WALDO PROMOTIONS

A popular event in Waldo in the late ’40′s and early ’50′s was “Waldo Wednesday.” This was an activity well known to women and children throughout a good sized surrounding area. The main attractions were a free bus, a free picture show and a free book review. Eighty merchants started “Waldo Wednesday” subscribing $500 at the outset, then $2.00 a week. Business improved considerably. Shoppers were brought in on free buses that had large banners on the side announcing “Free Bus.” The first free bus started at 10:10 each Wednesday morning from 85th and Woodland and arrived at Waldo at 10:59. It stopped any where anyone wanted to get on or off. On the return trip it went as far north as Gregory Boulevard and Troost. Two other routes took in Santa Fe Hills and 85th Street and State Line. The buses ran every hour and nine minutes until the last one departed from Waldo at 5:53 in the afternoon. The merchants hoped that the Public Service Company would soon provide regular service east and west.

Arriving in Waldo you could get free tickets to the entertainment of the day in the Waldo Theater from any store which was participating in “Waldo Wednesday.” The stores announced “super bargains” and there were lucky numbers printed on give away folders to be used for purchases the following Wednesday.

Another less well known event was a “guessing game” of sorts at the corner of 75th and Wornall in the middle ’30′s. A brand new Chevrolet was set up on blocks so its wheels were off the ground, the tank was filled with gas, and the engine turned on. The idea was to guess how long the car would run on one tank of gas. Sadly, there is no record of who the winner was, or how long the car ran.

In May, 1981, an Americana Festival was co sponsored by the Waldo Business Association and the Betty Tillotson Studio of Dance. It was held in the parking lot of the Wornall Bank at 79th and Wornall which donated the use of the lot for the festival. There were carnival games, funnel cakes and other “fun” foods, kiddie rides and entertainment. This was a one time event, but recently, has had a rebirth of sorts in the Waldo Fall Festival.

In 1993, a “Halloween in Waldo” celebration was held in the 7400 block of Broadway. Merchants participating included Tanner’s, Mr. Emery’s Hairdressing, Waldo Pizza, Burton’s Photography, Billie Baker’s Beauty Shop, Aid Printing and Stationary, Broadway Shoe Service, Broadway South Barber Shop, Salon on Broadway, Hiles Two, Farmers Insurance, and Blimpie’s. There were clowns, dancers, and lots of treats.

On Sunday, December 7, 1980, a Holiday Season Kickoff Parade was held. Sponsors were the Waldo Area Business Association, Gillis Home, and the Southwestern Bell South District SCAT Team. The parade started at 3:30 p.m. at 74th and Wornall and traveled south on Wornall to the Gillis Home using two south bound lanes. The city issued a permit and there were police officers to handle traffic control. Immediately following the parade there was the Gillis Community Christmas Card unveiling and then a reception and open house open to the public.

In 1981, there was a celebration in Waldo to commemorate a new look for the business section near 75th and Wornall. The event observed the dedication of new landscaped markers at 75th and Wornall and 85th and Wornall bearing the legend, “Welcome to Waldo.” The dedication climaxed two years of sidewalk, curb and street repairs, tree planting and the elimination of sign pollution. In attendance were several state and city representatives: Mayor Richard L. Berkley; Missouri Legislators Sen. Harry Wiggins and Rep. Della M. Hadley; and members of the City Council Victor Swyden, Ray James, Jerry Riffel, and Kay Waldo.

On September 25, 1999, the 7th Annual Waldo Fall Festival was held. The first fall celebration in 1993 was known as the Waldo Antique and Entertainment Fair, and for the next two years as the Waldo Expo. The event’s purpose is to promote Waldo businesses. A regular “just for fun” activity is a Tap A Thon whose purpose is to see how many tap dancers can dance together and do the same routine at the same time. At the third annual Expo in 1995, Waldo was fortunate to have as a guest tap dancer Arthur Duncan from Branson’s Lawrence Welk Champagne Theatre and the Lawrence Welk TV show.

A long time resident remembers a Charleston contest that was held in the middle of 75th and Wornall, probably about 1926.