A.J. Finney
After a decade plus of no big time comedy clubs in Kansas City, Stanford & Sons returns tonight to 37th and Broadway in the Uptown Theater Conspiracy Room. The show tips off at 8 p.m. (7:45 and 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday) with funny guy A. J. Finney doing the headlining honors.
“I’ve never believed in soft openings, but instead of four or five weeks to promote the opening, in this case, we’ve only had two weeks,” says Stanford’s main man Craig Glazer. “But the Kansas City Star is coming tonight to cover the opening and I think the Pitch will be coming and we’ve had really good social media so…”
And naturally, Glazer’s had his share of controversy associated with his inner city comeback.
“There’s been talk of a controversy with us coming back to midtown,” Glazer says. “You know, from when we had the dance club in Westport and the controversy (with blacks) in the 1990s. That’s always been a sore spot with some people in Westport, but we’ve never had one problem with any of our comedy clubs and we’ve been out of the dance club business since 2002.”
Speaking of controversies…
No sooner had Glazer signed a short term contract for the Conspiracy Room he learned of Hamburger Mary’s deal to open in the space next year.
“Well, the plan is vis-a-vis Larry (Sells), for Hamburger Mary’s to open the bar off the Uptown lobby in like the 2nd or 3rd week of December with video and sports screens and cocktails,” Glazer says. “Then in mid to late summer Hamburger Mary’s will take over the room we’re in and make it their restaurant. I would have liked to have stayed in the Conspiracy because it’s a beautiful room. I mean, I think we could have leased it early last summer – and maybe we should have – but now Larry wants to build us a full time comedy club in the Uptown Shoppes across the street and have us anchor that.
“At this point, we’ll see what happens – we don’t have a clear read on Hamburger Mary’s restaurant – but we plan to be in the Conspiracy for several months, possibly until early to mid summer. I would say that by March we’ll have a plan as to what the next step is. By that time we’ll have a read on the return of comedy to midtown. And we have the ability now to bring in some larger acts into the main Uptown Theater.
“So for now, we’ll be open on Fridays and Saturdays and maybe a couple of weekdays when it makes sense to do it.”
And the future of Stanford’s at The legends?
“We’re still at The Legends and lately it’s been really good because we’ve had some monster stars,” Glazer says. “But the Legends location has suffered with the economy and because the population out there is so thin. There is so little new housing out there and the population hasn’t grown like people thought it would. And more and more we get fewer and fewer people from Johnson County and Kansas City. They’ll come here for special events, but we’re dealing more and more with people who live in Leavenworth, Basehor, KCK, Lawrence and Western Johnson County.
“You know, in today’s modern America, people like to stay in their neighborhoods. Like a lot of people in Johnson County only go to the Plaza once or twice a year. And with the Legends in KCK, we almost have to force people in Johnson County to come out here with big names like Carlos Mencia, Tom Arnold and Josh Wolf.”
All of that said, is Glazer’s Winter Comedy Series at the Uptown an exit strategy for the Legends?
“No, I mean, we’re in our 7th year at the Legends and it’s a gorgeous comedy club and I really love the room, but it’s a handful for me,” Glazer says. “It really depends on what happens next. The big advantage for me in Midtown is you’ve got the majority of people living there who will go out at night and party. The plan at the Uptown is we’ll be there for several months and see what happens next.”
glaze…go break a leg…or an arm….or break the bank with this new place.
all the mf’ers who doubted you are now going to get their asses kicked!
that area looks like its about to explode with new businesses…which is
what the town needs. a revitalized area in the city core!
good luck dude…i’m sure there’s plenty of low life do nothing get nothing
greenhorns who want to see you fall on your face.
just save some tickets for harley when the pit bull comes to town!! !!!!!!!!!
your friend
harley
That guy HAS to be teh funny or else he would not be holding a rubber chicken.
I mean, you are not allowed to hold a rubber chicken unless you are funny, you comic license would be yanked if you weren’t.
I dont think this is funny; I called PETA. The dude is clearly choking his chicken. Using a rubber chicken in your act = funny. Choking it – not so funny. Don’t choke your chicken.
Eh, you are right wilsun, the guy is a damn chicken choker.
Not funny at all, NOT FUNNY AT ALL GLAZER!!!
“big names like Carlos Mencia, Tom Arnold and Josh Wolf.”
Wow, doesn’t get much bigger than those guys…….
No uniformed it doesn’t. All are multi millionaires from comedy, I doubt you know who Wolf is do you..most young people do. We also had Chris Katan, Tim Medows and now Louie Anderson…all nobodies right. All sell out all are theater acts…you shouldn’t try and be a smart ass when your comment shows what a hick you are. Get it.
P.S. Tom Arnold sold out, all weekend shows, we turned away people on Saturday. Tom is such a loser he is partners with that nobody Arnold/ has starred or co starred in 110 films is in two now, always makes mid six figures or more per…has had six tv series, been on over 35 other tv series often many times from ER to ArliSS…lives in a six million dollar home in Bel Air..yep a nobody loser…oh yeah he gets 20,000 a weekend to do comedy when he feels like it…he did a couple small things, uh, Rosanne, starred in BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW for years, some small pictures like TRUE LIES, was the star of McCall’s Navy on and on…yep a nobody…now what do you make a weekend?
We left out that other nobody that you don’t know who he is TJ Miller…2o films in four years…starring in a little pix called TRANSFORMERS..with another nobody Mark Whalberg…all losers..and you have done what?
glaze…asi said earlier…these nobodies got
nothing…know nothing…
don’t pay attention to these small people..
they’re small thinkers…small brains..
just don’t get life!
and to come on here to try and insult
you without any facts shows theyre
losers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
juh-heezes, cg… don’t take that guy’s comments so seriously! must have touched a raw nerve
That whole area seems to be poised for a comeback. There is also a new jazz club that will be opening really soon about a block from there. Pat Hanrahan, formerly part owner of Jardine’s will be running it.
Uh oh, NOW you did it.
Don’t worry. Beena won’t be owning it or running it.
I would have like to have seen some KCStar bashing worked in somehow, but there were enough delusional Glazer quotes to compensate. I award this 5 Hearnes out of 5.
I wonder if motorcycles are going to park there illegally?
Hearne will cry if they do and write a minimum of 20 posts on the subject.
Did someone say Jardines?
I figured that would liven things up.
Whats a Jardines? Sounds like one of those fancy brands of mustard.
Glad there will be another comedy club option that’s not clear out in BFE Kansas. I’ll now have two clubs within 20 minutes of my house, The Improv up at Zona Rosa, and Craig’s place. And Glaze is right. People don’t like driving a long ways for entertainment, especially if they are going to have a couple of drinks. The risk of a DUI check point is too great, and the penalty too harsh. Risk vs reward. People are going to manage that risk by staying closer to home.