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Concerned Kansas Citians led by theater expert Joan Kent Dillon
and businessman William Deramus III rallied around the decrepit
theater, working feverishly to save “The Grand Old Lady
of Twelfth Street” from the wrecking ball. As the last remaining
19th century theater in Kansas City, there was a great deal of
interest in returning the Folly to her original grandeur and
reviving the building for use for legitimate purposes. While
she had been sadly neglected, she was worth the fight to maintain
a piece of Kansas City history.
Enthusing Kansas Citians about saving an eyesore like the Folly Burlesque was
no small task. The balcony had been closed by the fire Marshall more than a
decade prior to the building’s total closure. The balcony steps were rickety,
the seats were ripped up, some beyond recognition, and the curtains torn. There
was trash in every possible space throughout the interior: closets full of
Playboy magazines, hocked souvenirs, packing for new projection equipment,
and stage props and costumes were strewn all over. And there was an accumulated
nine-and-a-half tons of pigeon droppings in the attic from decades of broken-out
windows. Yet the group persisted, and joined together in support of saving “The
Grand Old Lady of Twelfth Street.” The Performing Arts Foundation of Kansas
City, a dormant non-profit organization, was resurrected to generate operating
and restoration income for the theater.
The building was eventually listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When asked why the building was worth saving, James Rogers, administrator of
the Landmarks Commission, replied, “The historical significance of the
building…Lillian Russell sang here. Burns and Allen performed here. Isn’t
a landmark a touchstone in one’s community?”
Numerous fundraisers took place around the city to generate
funds for the theater’s restoration. The “Strip the
Folly” auction in 1976 featured 72-year-old fan dancer Sally
Rand. Among the items auctioned were pieces of burlesque costumes,
a popcorn machine, a red-velvet stripper swing, and countless
items from days gone by.
It would take seven years and millions in raised funds to restore the theater
to its original grandeur. Plaster molds of the east walls were made by local
artisans in order to restore the crumbled plaster on the west wall. The lobbies
were remodeled with high ceilings and curving, open staircases. On the site
of the Edwards Hotel, which had been demolished in 1965, an annex was added
to accommodate administrative offices, a conference room, dressing rooms, and
expanded lobby space. Updates were made throughout the building to meet current
building codes and for audience comfort. The theater was returned to her intended
state thanks to countless Kansas Citians with the vision to save a piece of
their history.
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