Most cities are measured to some significant extent by their list of Who’s Who of local celebs...
Here’s an area we have always been thin in. Way too thin. Lets take a look at this group today. When I say local celeb, I mean one who still lives in Kansas City. And who has both a local, and to some extent at least, a national presence. People who create a Wow Effect when they enter the room, restaurant or night spot.
Don’t get me wrong, we have launched tons of national stars.
Trouble is, they tend top move away and don’t come back here to live. Sinbad,Louie Anderson,Debra Winger – were all
smartman
Who cares about being noticed in KC?
With the possible exceptions of Rush Limbaugh and Harris Faulkner who is now a Fox News “news reader” no one else that you mentioned would even qualify as a gnat on an elephants ass in any other market.
We is what we is, Cornpone central, the Manhattan of Mediocrity. What else would you expect from a metro area that lacks civic and political leaders with any balls or vision. Instead of spending money on the shitbucket we call downtown we should have taken the money and tried to woo someone like Proctor and Gamble, Kraft Foods, or some other major brand owner to relocate their HQ to KC. A move like that, more than any other, can have lasting impact and long term benefits that can transform us from a Cowtown to a WOWTOWN!
bschloz
On the jock scene I’d say Bill Self has “It”
I give Haley a 50 50 chance of making it….if he gets it turned around he could have a good run.
Sudekais,Riggle, both from Shawnee Mission…Eric Stonestreet of Modern Family…Turner resident..I think this guy is going to have a great career.
Pat Methany I’m sure could light up a room.
Of course none of these people live here..so I guess it doesn’t count.
As the smartman says..we is what we are. Low to no profile kind of place.
The older I get the less impressed I am with jocks and Stars…I’m way more interested in talking to people who have accomplished things in business…or coached their kids in sports or music. Hero’s are middle class family’s putting kids thru school.
bags
I’ll step up. Don’t worry your pretty little heads.
smartman
Amen bschloz, REAL hero’s are all around us. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
Rainbow Man
Celebrities are not immune to DUI’s and they usually get punished worse than the average But Glazer is not just talking about celebs, but celebs that like to go out, see, and be seen. We used to have a “party core” and that was Westport/ Plaza and a little bit of downtown.
Then we had the proliferation of brew pubs and sports bars in every zip code. Dudes wearing ball caps and t-shirts were too lazy to drive to Westport and woo the ladies.
PS– Kevin Harlan is bigtime..
jojo
Carl Peterson a star? In who’s book. An ogre..
a disgusting pig…conceited…arrogance….
spiteful…saw him scream for five minutes
at a bartender for making his drink wrong.
Thank god this worhtless piece of shit is gone.
A star? hardly.
Most talent has to leave kc. They head to other
pastures. Rudd left for l.a. and new york to make his name. The same for the other entertainment people…and they don’t come back
because the moneys not here.
Tom Watson: super guy…has been a part of this
town for decades…and he comes back here to
live.
Len Dawson: the heart of this town. I’ll take him
over all those other prtetenders mentioned like
Maas and Johnson (spit in your face). Faulkner…hardly a star…this was just
another stop on her career and she ran to
a bigger and better job.
Zack…”not a player”…just becasue you don’t hang in bars and chase women all the time doesn’t make not a star. The guy won the cy young
nad prefers a low key lifestyle but he too will
be leaving in 2012 or 2013.
Few people recognize the radio people because
they never see them. They hear them but most
are pretty low key…or they’d be ontv.
Kietzmans a player…we all know that story.
Johnny dare is big but again lots of people dont
recognize him because he’s on radio. And I can
tell you that the “celebrity” status of
radio people has dropped dramatically in the
last 10 years. People arent listening to radio
much anymore. With ipods/etc. people are finding their own music…and radio is killing itself.
Marcus Allen…onlyhere a few years but he too
was a dog. Couldn’t get to appointments on time..changed deals…he’s out. And he left
way way back in the mid 90’s!
jOE mONTANA:
jojo
JOe Montana:in kc on tyhe downslide of his
career. Liked kc…wife hated it…
Jason Whitlock: why hasn’t he left. Can’t get
a job elswhere and he loves those strippers.
The star are not old men chasing young women..
thats not a star.
But bschloz is right…the real heros we never
hear about. Shirley Helzberg…the thousands
of volunteers in charitable organization….
the people who give and give to help our
community. They don’t have star quality but
they are the real “stars” in our town.
Not some of the losers you mentioned.
if only…
You forgot:
Rochelle from Carpet Corner
Otto Fleck
Calvin Coolidge
Jerry Z. Bum
R.I.P. Celebs:
Whizzo (the clown, that’s who!)
Gregory Graves
Penny Dreadful
Smakie the Seal
M.I.A Celebs:
Ol’ Gus
Marcus’s ex-wife (and Donnie Edward’s present wife)
“Uncle” Ed Muscare
Sonny Hill
Dave Dusik
Mad Mike
Warpaint
Bob Bernstein
jojo
if only…briliant post…made me laugh….thanks
Ross
If only Sinbad lived here… KC could be great again.
Not to worry, though. Malcolm Jamaal Warner and Eddie Griffin live above Kelly’s in Westport.
