In this 1912 post-card scene looking north from 12th on Walnut the Wurmsers furniture and carpet store is on the right and the Globe Theater across the street at the left. The theater building at 1112 Walnut had a long list of early day occupants. The building was erected as Engine House No. 3 of the city fire department in 1881 and was used by the department until 1887. In 1888 Emil Scharnagel introduced the city's first cabaret in the abandoned fire station. It was the first time that anyone dared to operate a public place in Kansas City where women could go in and drink freely of intoxicating liquors. Scharnagel had an orchestra and women singers. But the pace was too fast for the times and Scharnagel was forced to quit business after a few years. The next occupant was J. J. Heim, brewer and park operator, who leased the building and started a vaudeville show. Next a burlesque show took over, operating under the name of the Majestic Theater until 1909 when Alexander Pantages leased the building and added it to his national vaudeville circuit. Atlas Amusement Co. obtained the property after the Majestic moved and named the theater the Globe. The Globe (as pictured) operated until 1913, when it was razed to make way for Kline's store. Kline's extended from Walnut to Main, with entrances on both streets. The store was razed in 1972, and today the Walnut street site is used for automobile parking. The post card was mailed from Kansas City Sept. 9, 1912, to E. T. Oden, Perry, Okla., from his mother who was visiting here at the time. Mrs. Irl Henry, a daughter, of Perry Okla., furnished the card. Kansas City Times, June 2, 1978.
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