This charming and witty illustration of a penguin orchestra is everything we love about vintage menu art. But we couldn’t figure out – penguins and Kansas City?

The clue is that this was the front cover of the Hotel Continental’s after-theatre menu. People would have gone to see a show, dressed in their best, and arrived at the restaurant to see members of the orchestra in black tie - otherwise known as penguin suits. There was dancing till 1am.

The Hotel Continental, which opened in 1938, was a 22-storey luxury hotel owned and operated at Eleventh and Baltimore in Kansas City until 1983.

This historic building is now called the Mark Twain Tower and will house luxury apartments when the renovation project is completed. 

Courtesy Private Collection.