The Kentucky Theatre, constructed in 1921, was designed and constructed prior to the fanciful and more exotic architectural influences popularized by prestigious theatre architects Rapp & Rapp, John Eberson and Thomas Lamb. The Kentucky Theatre remains as Lexington’s largest and sole-surviving grand movie theatre from the Golden Age (1920-32). It has operated as a motion picture venue since it opened on October 4, 1922.

The Lafayette Amusement Company, incorporated in December 1921 by Michael Switow, Fred Levy and other local businessmen chose to build a new “palatial” theatre on a leased-site adjacent to the recently completed 12-story Lafayette Hotel (1919) on East Main Street. Harry Switow from Louisville was the superintendent of construction and moved to Lexington to oversee the project. Designers for the Kentucky Theatre were the prominent Louisville firm of Joseph & Joseph Architects. The firm was also responsible for the design of the Strand Theatre (1915) in downtown Lexington and the Rialto Theatre (1921) in downtown Louisville. The Kentucky Theatre’s construction cost was approximately $250,000, excluding land cost.

KY Theatre 1927

The three-story exterior façade, one of Main Street’s most elaborate, contains glazed brick with ornamented terra cotta tile. A series of arched windows embellish the third story and are flanked with cartouches and keystone shields linked with terra cotta garlands. Most of the architectural detailing remains in tack, though some terra cotta areas have been painted. The original pressed metal marquee from 1922 was replaced in the late 1940’s with the present “modern” style with neon letters and movie title display areas.

The interior of the theatre, originally seating 1276, could best be described as Italian Renaissance with “Adamesque” influences. The ceiling area contained elaborately detailed plaster beams, panels, and three art-glass domes and eight oval bowl-shaped art-glass ceiling light fixtures. The proscenium opening and sound-board were detailed with plaster urns and garlands; alternating fleur de lys and tobacco plants; and large circular grilles featuring additional swags, garlands and cherubs flanking a central crest. The organ grilles, usually containing the most elaborate of a theatre’s interior detail, were understated and consisted of draperies between twisted-columns flanking the tone openings. The Kentucky Theatre as built in 1922 had a recessed orchestra pit and organ console lift, full stage with wings and fly-loft space. However, it had no dressing rooms for actors or performers!

The Kentucky Theater opened its palatial doors on October 4, 1922, to an awaiting public anxious to view the city’s newest motion picture theatre. Governor Edwin P. Morrow gave the grand opening address and assisted in the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” with the house orchestra and the $25,000 Wurlitzer “Symphonic” theatre organ. The feature picture was “The Eternal Flame” with Norma Tallmadge and Adolphe Menjou with organ accompaniment by Haden Read at the console.

H. Haden Read, previously a traveling theatre organ demonstrator for the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, was employed at the Rialto Theatre (1921) for a short period of time before coming to Lexington as chief organist at the Kentucky Theatre. He was immensely popular, both in Louisville and Lexington, as a theatre organist who enthralled his audiences with his accompaniment and concerts. Mr. Read was influential with the Wurlitzer Company’s specifications for the instrument to be installed in the Kentucky Theatre. This original 2/8 instrument, opus 562, was Wurlitzer’s first Style “F” with a two-manual paneled console, eight ranks of pipes, and a toy counter with traps and effects to accompany the pictures. This theatre pipe organ twice received enlargements by the Wurlitzer Company, becoming a 3/14 by January 1926. Purportedly, becoming the largest theatre pipe organ in the South at the time!
In February 1927, an announcement was made that the Kentucky Theatre would be equipped for “talkies” to “beat out” its competition. On April 24, 1927, the Kentucky theatre became one of the first fifty theatres in the nation to present Warner Brothers new “vitaphone” sound. This new “sound” for motion pictures consisted of a large format phonograph, mechanically linked and sequenced with the film loaded the projector. The resulting sound was amplified through speakers located behind the screen. Ironically, this new sound accompaniment and the devastating storm flooding of June 1928 brought an end to the voice of the Mighty Wurlitzer in the Kentucky Theatre.

The historic theatre’s interior has suffered from several renovations. A “southern colonial” renovation, as described by Box Office Magazine (November 1958), removed significant portions of the interior plaster ornament. The auditorium was repainted in a light-gray monochromatic scheme and a new wide-screen installed, along with new draperies masking all of the proscenium ornamentation. In 1965, the large 36-ft diameter art-glass ceiling dome was removed. The eight oval bowl-shaped art-glass ceiling light fixtures have also been removed.

An arsonist’s fire in an adjacent storefront restaurant on October 2, 1987 caused significant interior smoke damage to the theatre, resulting in its shuttering. Public interest to reopen the 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 began efforts to fund renovation with $1.2 million and launched a campaign to sell seats for $200 each. Renovation was begun without the inclusion of the Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ in the project, which languished in storage at the University of Kentucky!

By December of 1990, portions of the theatre’s exterior and adjacent storefronts had been renovated and the marquee’s fanciful lights were turned on for Christmas Eve. Several critical funding issues were resolved allowing renovation to be completed. With the theatre building owned by the local government, a management contract was required for the theatre’s ongoing daily operations. Howard Stovall, Analy Scorsone and Fred Mills established the Kentucky Theatre Group, Inc., which was in place and ready to go when the Kentucky Theatre reopened on April 11, 1992.

The Kentucky Theatre is the surviving edifice of the Golden Age of the Movie Palace in Lexington, having featured local premiers of Gone with the Wind, the Sound Of Music and other first run movies. In the early 1980’s it hosted the first midnight movie series, featuring Blazing Saddles, A Clockwork Orange and the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show. It also featured repertory format of art-house films, which changed each week.

Today the theatre is a bustling place of activities, offering two screens, which include the renovated State Theatre (1929), next door; showcasing first run features and art films; in addition to the popular Troubadour Concert Series and the regular Monday evening Woodsong’s Old Time Radio Hour. The Kentucky Theatre remains THE place of choice for theatre patrons desiring to experience a movie “the way it was meant to be” in a palace of splendor.

Soon, the Mighty Wurlitzer’s return to its original historic home will restore the theatre’s heart and soul, and Bring the Music Back to Main Street! You can assist KMW-TOP, Inc’s efforts to return its remarkable 3/18 Wurlitzer theatre pipe organ to its rightful home by making a tax-deductible donation. Donation opportunities are listed in the “Be an Organ Donor” stop tab on our website homepage.