history behind WHISKEY & WRY

Prohibition in Kansas City was characterized by widespread defiance of the law, flourishing illegal alcohol industries, and rampant corruption under the Pendergast political machine, which allowed vice and gambling to thrive. Instead of an enforcement, Kansas City became known as a "wide-open town" and the "Paris of the Plains" due to its thriving speakeasies, jazz clubs, and mob-sponsored activities, fostering a vibrant nightlife and a large underground economy that contrasted with the rest of the nation's compliance. 

The Gillis Opera House was Kansas City's grandest theater at the turn of the 20th century, completed in 1883 by William Gillis's niece using his inheritance to fund both the theater and the related Gillis Orphans' Home. Designed by Asa Beebe Cross, the opera house was a symbol of the city's cultural aspirations but declined in the late 19th century as the city's business center shifted south. The building was ultimately destroyed by a mysterious explosion in 1925, and the Gillis Building replaced it.  

Henry Perry is regarded as the "Father of Kansas City BBQ". Given the long and storied tradition of barbecue in this city, the fact that leading restaurants from Gates to Arthur Bryant's draw their roots to Perry's shop at 19th and Highland is a tribute not only to Perry's craft but also to his influence on the next generation of cooks and restaurant operators.

Henry Perry was a very generous man. The Kansas City Sun, July 3, 1920, reported that Perry served a free barbecue dinner to 1000 "old men, women, and children" on the vacant lot behind his 19th and Vine street restaurant. When asked to comment about the barbecue, Perry is reported to have replied, "God has been so good to me," indicating that he was glad to share his blessings with others.

July 3rd is Henry Perry Day, a local holiday, celebrated by many in the Kansas City area.