Kansas City Call Co. Inc

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About CallSomeone has said, "An organization is but the lengthened shadow of one man." Behind any successful institution usually lies the guiding genius of an individual who had a dream and a plan.The Call is no exception. Chester A. Franklin founded The Call newspaper in April 1919 and remained its active head and guiding spirit for 36 years.Mr. Franklin's "dream" grew far beyond his fondest hopes. He wanted to build a strong newspaper, one that would provide leadership in the local community, but he did not envision that he would build so well that his brainchild would become one of the six largest African American weeklies in the country and the largest Black business in the Midwest. Yet, this is what has happened since that day in 1919 when Mr. Franklin issued the first copy of Call with the members of his Paseo Y.M.C.A. volleyball team as the first subscribers.In founding The Call and developing it through the years into a publication of national reputation, C.A. Franklin fulfilled an ambition of his father's. His father, George Franklin, started a newspaper in Omaha, The Enterprise, to make a business opportunity for his son. When George Franklin became ill, his son Chester took over the business and found himself editor, printer and distributor. The family moved to Denver and there published another newspaper, called The Star. After his father's death in 1901, Chester Franklin continued to publish the paper until 1913 when he decided to pursue publishing to a larger African American populace in Kansas City.Franklin came to Kansas City with a definite idea of starting a newspaper, however, the start of World War I delayed his plans. He opened a printing shop at 14th and Main Street, now the heart of Kansas City's busy Downtown district. While "kicking" the job presses there, he awaited the day he would launch another newspaper. He moved his shop to 1008 East 18th Street, closer to the growing African American community in the 18th and Vine District. Next, he moved his business to 1309 East 18th Street. A short time later, he moved to a 20 by 40 foot room at 1311 East 18th Street, and The Call newspaper was born.Franklin's reputation as a printer was highly regarded and when he announced to his associates that he was going to begin publishing a newspaper, many people subscribed before the first printing. The maiden issue of The Call was a four-page sheet. 2, 000 copies were printed and sold for 5 cents a

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Extra Phones

Phone: (816) 842-4420

Phone: (816) 298-7983

Fax: (816) 842-4420

TollFree: (800) 435-7669

Neighborhoods

18th and Vine And Downtown East, Downtown Kansas City, Wendell Phillips

AKA

On Call Care Svc

One Kansas City Radio

On Call Care Service

The Kansas City Call

Other Links

http://www.kccall.com

http://www.onekcradio.org

Category

Newspapers

Reviews

Details

Phone: (816) 842-3804

Address: 1715 E 18th St, Kansas City, MO 64108

Website: http://www.kccall.com