.07 | Wild Bill Jeffress
I have one of the logos framed and a friend was married to Johnny Almond (played with Mayall and tne Mark/Almond band) and she has some stuff, also.
10.11.07 | greg kopulos
i just caught the last 5 minutes today on KKFI; saw many shows at Cowtown. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band at least 5 times.
i got to have a poster and tee shirt, let me know how.
Greg Kopulos
10.11.07 | Rita Haas
I could be wrong but it seems to me I saw Grand Funk Railroad at Cowton maybe in 1970 or 71? You don't have them listed under "who played there". It was so long ago...all I really remember was there were no seats and I went with my sister, her husband and my husband...a U. S. Marine at the time. Mark F had his long long hair and my husband had the standard Marine hair cut...quite the contrast!
10.11.07 | Don Lillig
My wife and I took our 2 month old son to the Halloween concert at Cowtown in October 1971. Three bands played that night, Joyful Noise was the opening act followed by Joy of Cooking and the final act was Leo Kottke. Our son Claes is now a musician and has played with the Keepers (now Blue 88) Parlay (Ernie Locke) and is currently with the Throttlers.
10.11.07 | Dan Janesko
Cool, I looked through your who played there list. First show I saw was Dan Hick's 1972. Early for me I was only 13 years old. Saw the Nitty Gritty the next year when Steve Martin opened.
It was probably at least a year later I saw him on Johnny Carson with my dad. I told him I seen that guy last year doing the same act. The balloons and arrow in the head act. It was than I came to the realization that this dude had been running around doing that same act for all that time. He still was just as enthusiastic and fresh as a year earlier, made me realize what a hard job a comedian would be.
Saw Harry Chapin, I remember the high voice in the taxi cab song was sang by his bass player. He looked to be at least 6 feet tall, big guy, with a high voice when he needed it !
Saw several other shows there. My mom knew right where it was when we first wanted a ride there. She had broke her leg there when it was a skating rink !
Hey where can I get one of the T-Shirts ? I heard you mention them on KKFI
10.10.07 | Larry Knouft
Nice to see what you are doing with Cowtown. I was a regular at most of the shows. Was a promoter of shows in small towns in Kansas. Don't really have much to add , but was wondering if you had touched base with George Frayne (Commander Cody), he is still playing all over the country. Has a great band. Checkout his website Commander Cody Band. They played in Melvern, Ks. at DogStock 4 and 5. Just wanted to pass that along to you. Good luck with your venture, and will be looking forward to seeing what you do with this. Thanks Larry
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