Kansas City’s beautiful Starlight Theatre hosted its very first opening night with the musical The Desert Song. However, before construction was finished on the $1.5 million venue, it hosted the Thrills of a Century—a centennial celebration of Kansas City.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.