Man cave dwellers: Area residents carve out unique retreats / LJWorld.com

Archive for Monday, September 14, 2009

Ken Waldock, left, and Craig Hoffman, a longtime friend of Waldock, enjoy some stories in Waldock’s 4,500-square-foot building full of memorabilia.

By Jon Niccum

September 14, 2009

Photo by Richard Gwin

Ken Waldock’s “man cave," north of Eudora.

Submitted photo

Steve Jack’s “man cave” is filled with his rock memorabilia and collection of 3,000 albums.

Submitted photo

The “Miller Man Cave” of Ken Miller.

When Steve Jack and his wife were building a house north of Lawrence, they agreed he deserved a dedicated room of his own.

“When we sat down to discuss the design, the architect actually called it the ‘rock and roll room’ on the plans,” Jack recalls.

But what Jack knew was really being put forth was a “man cave.”

“It was always my intention that the room have a single voice, so there’s nothing there that isn’t connected somehow to rock and roll and/or radio — except the couch and chairs,” says Jack, a former professional DJ.

“When I go downstairs, I just smile because I’m surrounded by that part of my life that is important.”

First entering the lexicon in the early ’90s, a “man cave” refers to any dedicated area of the house — typically a basement, garage or attic — that a male can call his own.

For the 58-year-old Jack, the room offers the chance to parade the rock memorabilia that had been sitting in boxes and closets. These include displays of all his concert tickets stubs dating back to his first show: The Righteous Brothers in 1966. And it finally provides a spot for his sequential collection of Rolling Stone magazine, which he began accruing in the ’70s.

“I consider it the analog room,” Jack says. “We have the flat-panel TV upstairs. But while there is a CD player, we keep my old speakers, tube TV, Sony turntable and 3,000 albums all there downstairs.”

Variations on a theme

Custom man caves in Lawrence are more pervasive than one might assume. While they often are dedicated to sports teams such as the Jayhawks or Chiefs (the Royals place a distant third), some stray far from the mainstream.

Among those recommended for this article include one crafted to look like a movie theater, including full banks of theater-style seating, a popcorn machine and a ticket counter entrance; another fashioned to look like a Sunday morning hot rod television show, complete with black-and-white checkered floor and a tomato red lift for oil changes.

But the unifying factor of these various caverns is they all represent a place to gather with friends or escape into a solitary sanctuary of manliness.

Among the most elaborate man caves in the area is one belonging to Ken Waldock.

Housed in a 4,500-square-foot building next to his home north of Eudora, Waldock has created a multipurpose man cave that touches on themes of music, sports and automobiles.

“Any time I want to change a theme, I go shopping upstairs in the attic,” he says.

Highlights include gaming tables for pool, bumper pool, foosball, a Bally table hockey game and a 1920s shuffleboard set from the De Soto VFW. There’s a jukebox full of 45s and a full stage with amplifiers and a P.A. system where live bands often perform.

“Plus, there’s more interesting stuff on the walls than T.G.I. Friday’s, Bennigan’s and Applebee’s,” says the 64-year-old retired executive.

Waldock started the man cave in 1993. He frequently allows it and other features of his surrounding property (such as full-size treehouse rooms with heat and AC) to be utilized as a free campground for children.

Central concept

The notion of man caves has proven pervasive enough nationally to launch many Web sites devoted to such enterprises. There’s also a popular program called “Man Caves” on the DIY network where contractors build “a refuge for every guy that makes him fulfilled.”

Locally, Ken Miller decided to center his man cave around his favorite sports teams. But the Lawrence resident says the concept is as important as the particulars.

“From a leisure-time standpoint, it’s the one place where it’s all about what I like most. No high culture, no HGTV, no reality shows. (It’s) sports, ‘Terminator’ movies, occasional adult beverages and loud laughter,” the 46-year-old explains.

The “Miller Man Cave” boasts a 50-inch projection HD set and a pub table with a wireless laptop to follow sports tickers. Most indispensable to the room, Miller says, is his evergreen sectional couch with three built-in recliners “that everyone despises except me.”

Miller adds, “Remember, it’s not the toys that make the man cave, it’s the man.”

Discussion

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14 September 2009
at 9:58 a.m.

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bangaranggerg (Anonymous) says…

Before guys become married wussies these are just called “rooms.”
Man Cave sounds like a homosexual disco bar.
14 September 2009
at 4:27 p.m.

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walter_sobchak (Anonymous) says…

j-e-t-s jets jets jets
14 September 2009
at 4:34 p.m.

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puddleglum (Anonymous) says…

hey, a homodisco bar never hurt anybody.

but I agree, you shouldn't have to 'have' your own room, if you own the house…jeez, what's next? permission from your wife to drink a beer?

btw, if you need to have your own space-then you are not a man, you are just a male…..big dif.
14 September 2009
at 6:10 p.m.

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devobrun (Anonymous) says…

Blogging on this site is a little like a virtual man-cave n'est -ce pas?

I'm goin' fer another beer. Wantone?
14 September 2009
at 6:55 p.m.

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RogueThrill (Anonymous) says…

My entire home is a man cave.

