See the traffic on Petticoat Lane and the rest of KC move in rare home films from 1928

Even though Kodak introduced home movie cameras in 1923, their cost was well out of reach for most Americans.

That’ helps explain why Kansas City, which was already becoming a hub for motion picture distribution, is seldom seen in anything except still photos from the 1920s and 1930s.

But a recent discovery is about to change that.

Joe Tomelleri is the man who did the discovering. He’s actually a scientific illustrator best known for his drawings of fish.

But the Leawood resident has been quietly building a collection of old films obtained from eBay and other online sources.

“If nobody knows what’s on it, it’s usually priced pretty low,” Tomelleri says of the reels sitting in his basement alongside vintage cameras and other movie memorabilia.

Though he didn’t know it when he purchased them, a few of those films prominently feature Kansas City. And give us an unprecedented look at its appearance during the Roaring 20s and early 30s.

With Joe’s blessings, and cooperation from the folks at Missouri Valley Special Collections, The Star has launched a five-part video series called “Reel Rare: Found Films from Old KC.”

The series’ second installment focuses on “Landmark, Monuments and Neighborhoods,” with footage of the Kansas City Stockyards, Union Station, Liberty Memorial, Petticoat Lane, The Scout, Meyer Circle, Lake Hiawassee and more.

These black and white images may not have been seen for decades, but the sense of immediacy in them is striking.

“These are slices of life,” Special Collection Librarian Michael Wells points out. “Today we’re drowning in slices of life, but it’s really rare to see them from the 1920s and 1930s.”

Tomelleri has already spent countless hours trying to ascertain who’s pictured in the films, as well as who shot them and why.

He’s excited about the opportunity to share his treasure trove with the rest of the world.

“The more eyeballs we get on them,” he says, “the more we’ll know about just who these people are.”

Having trouble viewing the video? Watch it here.

This story was originally published December 19, 2024 at 5:00 AM.