1930s-Era Alcyon Cafe Matchbook Kansas City Kansas KCK Strawberry Hill History

Description

1930s-Era Alcyon Cafe Matchbook Kansas City Kansas KCK Strawberry Hill History
A little about the
Alcyon Cafe & Night Club: "
This brick building at 556 Central Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas might not look like much, but during the 1930s it was home to the Alcyon Night Club. This club featured a large dance floor, performance stage, several dozen tables, a full kitchen, and it could hold more than 1000 people. The Alcyon, located in the heart of the Strawberry Hill Neighborhood, was even once described by the "Kansas City Kansan" as “one of the most elaborate cafes and night clubs in the city.” In 1934, however, the Alcyon was targeted by the Kansas City Kansas Police Department - KCKPD for a number of liquor raids, as "intoxicating liquors" were still prohibited by the Kansas Constitution. During one such raid on October 26, 1934, KCKPD officers and James P. Barnes, a special investigator for the Wyandotte County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, found 39 pints, 12 quarts, and 31 half pints of whiskey as well as 24 quarts of sloe gin. The owner of Alcyon, Michael James Draskovich, ended up pleading guilty to possession of liquor and maintenance of a nuisance and was fined 0 (a huge sum at the time) and sentenced to more than a year in jail by Judge Willard Meriam Benton. Judge Benton also ordered that Alcyon Night Club’s doors be padlocked. Luckily, Draskovich received an early parole and Judge C. A. Miller lifted the writ of abatement against the Alcyon a few months later and ordered that the padlock be removed. The following weekend, Draskovich threw a reopening celebration and gave away more than 519 pounds of chicken in the form of chicken sandwiches. According to reports at the time, “The orchestra that plays regularly there on Friday and Saturday was ‘hot’ and the dancing was continuous until closing time.” Today, the building is owned by Wittmer Management, LLC and is home to Ramos Upholstery LLC and RevolveKC.org."
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