Yeah, it's pretty awesome.
14 September 2009
at 8:28 p.m.

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Made_in_China (Paul R. Getto) says…

Men are bears with furniture.
14 September 2009
at 8:32 p.m.

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password (Anonymous) says…

the “man cave” in Waldock's house looks like he's open for business. reminds me of an old bar back in nw KS where i used to hang out.
http://www2.ljworld.com/photos/2009/s…

14 September 2009
at 9:34 p.m.

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pizzapete (Anonymous) says…

bangaranggerg (Anonymous) says…
Before guys become married wussies these are just called “rooms.”
So true, that's some funny stuff.
14 September 2009
at 10:22 p.m.

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sweetpea (Anonymous) says…

i've been out to the waldock's farm and his place is awesome! really unbelievable that he has collected an amazing amount of memorabilia. better than most bars!
14 September 2009
at 10:42 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Holy Pretentious Cow, Batman!

There is another guy with 3,000 record albums?

And a jukebox?

Wurlitzer rocks!
14 September 2009
at 10:45 p.m.

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Pogo (Anonymous) says…

Do the eunuchs have to ask permission to enter their “man cave”? Are there set hours when it's proper to be able to go to a place in your own darn house?!

How silly…..the entire concept.

What? The rest of the entire house is in the “country” motiff….what with all those kitschy designs and what not? How sorrowful a man's home is no longer his castle….rather he is relagated to a small section of the place and has to ask permission to even enter it….hahahahahahahhahahahahahha……

It don't work like THAT in THIS castle……what's mine is mine…..if Ma don't like it….she can go to downtown Lawrence and get all the kitsch she wants…..she don't even have to ask permission from me……but don't bring that crud back to the castle….PLEASE……hahahahahahhahaa
14 September 2009
at 10:53 p.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

Pogo (Anonymous) says…

Do the eunuchs have to ask permission to enter their “man cave”? ”

Marion writes:

A eunuch in a Man Cave?

yeah, right
14 September 2009
at 11:27 p.m.

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Multidisciplinary (Anonymous) says…

pizzapete (Anonymous) says…

bangaranggerg (Anonymous) says…
Before guys become married wussies these are just called “rooms.”
So true, that's some funny stuff.
—
Kinda right there and kinda not.
Some guys are just wussies, no matter if they are married or not.
And some married women, don't frill up a place,just keep it nice.. it's both their homes, no “special” rooms needed.

For 14 years, I had my own 4 drawer wooden 4 ft high chest of 'clean tools' (no black grime worries when you set them down, hands stay clean) for house work, drills, wrench sets, dremel, etc., because when you need to grab a quick tool, who the heck wants to run all the way out around the cars, or to the basement for a 2 minutes fix in a hurry. A jar with a chain saw blade in oil beside the sink for a few weeks because things got busy, and the house didn't cave in.

Oh, and the battery chargers for the drills? Were on the same couple of strips on the office table with the computers, etc.
Now it's just outside the kitchen, next room around the corner. And it has a peg board over it, plus shelves.

On the other hand..we might have to have separate rooms for tv's..he might not like Gary Oldman, Billy Bob or Jean Reno as much as I do.

Anyone want some mustard on those biscuits?

:)
14 September 2009
at 11:55 p.m.

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porch_person (Anonymous) says…

I agree, Marion. 3000 vinyl rules. Vinyl has so much better sound. Good amp, good speakers, good turntable, good beer.

Priceless.

Wonder what he's got in that collection.
15 September 2009
at 2:22 a.m.

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Marion (Marion Lynn) says…

How about a Jim Morrison autographed Doors album?

Bing Crosby?

Kingston Trio?

Warren Zevon autographed singles?

Perry Como?

Broureman and O'Rouke?

Brewer And Shipley; first edtion, signed?

Lettermen, signed by the original group?

And the Holy Freaking Grail, signed by my freind, Jan Berry.

R.I.P., Jan.

We will never, ever forget you.

yeah

more

15 September 2009
at 11:55 a.m.

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Pywacket (Anonymous) says…

How ironic! The biggest and most insecure protesters of the concept are (you guessed it) the neanderthals.

FYI, having an entire room as a retreat is not a new concept. This is just a new spin on an old idea. Your grandpa never had a den? Grandma didn't have a sewing room? None of the older folks in your family ever made the kitchen or the garage their personal sanctum?

If you don't get it, great. But don't feel threatened—the big bad man caves won't come and swallow you up in your sleep. You can keep on backhanding Ma when she gets above herself and the neighbors will go on pretending they don't hear, 'cuz they wouldn't want a neighborhood shooting incident or slashed tires like last time they complained. Wussies, indeed.

And who in the entire planet still has the nauseating “country kitsch” decor so prevalent in the 80s? I seriously doubt that's what the man cavers are getting away from.
15 September 2009
at 12:03 p.m.

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The_Original_Bob (Anonymous) says…

“Before guys become married wussies these are just called “rooms.”
Man Cave sounds like a homosexual disco bar.”

Definately sounds like a place that requires aszless chaps.