Fans of Lexington’s Kentucky Theater who have noticed aging seats, time-worn carpeting and the need for a fresh coat of paint will have an opportunity to support efforts to renovate and update the historic downtown film venue.
“Friends of the Kentucky Theater,” a non-profit citizens group co-chaired by former Lexington Vice Mayor Isabel Yates and Steve Grossman, held a press conference in the theater lobby to announce an effort to raise $1.5 million to pay for renovations and installation of new digital film and sound equipment.
Fred Mills, the theater’s longtime manager and a downtown fixture, speculated that changes in technology will soon outdate the theater’s projector and sound system.
“We’re thinking that probably sometime in 2013 that we’re going to get a call from a film company and they’re going to say as such and such a date, we’re not going to make film any more. (We) don’t know exactly when this is going to happen, probably one film company is waiting for the other one to do this. Once a film company – if it is Paramount or Warners or Universal – once they make this announcement, probably all the others will immediately follow suit.”
The renovation plan, overseen by project manager Harold Tate, calls for a $250,000 investment in new digital equipment.
Seating and carpeting in the theater have endured 20-years of 365-day-year traffic and would be replaced at an estimated cost of $530,000.
Many light fixtures need to be replaced and lighting would be updated to accommodate more efficient LED bulbs. The group estimates that cost at $500,000.
The plan includes refurbishing the theater’s iconic marquee. Many of the bulbs cannot be replaced because they are no longer manufactured, and much of the neon tubing needs to be replaced. The estimated cost for marquee is $75,000.
Plaster in the theater lobby is in need of attention and the entire theater needs a paint-job, estimated to cost $25,000.
An updated, upgraded concession stand would require an investment of about $35,000.
The city recently announced plans to create a theater district that would encompass the Kentucky Theater. The proposal calls for a multi-screen cineplex atop the Lextran Transit Center garage, one block south of the Kentucky Theater.
“They’re talking about a 6-plex – well, we already have 16-plexes (at suburban malls) and at those 16-plexes you have numerous restaurants and stores and everything, so there’s got to be more over here (along the lines of shopping and dining),” said Mills.
It was not known if there are plans to leverage any development of a theater district to benefit the Kentucky.
Tate said the renovations being proposed do not currently extend to the adjacent State Theater.
A charitable fund has been established with Bluegrass Community Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) to track contributions and expenditures for the Kentucky’s makeover. Contributions made payable to “Friends of Kentucky Theater” can be mailed to the foundation at 250 W. Main St., No. 1220, Lexington, KY 40507 or online at www.bgcf.org.
The Kentucky Theater held its grand opening on Oct. 4, 1922. A 90th Birthday Celebration event is planned for Oct. 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Visit www.www.kentuckytheater.com for more information on events scheduled at the Kentucky Theater in October.