If all goes well, the movie screens at Lexington’s historic Kentucky Theater could again shine brightly starting in December. Mayor Linda Gorton is recommending a local group, Friends of the Kentucky Theater, manage the 99-year-old Main Street mainstay. It would be operated as a non-profit with an emphasis on memberships, individual and corporate giving, and grants. Longtime Kentucky Theater Manager Fred Mills said it’s nice to be asked to be part of the re-opening of the theater into a new phase of life. “I don’t think that there was lots of people beating down the door wanting to take on this challenge and, fortunately, they were here to do this and so it’s exciting,” said Mills.
Friends Co-Chair Lisa Meek said attracting young visitors to the Kentucky will be important. She noted musical events may be one way to do that. Friends Co-Chair Hayward Wilkerson said Lexington is ripe for an international film festival. He added an additional small screening room could help attract young patrons. Wilkerson used the example of a kung foo focus to illustrate the point. “We’re probably not going to fill an 800-seat theater with a kung foo festival, but in a small screen room, we could do a month of unusual cult Martial Arts films or any other kind of film that we think might attract young people. Let them become introduced to the Kentucky. Cultivate them to be the next generation,” explained Wilkerson.
Former Vice Mayor Isabel Yates was on hand for the sidewalk announcement. The 96-year-old formed the Friends group in 2012 to raise funds to restore, preserve, and enhance the historic independent cinema. Yates looks forward to returning for Wednesday showings of vintage movies.
The Kentucky went black last October following a major drop in attendance due to coronavirus. The Lexington Council will be asked to approve the management contract.
