Section A · Page 6
The University Daily Kansan
Monday, April 26, 1999
Museums celebrate Kansas City's history
Jazz, baseball exhibitions praise local achievements, contributions
By Matt Merkel-Hess Special to the Kansan
Two distinctive museums are only a bop, skip and jump away from Lawrence.
Lodged in one building, the Museums at 18th and Vine in Kansas City Mo., celebrate two American forms of entertainment jazz and base ball.
The jazz museum is colorful and funky inside, with pictures and artifacts tastefully displayed. Background jazz is present but not intrusive.
Opened in 1997, the museums focus on local contributions and national history.
Listening stations abound, intermingled with exhibits focusing on Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald and Kansas City's own Charlie Parker. These stations are excellent starting points to connect names with music. Visitors can look at all the reading and artifacts in the museum quickly, but the music remains the heart of the museum
Delores Austin, visiting the museum from Chickasha, Okla., said she enjoyed hearing the music she thought was missing in mainstream
"The music brings back memories. It's right up my alley," Austin said. She said she would return to the museum again so she could spend time listening to all the recordings.
music today.
The museum also has computers that flap through pictures of jazz records like a jukebox. Every song on the records can be played on headphones, and the computer will zoom in on the cover art at the click of a button.
Also on display are original instruments, filers, records and neon signs. A plastic saxophone played by Charlie Parker is featured prominently.
Dan Galley, associate professor of music and dance at the University of Kansas, visited the museum a year ago and said it had a lot about early swing and big band music but was lacking in some areas.
"There's a good overview of really important artists in jazz," Gailey said. "But it's light on Count Basie — arguably the most important figure to ever come of the Kansas City jazz scene."
Attached to the museum is the Blue Room, a club that presents jazz four nights a week and includes more jazz memorabilia. It is a comfortable place to sip on a drink and watch jazz — certainly a change of pace from any Lawrence hangout.
Gailey said some of his students have played the Blue Room, and it's got good acoustics for live jazz.
"It's the most valuable thing at the museum," Gailey said. "It's a viable
THE MUSEUMS AT 18TH AND VINE
Jazz Museum
Tuesday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Blue Room
Blue Monday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Friday 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Admission
Tuesday - Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
nightclub."
- One museum: $6 adults, $2.50 children under 12
- Two museums: $8 adults, $4 children under 12
On the opposite side of the building, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum covers the history of the Negro Leagues. These leagues were created in the 1860s and continued through the early 1960s, when full integration in the major leagues was achieved.
The exhibit follows a timeline of important events in African-American history and baseball, especially the history of the Kansas City Monarchs. The museums are the centerpiece of the renewal project in the 18th and Vine district. The Gem Theater and a few businesses have also been refurbished, but it is inside the museums where the area's history comes alive.
- Edited by Aerica Veazey
Golf complex leaves some obstacles behind
Twin Oak's Golf Complex offers more than miniature golf. The complex also has a nine-hole pitch and putt course and a 17-acre driving range. The complex is located at K-10 and Country Road 1057 and opens daily at 10 a.m. Photo by Magnus Andersson/KANSAN
Professionally designed course concentrates on short game
By Jeremy Johnson Special to the Kansan
Don't look for windmills, houses or volcanoes on the miniature golf course at Twin Oaks Golf Complex in Eudora.
The course was designed by PGA professionals and focuses on slope, length and undulation, rather than the obstacles typically associated with miniature golf.
Although the miniature golf course is challenging, those students wanting to ease their spring fever should play a few rounds.
The complex aims to satisfy anyone with a penchant for hitting golf balls. And guests can hit them just about any way they want. The complex touts a nine-hole pitch and putt golf course, an 18-hole miniature golf course and a 17-acre driving range.
Students should not worry about the golfing experience costing a fortune or taking a lot of time, though. Located at K-10 and County Road 1057, Twin Oaks is a five-minute drive east of
Lawrence, and everything at the complex can be done in 45 minutes or less. The good news for those on a tight budget is that all three golfing activities can be done together for under $15.
"It's really not expensive for what you get," Fred Bell, a Twin Oaks employee said.
Twin Oaks also offers golf lessons, new clubs and club fitting and repair.
After the opening in April 1998, the pitch and putt course is the newest addition to Twin Oaks. The course is short - only 600 total yards.
Other than that, it's just like regular golf.
"All the rules apply," said Gary Winters, head golf pro and general manager. "The only difference is the length of the golf course."
The holes range in distance from 50 to just under 90 yards. Each hole was designed to be reached in one shot, usually requiring less than a full swing. But Winters said that those types of shots were the most important part of a golfer's game. He said in a typical round of golf, shots that exceeded 100 yards were in the minority.
"The rest of the shots will be putts, chips, pitches, sand shots, trouble shots — all shots that are not full swings," Winters said. "So even though our course is short, it takes into account 70 percent of a person's golf game."
TWIN OAKS GOLF COMPLEX
Where: K-10 and County Road 1057
When: 10 a.m. - Close.
Closing times depend on weather
- pitch and putt course: $8.50 for adults, $7.50 for students with ID, $6.50 for juniors (16 and under). $2.50 for an extra nine holes.
- Gents with ID, $6.50 for juniors (16 and under), $2.50
for an extra nine holes
- range balls: $3.75 for small bucket, $6.50 for large bucket,
    $10.50 for super bucket
minature golf: $3.50 for 12 and older, $2.00 for 12
and under.
and under
Call 785-542-1747 far more information
People can work on the other part of their game on the driving range. It has large grass tee areas and 25 artificial mats to hit from. Patrons can grip it and rip it or take aim at 10 different target flags set from 50 to 255 yards.
Ted Coulter, Winter's assistant and handyman, said the complex was a good place to relax. Those who come out, including students, often come back again and again.
"It's a great place for the college students to get together as a group and have fun," he said.
- Edited by Aerica Veazey
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