A MIDI Sequencer Computer, to be installed as part of this project, will allow recording and playback of actual theatre organists and their concert performances. Recorded tracks from the concert performances will be archived, selected and played back via the MIDI Sequencer between movies shown in the theater, an experience unavailable anywhere in the state of Kentucky.

Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer-Theatre Organ Project, Inc. (KMW-TOP, Inc) continues to provide annual programs to showcase the theatre organ, the era of the silent film, and the historic Kentucky Theatre. The following is a brief history of public events offered in several locations in Lexington, Kentucky:

December 1995, KMW-TOP, Inc. provided an electronic organ and Jim Barton, theatre organist, Ohio Valley Chapter of the American Theatre Organ Society, for use in the Library of Congress National Film Tour at the Kentucky Theater. Two silent films, Sunrise and Within our Gates, were presented with electronic organ accompaniment. These films represented the first silent films with organ accompaniment in the Kentucky Theater since July of 1928.

February 14, 1999, KMW-TOP, Inc presented the Kings of Instruments concert at the Singletary Center for the Arts in Lexington. The concert featured renowned theatre organist Tom Hazleton, performing on the Center’s 5/90 Moller classical organ and an Allen MDS-317 digital theatre organ in the 1500 seat concert hall. This event was recorded and is offered for sale on the website.

April 27, 2000, KMW-TOP, Inc celebrated the Golden Age of the Kentucky Theater with a series of events in honor of the 1922 historic theater in downtown Lexington. Organist Jim Barton provided silent accompaniments and concerts during the daylong celebration. Approximately 1,100 middle school students enjoyed two programs featuring the silent Laurel & Hardy classic Liberty and a short theatre organ concert. Later that evening, the celebration concluded with D. W. Griffith’s classic Broken Blossoms with theatre organ accompaniment, followed with a wonderful concert. A George Wright "Signature Series" GW319 Allen digital theatre organ was used for the programs.

October 3, 2003, the Kentucky Theatre was honored with a month-long 81st Anniversary Celebration. Woody Crouch and Tim Jones provided a series of Friday and Saturday evening mini-concerts on the Rodgers Trio electronic theatre organ. On October 30th Jim Barton entertained middle school students with a single program featuring a short theatre organ concert, demonstrations of actual theatre pipework and equipment, followed by Buster Keaton in The Haunted House. Later that evening, theatre patrons were entertained by Jim Barton performing a concert of popular music, followed by a double-feature of classic silents with Buster Keaton in The Haunted House, and Lon Chaney and Joan Crawford in The Unknown.

Since the October 2003 event, mini-concerts continue each Friday evening by KMW-TOP, Inc Board Members Woody Crouch, Tim Jones and Dean McCleese at Kentucky Theatre.

During October 2004, the Kentucky Theater was honored with a month-long 82nd Anniversary Celebration with Woody Crouch, Tim Jones and Dean McLeese providing Friday and Saturday evening mini-concerts on the Rodgers Trio electronic theatre organ. The main event was conducted on Thursday evening, October 28th with Jim Barton performing a mini-concert of popular music, followed by a double-feature of classic silents with Buster Keaton in The Haunted House, and a new print of F.W. Murnau’s silent classic Nosferatu.

On October 4, 2005 the Kentucky Theatre was honored with a special evening celebration of its 83rd Anniversary with Jim Barton accompanying Harold Lloyd’s An Eastern Westerner and Buster Keaton’s The General. KMW-TOP, Inc board members Tim Jones and Dean McCleese provided 30-minute prelude and postlude, respectively. David Bottom, KMW-TOP, Inc Vice-president and Tim Jones demonstrated a technical demonstration of the 1922 Wurlitzer Toy Counter’s traps and effects, and various Wurlitzer pipework. The evening was a truly an exceptional evening of family entertainment featuring two fabulous silent pictures, presented the way they were meant to be, with live theatre organ accompaniment.

In mid-September 2007, the Rodgers Trio electronic theatre organ was sold to a local theatre organ enthusiast.  Dr. John W. Landon has graciously loaned Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer a Conn 2-Manual electronic theatre organ with two Leslie Tone Cabinets for use in the Kentucky Theatre until the 3/18 Mighty Wurlitzer is fully restored and reinstalled in the historic Kentucky Theatre, its original home!  Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer continues to use this instrument for the 30-minute pre-show concerts before the Friday evening feature picture and other performance needs throughout the year as requested by the Kentucky Theatre Group, Inc.  Dr. Landon is generally at the Conn console each Friday evening, concluding his concerts with a “My Old Kentucky Home” sing-a-long.

Since 2001, Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer, has entertained and often thrilled audiences with 30-minute concerts on the Conn Theatre Organ during the Summer Classics Film Series, which typically runs from Mid-May until Mid-September.  Organists include Dr. John W. Landon at the console for the matinee pictures; with Dean McCleese, Brian Hunt and Tim Jones at the console, 30-minutes prior to the evening feature pictures.   The concerts conclude with the audience standing and singing our state song “My Old Kentucky Home” by Stephen Foster.  For those who know only the chorus or some of the lyrics to our beautiful State Song, you can pick-up a Drop-A-Note Flyer with the lyrics printed on the reverse side, is available at the Kentucky Theatre’s concessions stand.