Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center
300 E. 3rd Street,
Lexington,
KY
40508
300 E. 3rd Street,
Lexington,
KY
40508
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Lyric Theatre, Lexington (Official)
Additional Info
Functions: Concerts, Movies (Classic), Performing Arts
Styles: Art Deco
Previous Names: Lyric Theatre
Phone Numbers:
Box Office:
859.280.2201
Nearby Theaters
The Art Deco style of the 924-seat Lyric Theatre and it’s marquee lit up the corner of E. 3rd Street and Elm Tree Lane at its opening on December 14, 1948.
A leading entertainment center in the African-American community, the Lyric Theatre hosted first-run films, black films and entertainers like The Temptations, Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, The Ink Spots, and Redd Foxx.
The Lyric Theatre’s decline began with the integration of Lexington’s other theatres and it closed in 1963.
The property became part of a dispute between a private owner and Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, which sought to condemn it in order to bring the property into the public domain and restore it to usefulness in the community.
The Lyric Theatre is not listed in the Film Daily Yearbook, 1941 (main list) but it is listed in the ‘Negro Theatres’ section. It is listed in the FDY, 1950 in both the main list and ‘Negro Theatres’ section.
The Lyric Theatre was reopened as a performing arts center on October 30, 2010.
Contributed by
Lost Memory, KenRoe
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Recent comments (view all 7 comments)
Here is an anti-renovation viewpoint:
http://tinyurl.com/cw4cw9
The Lyric Theatre officially opens tomorrow: View link
Functions should also include: Movies (classic)
The Notable Kentucky African Americans Database says this of the Lyric Theatre (about 1/3 of the way down this web page under the heading “Early African American Theaters in Lexington, KY”):
According to the trade press and local paper, A. Edward Campbell opened the new Lyric Theatre on December 14, 1948 with a film and festivities to African American audiences likely on a 15-year lease. The booth had two Motiograph Model AA projectors, Motiongraph Mirrorphnic sound with Altec Lansing speakers, and Radiant Perfold screen. It also had a cry room. The theatre’s entertainment included second-run double features, first-run and second-run African American films including Sack Amusement titles, and live musical acts. It closed at the end of its 15-year lease awaiting its 21st Century redevelopment.
Lyric theatre history
The name of the theatre is currently the Lyric Theatre and Cultural Arts Center. There are now 540 seats in the auditorium, an African American culture museum, a rotating gallery, and an additional multi-purpose room for events. They are also screening the Lyric Black Lens Film Series and Woodsongs, Old Time Radio Hour.