The Grand Effort to Save The Grand Theatre

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    Saving the Grand Theatre is a historic preservation project whose time has finally come. One of five theaters operated between the mid 1800s and the 1970s in what is now Historic Downtown, the Grand is the only theater remaining with its theater configuration still intact.

    Built in 1911 as a 135-seat vaudeville house, the Grand added motion-picture entertainment first with silent movies and then “talkies.” In 1941, under the ownership of Chakeres Theatres, the Grand was converted to a then-modern 680-seat movie theatre. It boasted the first air conditioning system, which used ice to cool water and produce a cold mist carried through pipes.

    The Grand Theatre was closed in 1966, and since then, the building has served a variety of commercial purposes. By 1980 when Jim Morris purchased the building to house his real estate office, it had already undergone many changes. Fortunately, the auditorium’s added drop ceiling served to preserve the entire upstairs, where the balcony, corridor and bathrooms remained intact.

    In 1983, market research for another downtown project noted Frankfort’s need for additional evening entertainment to attract tourists. At that time, the first effort to raise restoration funds began, but the goal went unmet. Renovation talks resurfaced in 1990 but failed to take off.

    Finally in 2000 Frankfort artists Carol Combs and Sallie Clay Lanham, and then Downtown Frankfort, Inc. executive director Rebecca Horn Turner revived the idea of preserving the Grand Theatre as a downtown arts venue. The group asked Mike Greer to organize the nonprofit Save The Grand Theatre, Inc. Greer, a Frankfort resident interested in the arts, served as president. Bill Cull—who had led the original 1983 effort—became president in 2005 and still serves today. Charles Stewart, Fontaine “Chip” Banks, Ed Stodola and Joanna Hay serve on the board. An additional dedicated force is made up of more than 100 volunteers.

    Save The Grand inaugurated two annual branded events—the Taste of Frankfort in 2002 and the 225-mile bicycle ride across Kentucky known as GABRAKY (Grand Autumn Bike Ride Across Kentucky) in 2004. The group also co-sponsored the Capital Seats project with the Capital Area Art Guild. Area artists created art benches that were sponsored and sold,raising  $30,000 for the theatre.

    Although the group had some initial fundraising success, including a grant from the City of Frankfort, purchasing the theatre from Jim Morris in 2005 was the beginning of the strategy that propelled the project forward. “We bought the building and started having events,” said Cull. “Of course, we had to do some nominal renovation to have even a limited number of people in the building. A Renaissance on Main grant paid for the reproduction of the theatre’s original marquee that had been removed in the late 1960s.”

    Spring 2005 brought The Grand Awakening. It was a full week of successful fundraising events that also won a $25,000 commitment from then-Governor Ernie Fletcher.

    In early 2006, after extensive expensive renovations, the Grand received an occupancy permit for up to 200 people. This would now allow for ongoing events that the Save The Grand group hoped would provide funds needed for the full restoration.

    Cull said the 2006 season—with 36 events and nearly 7,000 paid admissions—was a spectacular success. “We had everything from Bluegrass music to films such as ‘Some Like It Hot’ to children’s theatre.” A number of influential legislators attended these events, resulting in the Kentucky General Assembly’s appropriating $488,000 for the project. The funds were used to buy an adjacent building sorely needed for back-of-house facilities such as dressing rooms, prop and costume storage, green rooms and administrative offices.

    The Grand Theatre’s next big break followed soon after the 2006 season success. The Franklin County Fiscal Court voted to levy a two-percent hotel room tax to support the restoration. From there, the Save The Grand group bid the work, requested the bonds to finance the project, awarded the construction contract and began renovation. 

    Scheduled to open in fall 2009, the Grand Theatre will be a $5-million 414-seat performing and visual arts theatre that’s state of the art in every way, including wiring for closed circuit TV.

    At last, Frankfort residents and their children will have cultural opportunities right in their own downtown. Schools and daycares will have a local destination for cultural field trips. The Grand almost certainly will be a center for social engagement as well as a venue for civic participation and education.

    An exciting turn of events for the Grand Theatre’s 2009 opening season was recently announced. The Grand will be one of the venues for the Alltech Fortnight Festival, which is two weeks of entertainment events sponsored by Alltech in conjunction with the 2010 World Equestrian Games. “But Alltech is getting the Festival off the ground a year early in the fall of 2009,” Cull said. “Then, for the Games in 2010, we expect to offer even more high-level entertainment.” For more information, visit www.SaveTheGrand.org.

Art Galleries

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DeSpain Studio and Gallery
329 West Boardway
502-352-2717

Capital Gallery of Contemporary Art
314 Lewis Street
223-2649

LeRoy Art Gallery
333 W. Broadway
502-223-9946

Arts Organizations Bluegrass Theatre Guild
Contact Sally Jump at 502-695-5830.
www.bluegrass-theatreguild.org
A non-profit musical community theater dedicated to educating and entertaining. Founded in 1982, the Guild produces musicals, sponsors theater trips and workshops, and performs for schools, conventions, civic clubs and festivals. Participation is open to those who are interested.

Capital Area Art Guild
Contact Sallie Clay Lanham, 502-695-4472.  lanham@dcr.net
An organization of local artists which promotes public knowledge and
appreciation of the visual arts. The Guild sponsors educational activities
through art exhibits and provides technique demonstrations at monthly
meetings. Other activities include work shops, art classes, and art appreciation for all ages. The Guild brings together people with an interest in art.

Capital Camera Club
Contact William Adams at 502-331-0159 billybones@bardstown.com
Monthly meetings with guest speakers and member photo competitions.

