UPDATE: Second ‘Posters and Popcorn’ sale to help reopen The Kentucky Theatre
The fundraiser was held Saturday, December 4 from 10 A.M. to 2 P.M.
UPDATED STORY POSTED DECEMBER 4, 2021 AT 7:15 P.M.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Kentucky Theatre’s first ‘Posters and Popcorn’ sale was so popular, the Friends of the Kentucky Theatre decided to host another one to continue to fundraise.
Saturday, the ‘Posters and Popcorn’ sale was held during Lexington’s Christmas Parade.
“Our sale three weeks ago was a huge success. We raised around $14,000 in four hours. We have several hundred posters left and we knew the parade was today so we thought, ‘why not open the Theatre again?'” said Friends of the Kentucky Theatre co-chair Hayward Wilkerson.
Wilkerson says he and the Friends of the Kentucky are looking to raise about $100,000 to re-open.
“Part of that is to replace some equipment, part of that is we have some issues with our projection system,” said Wilkerson, “and then we want to have a little bit of reserve. People love the Kentucky, they want it to re-open. The reality though is because of COVID, I think people will be a little slow coming back to the theatre. It might be spring or summer before we see the numbers we’re used to. We need a little reserve in the bank to get us through those lean times.”
According to Wilkerson, part of The Kentucky Theatre delaying its opening is due to supply chain issues: The Kentucky Theatre is awaiting replacement projection equipment.
The posters for sale were all from The Kentucky Theatre’s collection. Wilkerson estimates the theatre found about 1,000 posters from the 1990s to present day, inspiring the Friends of the Kentucky Theatre to hold the fundraising events.
“I think the Kentucky is home to a lot of people. And I think everybody feels at home here. Almost any walk of life, it’s welcoming to anybody….they can come here to this modest building but you can travel the world with the films that the Kentucky shows,” said Wilkerson.
Wilkerson says The Kentucky Theatre hopes to re-open in January of 2022, but it’s possible The Kentucky Theatre will be able to open close to Christmas to show a few films.
ORIGINAL STORY POSTED NOVEMBER 10, 2021 AT 8:17 A.M.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (WTVQ) – The Kentucky Theatre continues to fundraise to reopen after temporarily shutting down in 2020, in part, due to the pandemic.
The theatre is hosting a ‘Posters & Popcorn’ sale on Saturday, November 20th from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
According to The Kentucky Theatre, dozens of old movie posters and popcorn will be available for purchase with 100% of the proceeds going back to reopening efforts.
Right now, the theatre has raised around $18,500 of its’ $55,000 goal.
You can also donate online HERE or by texting MYKENTUCKY TO 202-858-1233.
The nonprofit ‘Friends of Kentucky Theatre’ has been working to reopen the historic downtown venue. Read more HERE.
