Rare Photos Capture Kansas City's Folly Theater's Colorful Past

New exhibit at UMKC showcases the theater's history as an adult entertainment hub on 12th Street.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:40am

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An extremely abstracted, out-of-focus photograph of the exterior of an old, rundown theater, with a faint neon sign advertising 'Burlesk' shows, bathed in warm, soft light, creating a nostalgic, dreamlike atmosphere that captures the bygone era of the Folly Theater's history.A rare glimpse into the colorful, sometimes racy past of Kansas City's Folly Theater, before its transformation into a premier performance venue.Kansas City Today

A new exhibit at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Miller Nichols Library, curated by Stuart Hinds, is offering a rare glimpse into the history of Kansas City's Folly Theater. The exhibit, titled 'The Folly's Last Gasp,' features black-and-white photographs by Bob Barrett that capture the theater's colorful and sometimes racy past as part of the 12th Street adult entertainment district before the Folly was restored and became a premier performance venue.

Why it matters

The Folly Theater is an iconic Kansas City landmark, but its history as part of the 12th Street adult entertainment district is not widely known. This exhibit provides a unique opportunity to learn about a seldom-documented period in the city's past and appreciate how the Folly has been transformed over the decades.

The details

The exhibit features photographs taken by Bob Barrett that show the Folly Theater in its dilapidated state, with a hand-written sign announcing it was 'Closed permanently.' Other images depict the performers, employees, and patrons who occupied the space before it was presumed to be destroyed. Now, the Folly is a premier theater in Kansas City, known for its turn-of-the-century architecture and charm.

  • The exhibit 'The Folly's Last Gasp' is currently on display at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Miller Nichols Library.

The players

Stuart Hinds

The curator of special collections & archives at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, who curated the 'The Folly's Last Gasp' exhibit.

Bob Barrett

The photographer whose black-and-white images of the Folly Theater's past are featured in the exhibit.

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The takeaway

This exhibit provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into a seldom-documented period of Kansas City's history, offering valuable insights into the transformation of the iconic Folly Theater from an adult entertainment hub to a premier performance venue.