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The Lexington Opera House in Kentucky is a historic and beloved entertainment venue that faced challenges like a devastating fire in 1886 and being repurposed as a grocery store. However, the community came together to restore and renovate the theater, reopening in 1976. Despite initial criticism, it is now cherished as a cultural landmark hosting various events. The city invests in modern amenities, ensuring its continued success and popularity. Welcome to The Story Stages, the podcast where we pull back the curtain on the world's most fascinating theaters. I'm your host, Cora Vallier, and today we're going to take a trip to the heart of the Bluegrass State to explore a true Kentucky gem, the Lexington Opera House. First I'm going to share about our rise of this entertainment destination. So the Lexington Opera House is located right in downtown Lexington. It's more than just a beautiful building, but it's a vital part of the city's cultural pulse, hosting everything from plays and concerts to school performances and charity events. It's truly a beloved part of the town, and it holds up to a thousand patrons at a time, making it a very visited destination. The Lexington Opera House had some harsh times. Its story begins a long, long time ago when it first opened its doors back in 1850. Now the Lexington Opera House wasn't the first theater in the town, but it quickly cemented Lexington's reputation as an entertainment destination. The stage was offering a grand setting for opera singers and provided a much-needed entertainment aspect to the community. Tragedy struck, like any great drama, in 1886, a devastating fire threw the building. The blaze lasted only an hour, but it completely destroyed the structure and made it no longer usable. Thankfully, we didn't have the current closed for long. The owners, the Lexington Theater Corporation, were quickly acting. They commissioned architects named Cobb and Hastings, who were already very familiar with the city's design preferences since they had worked in Lexington before. The theater was rebuilt and reopened just one year later in 1887. The Opera House remained a similar style as its original, which was a Gothic Revival. This was very unusual for Lexington at the time, which made it even more prominent to the town and made it more recognizable. But, sadly, the Gothic Revival wouldn't last forever, and in 1892, the owners decided it was time for a luxurious upgrade. This remodel sought to make the exterior much more appealing, adding gorgeous columns to the entrance leading up to the marble staircase. As before this remodel, many described Lexington Opera House as a place for only entertainment purposes, not for its beauty, as well as some even calling it a barn. They also added a dining hall cafe, which focused on soft and bright colors in small gathering spaces in order for everyone to have a place in the hall. The second floor, they added small box seating, as well as other box rooms in order for groups to come together and share the joys of the opera. Cat racks and purse hangers were added at pretty much every single seat in order to give it that luxurious vibe that they were going for. The Opera House was doing amazing. New people were coming in, concerts were happening, everyone was enjoying the Opera House. But the building's life took a strange turn around the 1920s, when the Lexington Opera House was sold by the corporation to a real estate operator. This was not a small sale. It was a half a million dollars, which was a significant jump from its original estimated value of only $100,000. Under the new owner, the theater completely changed. The space was no longer solely dedicated to performance. Instead, false ceilings were added and transformed it into the bizarre mix of storefronts, serving as a place for third-run movies, a grocery store, and even a storage garage. Now, the storage garage wasn't a preferred storefront, I'm sure, as there was a gas station placed in front of the Lexington Opera House around the 1930s. This odd time period for the Lexington Opera House lasted until a series of natural disasters. The devastating windstorms of 1968 and 1973 destroyed false ceilings and severely damaged the rest of the structure, making it no longer useful. As I mentioned before, citizens did not particularly enjoy the looks of the Opera House, and many did not even like it as a whole previously. But now, these citizens are stepping up. They decided that they needed to save the Opera House and return it to its former glory. Public and private committees rallied together, working tirelessly to educate the fellow citizens on the Opera House's long and important past. The community that came to save the Opera House truly worked. The city of Lexington stepped in and bought the property and committed to a massive renovation and restoration project to return the theater to its original purpose. Opening again for the last and final time in 1976 is how we know it today. It's really fascinating to note the change in public opinion over time. When the theater was first built, its Gothic Revival style was criticized and simply described as a barn. Today, however, the Lexington Opera House is truly beloved. Citizens see it as a dynamic space for entertainment and a cherished monument that makes Lexington unique. It is used weekly, hosting everything from musicals and concerts, charity events, weddings, even. The city continues to invest in its future, adding modern amenities like new lighting, temperature control, and even a new security system, which is the same system used in Rupp Arena, a very, very beloved place. The Lexington Opera House has certainly seen its share of highs and lows, from windstorms and fires to serving its time as a grocery store, but today it stands tall, more loved and appreciated than ever. That's all for today, folks.