The Jewel Box Lounge

The 3200 block of Troost in Kansas City, Missouri used to be known as "Mid-America's Greatest Fun-Complex." The clubs included The Yum Yum Room, Cat Balleu and The Jewel Box Lounge. The Jewel Box, known in 1948 as The Jewel Box and in 1950 as McKissick's Jewel Box Lounge, was at located at 3223 Troost. The address after 1964 was 3219 Troost and the owner was John N. Tuccillo. The Jewel Box featured female-mimics and female impersonators who sang songs and did comedy routines. Many of them toured, performing at similar clubs across the US. Rae Bourbon may have been the most well-known of the mimics. He had several LPs to his credit, including "A Trick Ain't Always a Treat", which was recorded at the club in the early sixties.