JOHN CHAMBERLAIN AND ROY LICHTENSTEIN SAVE MAX'S FROM BANKRUPTCY
After years of allowing it's starving artist patrons to buy food and drinks on credit Max's Kansas City was nearly bankrupt. In 1971, Mickey Ruskin appealed to his art celebrity clientele for help with his massive debt.
Painters like John Chamberlain and Roy Lichtenstein came to the rescue by auctioning their artwork to pay Mickey's debts. They eventually became part owners. This bold move on Ruskin's part was coined the "Chickpea Conspiracy."
In a sense, Max's is literally the house that art built...or at least saved.