On October 2, 1987 an arsonist’s fire in an adjacent storefront restaurant caused significant interior smoke damage to both the Kentucky Theatre (1922) and the adjacent State Theatre (1929), resulting in their shuttering. Public interest to reopen the Kentucky Theatre was evident by the large number of petitions circulated to preserve the theatre. After two years of discussions, the local government purchased the theatre and renovation was begun without the inclusion of the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in the project. This renovation precluded the return of the theatre’s Mighty Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ into its original locations within the theatre. Refer to the Kentucky Theatre History tab on our website for detailed information and photographs of the Kentucky Theatre.

The inception of this project began when David Bottom and Bill Johnson placed the Kentucky Theater’s Mighty Wurlitzer console on display in the Lost Lexington Exhibition at the Lexington Public Library in June 1993. Lexington architect and Historic Preservation Commissioner, Steve Brown who would become a founder and President of Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer-Theatre Organ Project, Inc discovered it.
This exhibition of some of Lexington’s historical artifacts and memorabilia instilled a justifiable and rightful purpose to return this wondrous musical instrument, long silent from the Golden Age of the Movie Palace, to its original Kentucky Theater home.

The Wurlitzer Restoration Committee was established in August 1993 to investigate the feasibility of returning this theatre organ to its original Kentucky Theater home. This Committee, consisting of private citizens and representatives from the University of Kentucky, the Kentucky Theatre Group, Inc., Lexington Fayette Urban-County Government and Historic Preservation Commission explored options to develop a viable proposal to restore, preserve and operate the 3/14 Wurlitzer, three manual fourteen rank (sets of pipes) theatre organ in the theater. Several proposals were developed and presented to Mayor Pam Miller for review, approval and selection. This project is based upon the auditorium side chamber locations approved by the mayor in November 1995.

Kentucky’s Mighty Wurlitzer - Theatre Organ Project, Inc. (KMW-TOP, Inc), a "not for profit" corporation, was established April 1994 to accomplish this project without cost to the taxpayers, the LFUCG or the University of Kentucky. The Internal Revenue Service granted 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt status in July 1995. KMW-TOP, Inc is managed by an all-volunteer group of dedicated individuals consisting of President, Vice-president, Secretary, Treasurer and an eleven-member board of directors. The corporation has six-standing committees, including; Education, Programs, Restoration and Maintenance, Public Relations, Fundraising; and an Advisory Committee. To assist with community liaison and project development, a group of prominent citizens serve on the Keyboard.