re: #406 prairiefire

Back in his day there were opencasinos and nightclubs flourishing under Mayor Pendergast.
“Pendergast era
At the turn of the century, political machines attempted to gain clout in the city, with the one led by Tom Pendergast emerging as the dominant machine by 1925. A new city charter passed that year made it easier for his Democratic Party machine to gain control of the city council (slimmed from 32 members to nine) and appoint a corrupt city manager.[citation needed] Several important buildings and structures were built during this time, including the Kansas City City Hall and the Jackson County Courthouse—both added new skyscrapers to the city’s growing skyline. The machine fell in 1939 when Pendergast, riddled with health problems, pleaded guilty to tax evasion. The machine, however, gave rise to Harry S. Truman, who quickly became Kansas City’s favorite son.[citation needed]”

it also allowed the wide open kansas city that led to a great flourishing of jazz there, nourishing both count basie as well as the young charlie parker, who grew up and started his career there

as jay macshann, one of charlie parker’s early employers, put it: “everywhere you looked, there was joints, joints, joints” - (meaning wide open bars with live music)