Grand Theatre

Frankfort, KY

308 St. Clair Street

, Frankfort, KY 40601 United States

(map)

502.319.4763

Status:	Closed/Renovating
Screens:	Single Screen
Style:	Art Moderne

Function:	Community Arts Center
Seats:	433
Chain:	Unknown

Architect:	Unknown
Firm:	Unknown

The Grand Theatre was one of five theaters that operated in historic downtown Frankfort, Kentucky, between the mid 1800's and the 1970's,and it is the only one still existing with its theater configuration intact. The larger and more elegant Capitol Theatre was torn down in the 1970's and the other three theaters were permanently converted into office space. The Grand was originally built in 1911 as a small (135 seat) vaudeville house. Silent movies were also shown, and in the late 1920's, the theater was wired for "talkies".

In 1940, the Grand went through a significant transformation. A new 600 seat theater was added to the back of the original theater which became the entrance and. The renovation was done moderne style, popular at the time, and the Grand Theatre was operated as a movie theater by Chakeres until it closed in 1966. Since closing, the property has been used for a variety of commercial purposes, the most recent being real estate offices and an auction center.

On January 12, 2005, a nonprofit group, Save the Grand Theatre, Inc., purchased the property with the purpose of renovating the Grand into a multi-purpose community arts center. Until the $3.7 million is raised to complete renovation, the existing space will be used for a variety of arts progamming and fundraising.

Related Websites

Save the Grand Theatre (Official)

Contributed by Michael Greer

YOUR COMMENTS

Here is a recent photo of the Grand Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Jul 11, 2007 at 9:03am

This is a more recent photo of the Grand Theater.

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 25, 2007 at 4:15pm

Here is an article about the restoration.

posted by Lost Memory on Jan 31, 2008 at 7:34am

The Grand is slated to re-open in 2009 as a performing arts center.
http://www.downtownfrankfort.com/

posted by ken mc on Jun 28, 2008 at 10:06am

This is a May 2009 article. The theater could open in September.

posted by Lost Memory on Jun 13, 2009 at 4:47pm

Looks like the Grand is open. Website

posted by Lost Memory on Sep 19, 2009 at 4:07pm

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3998382193/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3999146648/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyum/3999148146/

posted by Wallyum on Oct 10, 2009 at 9:40pm

The March 15, 1941, issue of Boxoffice ran an item announcing the closing of the Grand for remodeling, describing the plan to build a new theater behind the existing building and convert the former auditorium into a lobby. Manager Gene Lutes said the house would be closed for about three months.

posted by Joe Vogel on Oct 10, 2009 at 11:45pm

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