DonkeyPunch
I was mistaken for Andrew Shue at a bar once. That was cool, though I didn’t get any tail out of it. Now that I look back on that night, I was a complete idiot. Should have gone with it and pounded some strange
Devo
I must live in a totally different universe from Craig. Of all the things I might worry about on a day to day basis, the number of local celebrities and their impact on night life is not one of them.
Maybe Craig should use his considerable influence to get HUGE STARS like Rob Schneider to move here.
jojo
I told a vegas club bouncer I was joe pescis
son and I got into the club free. That count?
jojo
hearne/glazer….take some of your hotties
from woodside or jones into the capital grille
or mccormicks and shmicks topless and you’ll
create plenty of wowwwwww!
Jupiter
I thank God there are no celebrities in KC so that blogs this one don’t waste my time following their every living breathing moment.
caseybarmaid
Glazer you left YOUR name out. I know you think and probably are one of the more recognized people out there. Right?
Billywhit
Craig I have to admit you are great at these deals, writing this stuff. Does it get you layed?
Dino
Glazer…you pal, are the real star of this town.
We all know that. We heard it from you.
Rick
I’m dead serious. Is Colonel Billy still alive??? Him and his Rockwood smorgasbord and Boot Williams Ford.
Rick
The chick from the geek show sure did have a short shelf life. Was it Melanie or Melinda?
Rick
Craig though obviously he has nothing to do with the night life. At least until his recent scandals hit Pastor Jerry Johnston was pretty much in the National spotlight.
Lil Pecker
Colonel Billy…..RIP.
bschloz
If Only…
You forgot..
Torey Southwick
Janey from Milgrams
Walt Bodine
Bob Giegel
Rufus R Jones
Charley Finley
If Only…
Thanks, bschloz.
I also forgot:
Steve Balboni
Cheryl Jones
The Viking
Joe Foy
Danny Little Bear
Fred Broski
Charlie Metro
Pete Enich
William Rockhill Nelson
Betty Hayes
Tom Pendergast
Peregrine Hoenig
John Bilyeu
Tan Gus, from Woodside
Nick Civella
Lin Elliott
Miss Virginia
…and The Creeper
Raise your right hand and repeat after me, Hearne:
“Every night, before I go to sleeper,
I promise to stay up late and watch
movies with the Creeper!”
Tony
The only thing sadder than the lack of celebrities in Kansas City is lamenting the lack of celebrities in Kansas City. We are, and for the most part always have been, a third rate town. No city government changes or corporations moving to town are going to change that. So why would any celebrities have any reason to be here unless their plane has an emergency stop at KCI?
Do you think people in Des Moines wake up in the morning and whine about not having any local celebrities. I seriously doubt it. Wake up and smell the coffee; Kansas City is a lot closer to Des Moines or Omaha than it is to LA or NY. Hell, at least Omaha and Des Moines are getting a Trader Joe’s.
The idea of a local ‘celebrity’ or ‘mover and shaker’ scene in Kansas city is both funny and sad. If Holly Starr or Johhny Dare set foot out of the metro they wouldn’t be recognized by anybody. Hell they wouldn’t be recognized by 75% of people in town.
Get over it folks. If you want something bigger than George Brett head for LA or something. Kansas City isn’t and never will be a relevant City on the national scene. And no number of sprint centers or P&L’s we build will change that.
jojo
col billy is not dead…alive at shriners off
435…
jerrel wilso n (thunderfoot) is dead.
what about stars like hank stram/fred arbanas/
nate archibald/sam lacey (still alive)…
wedman/etc….
how about restauranteur and night club owner
vic fontana…now thats a guy with class…
and he knew how to run a joint. Not like these
cheap asses now.
Rick
Hap Hazard, Dick Wilson, and Ray
Rick
If we are going to mention wrestlers. Obviously Harley Race has to head the list.
KellysGuy
All the big names come to Kellys. We had Dave Coulier in last year and the Chiefs,Joe Montanna,Geroge Brett. Everyone but Glazer.
Rick
Yeah but did Big Ben do any woman in your bathroom? Until that happens you are not major league.
Can’t say
I’m the only one in town that has a girlfriend that is on TV twice a day on a nationally syndicated TV show. She’s adorable. So it’s clear that I am the biggest celebrity in KC. I just live a quiet lifestyle.
Duke
Very cool. I love reading names from KC’s history. And yes, we’re like Tulsa, Wicita, Omaha, Des Moines. We’re just the best of those. I’ve lived in Saint Louis and KC and I’ll take this cowtown everytime.
rick
Believe it or not I’m just now getting around to reading the article. Good job Craig. I would say the only thing I disagree with is your remark that really only George Brett was a room stopper. I think Johnny Damon was also.
You at one time thought Tanna Guthrie was a hottie?
And when talking about Jason Whitlock and Hearne you wrote “You think women prefer Johnny Dare.” Really? You just THINK that? I “think” elephants are bigger then fruit flies.
Jarod Allen if he had stayed sober, single, and in the area would of attracted attention.
craig glazer
Love all the lists folks, good ones. Yes there were several people I should have mentioned. Rick once again, you couldn’t be more right about Johnny Dammon. However when he lived here he was married and not a run around,YET. Then later that happened. The main man I left out who was a Room Stopper….Tommy Morrison. In his day, a lady killer and kinda heavy weight champ..The Great White Hope/Hype. I didn’t put Watson in cause he is a huge name but not much on the public night life scene. Never was…again as you guys noticed very few ladies names…wonder why?