Memorial Hall is a multi-purpose auditorium located in Kansas City, Kansas. The 3,500-seat auditorium, which has a permanent stage, is used for public assemblies, concerts and sporting events.
Establishment
The venue opened in 1925.
Notable events
Musical events
It was the location of American country-music singer Patsy Cline's, Cowboy Copas' and Hawkshaw Hawkins' last public performance, during a benefit concert on March 3, 1963 â€" two days before their death in an airplane crash in Camden, Tennessee, while en route to Nashville, Tennessee, from Kansas City.
During the late 1960s and early 1970s, the venue hosted a number of iconic rock acts of the era, including Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, Iron Butterfly, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Janis Joplin. Led Zeppelin performed at Memorial Hall on November 5, 1969. The Grateful Dead played eight (I included 11/12/72) shows there on the following dates: 2/5/69, 11/13/72, 10/28/77, 2/9/79, 2/10/79, 12/10/79 and 12/11/79.
On September 11, 1972, Pink Floyd performed their new concept album, The Dark Side of the Moon, five months before the record setting album's release. This was also Pink Floyd's first concert in the Kansas City Area. Kiss made its Kansas City metropolitan area concert debut at the venue on April 13, 1975, opening for the Dutch rock band Golden Earring. REO Speedwagon recorded parts of its first live album, Live: You Get What You Play For (1977) at the venue on October 31, 1976, including the album's closing track "Golden Country". Def Leppard performed at the venue (during their second U.S. tour) in October 1981, opening for Blackfoot. In December 1983, Peter Gabriel recorded part of his live album 'Plays Live' at Memorial Hall.
Sporting events
- Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling was a Thursday-night tradition at the venue in the 1970s, with cards often taped for the All-Star Wrestling telecast days later.
Kansas City native Harley Race won his first National Wrestling Alliance championship at the venue in 1973, defeating Dory Funk Jr. in three falls. Ric Flair won his first NWA Championship at the venue in September 1981 defeating Dusty Rhodes.
- Mixed martial arts
On November 20, 2009, the venue hosted the mixed martial arts event Strikeforce Challengers: Woodley vs. Bears.
On April 28, 2012, the venue hosted Invicta FC 1: Coenen vs. Ruyssen.
On July 28, 2012, the venue hosted Invicta FC 2: Baszler vs. McMann.
On October 6, 2012, the venue hosted Invicta FC 3: Penne vs. Sigiyama
On January 5, 2013, the venue hosted Invicta FC 4: Esparza vs. Hyatt
Other events
The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools district holds an annual convocation for staff at the venue each August. All district staff is present for this event.
See also
- 1925 in architecture
References
