-
-
Title
-
William Gillis
-
Description
-
Information about William Gillis (~1797-1869), an Indian trader and one of the co-founders of the Town of Kansas. He was born in Maryland and fought in the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811, became a member of the tribe of Delaware Indians before coming to Kansas City about 1831. He built a "lookout" structure at 26th Street and the state line in the 1830s and the Gillis House in 1850 on the levee. He owned much real estate in the city as a slaveholder with his mansion built in 1842 and fortune left to fund the Gillis Opera House through his heir Mary Troost, with illustrations. William Gillis's last name often appears also as "Gilliss," including places and buildings named after him.
-
Object Type
-
Vertical File
-
-
Title
-
Gillis Opera House City Directory Entry
-
Description
-
Diagram of the Gillis Opera House, corner Fifth and Walnut Streets, with illustrations of the seating plan and interior.
-
Date
-
1884
-
Object Type
-
Book Section
-
-
Title
-
The Green Room
-
Description
-
Reports about local theater shows, including the Auditorium, Vaudeville, Willis Wood, Shubert, Grand, and Gillis.
-
Date
-
1909-11
-
Object Type
-
Magazine Article
-
-
Title
-
105 Years of Opera
-
Description
-
Review of Kansas City opera's "golden age" in the late 1800s, declining later, especially after World War I, from which it "never fully recovered."
-
Date
-
1973-09
-
Object Type
-
Magazine Article
-
-
Title
-
Gilliss Theater
-
Description
-
View of second building; shows a bar and other businesses as tenants.
-
Date
-
1989
-
Object Type
-
Photograph
-
-
Title
-
Gilliss Theater
-
Description
-
Interior view looking towards audience from stage; located on the southwest corner of 5th and Walnut.
-
Object Type
-
Photograph
-
-
Title
-
Gillis Opera House
-
Description
-
Postcard of the Gillis Opera House, once located on the southwest corner of 5th and Walnut streets.
-
Date
-
1900~
-
Object Type
-
Postcard
-
-
Title
-
Sanborn Map, Kansas City, Vol. 2, 1896-1907, Page p112
-
Description
-
Northern part of early Kansas City in the River Market district from Main Street east to Oak Street and from E. 3rd Street south to Independence Avenue, showing buildings, streets, and City Hall. Large numbers at edges of page refer to page with adjoining area.
-
Date
-
1896/1907
-
Object Type
-
Map
-
-
Title
-
Early Kansas City Theaters
-
Description
-
This book contains information about early theater in Kansas City, including facts concerning the local theaters of the 19th and early 20th century. These theaters include: Auditorium, Century, Coates Opera House, Folly, Frank's Hall, Gilliss Opera House, Grand Opera House, Mainstreet, Ninth Street, Orpheum, Shubert, Standard, Theatre Comique, Warder Grand Opera House, and Willis Wood. Other entertainment venues mentioned include: Crystal Palace, Cyclorama, and Convention Hall (where "The Miracle" stage production was held). Also vaudeville is discussed in the book. See book index for pages.
-
Date
-
2007
-
Object Type
-
Book Section
