| The restoration and reinstallation of the Kentucky Theatre’s Wurlitzer theatre organ will ensure the preservation, public education and increase awareness of the historical tradition of the theatre organ, the silent era of motion pictures, and the movie palace venue. This will be accomplished through regularly scheduled public performances of this significant musical instrument between movies; through a subscription concert series and other silent film festival events in the theater. This theater organ project will bring a significant new cultural enrichment to Lexington, Kentucky and the region.
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.
In mid August 2001, KMW-TOP, Inc purchased a 1981 vintage Rodgers Trio three-manual electronic theatre organ for installation in the theatre. This purchase was underwritten by Fred and Jay Wightman of Lexington, KY and has allowed continued use of a theatre organ |