Capital City Chorale, Inc.
Contact Ethel Lee at 502-227-2073
A community chorus under the direction of Gary Johnson.  The Chorale consists of forty to fifty adults who are interested in keeping in touch with vocal performance skills.  The group presents several concerts each year using a wide variety of music. 

Family Summer Concert Series
Contact Downtown Frankfort, Inc., Sheila White at 502-223-2261
www.downtownfrankfort.com
Find your way to downtown Frankfort on a summer Friday evening and be treated to a series of musical performances by various artists and groups. Fun for the entire family, the lawn of the Old Capitol vibrates with the sounds of musicians while frisbees are thrown and ice cream cones are eaten.

Frankfort Arts Foundation
Contact Patricia Terry Vansant at 502-875-4ART (4278)
www.frankfortarts.com  •  faf@dcr.net
Frankfort / Franklin County's multidisciplinary community arts organization. Performances and events are held at Kentucky State University Bradford Hall as part of a community partnership and in the community.  The foundation presents an annual arts and cultural series of international, national, state, and local performing and visual artists.

Frankfort Children Singers
Contact Linda McKinley at 502-875-3789
A community chorus for young voices.  The chorus performs at Christmas and spring concerts and other community events throughout the year upon invitation, including the Candlelight Tour, Commonwealth Christmas Tree Lighting, Commonwealth Credit Union’s Holiday Gathering, and concerts for residents at The Neighborhood and Ashwood Place.

Musical Arts Downtown (MAD)
Contact Roy Nance at 502-227-7430
Frankfort’s annual community music day camp for children (students entering the second through the eighth grades).  Downtown churches take turns hosting the camp, usually held the last week of June.  Classes include choir, Orff, handbells, art, drama and special classes that relate to the year’s theme.

Save the Grand, Inc.
Contact Bill Cull at 502-226-4157
www.SaveTheGrand.org  •  billcull@aol.com
This arts advocacy group purchased in 2005 the Grand Theatre on St. Clair Street.  The Grand Theatre is once again becoming a remarkable showcase for the visual and performing arts, seating up to 400 persons.

Annual Events

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April
Buffalo Trace Easter Egg Hunt 223-7641
May
Summer Concert Series May - October. Live entertainment on the lawn of the Old State Capitol. Sponsor: Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Downtown Mini-Van Tour May - September. 696-0607	Summer Theater at Liberty Hall May - August. 227-2560	Fort Hill Events May - October. Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607
Governor's Derby Breakfast First Saturday in May. Capitol grounds. Country style breakfast, activities, arts and crafts. 564-2611	Derby Day Celebration Downtown. 875-8687 223-2261	Railroad Walking Tours 227-2436	Capital City Classic Cars May - June 223-3836
June
Boone Day at Frankfort Cemetary www.visitfrankfort.com 875-8687	Capital Expo First weekend of June, Thursday through Saturday. Arts and crafts, entertainment, carnival rides, food. www.capitalexpofestival.com	Kentucky Herb Festival Lakeview Park. 695-8431	Picnic in the Park Entertainment fund raiser for Franklin County Council on Family Abuse
July
Franklin County Fair Six-day event with beauty pageants, baby and children's contest, carnival rides, exhibits, horse shows. 695-8431 695-9035	Civil War Tour Frnakfort Parks Dept. 696-0607	Great Buffalo Chase Sponsored by Buffalo Trace Distillery 223-7641	4th of July Riverfest 5-K run sponsored by Buffalo Trace Distillery; parade; food, arts and crafts booths; activities throughout downtown; fireworks sponsored by VFW Post 4075
August
Barrel Rolling and Classic Car Cruise-In Buffalo Trace Distillery 223-7641	Capital City Bluegrass Festival Lakeview Park www.bbfestival.com 875-8687
September
Autumn in the Park Aviation Day Capital City Airport. 875-8687, 223-2261, 607-1916	Bridgeport Ruritan Day Saturday after Labor Day. Food, arts and crafts, entertainment.	Kentucky Folk Life Festival Kentucky Historical Society folklife.ky.gov 564-1792	Swallowfield Days Food, arts and crafts, entertainment
Switzer Covered Bridge Day Held at the Switzer Covered Bridge. Food, arts and crafts, entertainment
October
Halloween Cruise-In Haunting of the Distillery Buffalo Trace Distillery. 223-7641	Ghost of Frankfort Tours at Liberty Hall Liberty Hall Historic Site and Fort Hill Civil War Site 227-2560, 696-0607	Kentucky State University Homecoming www.kysu.edu 597-6000	Murder and Mayhem Tour Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607
Rocktober Fest and Black Cat Chase October 28. Opening entertainment for Pumpkin Festival. Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Pumpkin Festival Downtown Frankfort, Inc. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Salato Walk with the Animals Salato Wildlife Education Center fw.ky.gov 564-7863
November
A Very Brilliant Party at Liberty Hall Liberty Hall Historic Site. 227-2560	Candlelight Tour Sponsored by Downtown Frankfort, Inc. Downtown shops are open for the evening to begin the Christmas shopping season.  Lots of entertainment events and food. www.downtownfrankfort.com 223-2261	Kentucky Book Fair Frankfort Convention Center www.frankfortconventioncenter.com 564-8300
December
1864 Christmas on Fort Hill Frankfort Parks Dept. 696-0607	Frankfort Christmas Parade and Governor's Tree Lighting The Governor and First Lady light the state Christmas tree. www.visitfrankfort.com 875-8687