More than just a movie house
The Kentucky Theatre is a familiar Landmark to generations of Lexingtonians.
It's richly ornamented walls and glowing stained glass fixtures have hosted
gala events and entertained overflowing crowds. They have also endured
hard times and disasters, both natural and manmade. And so it stands today,
a true palace of memories, a hall full of comedy, tragedy, drama, adventure,
and just plain fun.
We hope you enjoy this brief look at her history and join us soon to
continue the tradition by making some memories of your own.
October, 1921
Construction plans announced
The Builder, Lafayette Amusement Company, offered $20 in gold to name
Lexington's "palatial new photoplay house". The winner, of course, was
the "Kentucky."
Early architectural rendering (courtesy, Henry Saggs)
October 4, 1922
The Premier
The luxury, comfort, and elegance of hand painted murals, plush carpeting,
indirect lighting, marble floors, and a "modern ventilation system" were
among the features promoted to compete with other larger and already well-established
theaters in town.
The opening program began with a musical overture played on the Wurlitzer
Unit Orchestra organ. This was followed by an audience rendition of "My
Old Kentucky Home" led by a city commissioner, while lyrics were projected
on the screen. Governor Edwin P. Morrow delivered a dedication speech
and then the movie program itself commenced: a short comedic parody of
Valentino's The Sheik, a newsreel, and Norma Talmadge in a historical
romance entitled The Eternal Flame.
Special "Kentucky Theatre Section" in the Lexington
Herald (courtesy, the Lexington Herald-Leader)
Kentucky Theatre inner lobby (courtesy, University of
Kentucky Photo Archives)
Kentucky Theatre auditorium (courtesy, University of
Kentucky Photo Archives)
1920's
Programs & Promotions
Throughout most of the 20's the theater's program changed twice weekly,
and return engagements were rare. Continuous shows ran from 11:00 a.m.
to 11:00 p.m. except on Sundays when shows began at 1:00 p.m. Prices were
10 cents for children and 25 or 30 cents for adults.
Intense competition with Lexington's four other nearby movie theaters
often called for elaborate promotions. The goal was to encourage citizens
to develop the habit of attending twice a week.
A promotional display - and shoe ad (courtesy, University
of Kentucky Photo Archives)
April 24, 1927
Enter the "talkies"
In a major marketing coup, the Kentucky was the first to introduce Warner
Brothers' vitaphone sound films to Lexington.
Publicity stunt for an early "talkie" featuring
The Marx Brothers (courtesy, University of Kentucky Photo Archives)
April 20, 1929
The State Theatre Opens
With the success of the Kentucky, the Lafayette Amusement Company opened
a second theater right next door. The 950 seat State Theatre, with a 200
seat racially segregated balcony, was decorated in an "old Spain" motif.
It's second-run features and lower ticket prices allowed it to complement
rather than compete with the Kentucky.
Six months later both theaters were signed to a twenty year lease by
Publix Theaters Corporation, a subsidiary of Paramount studios.
The original State Theatre auditorium (courtesy, University of Kentucky
Photo Archives)
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