LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Kentucky Theatre has reopened its doors to the public, after having to close in 2020 because of the pandemic.
One employee who’s worked there for nearly 60 years is excited to welcome his community back.
What You Need To Know
- The Kentucky Theatre has reopened its doors to the public
- Fred Mills has worked at the theatre since 1964
- Working through high school and college, Mills eventually took over a management position
- Mills is excited to welcome his friends and guests back into the theatre
Fred Mills has been working at the Kentucky Theatre since 1964.
“I came down and worked part-time while going to high school, and continued to work here while attending EKU working weekends,” Mills said.
Working throughout college, and eventually taking on a management position, Mills said the theatre holds a special place in his heart.
“We typically think sometimes these old friends are the best friends. Well, a lot of these folks, you know, I’ve known for decades and also we are close,” Mills said.
In October 2020, Mills had to shut the theatre down due to lack of attendance amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But nearly two years later, the Kentucky is back open.
“It’s wonderful to see these people again, and that’s, you know, a part of what I enjoy about the theater is all my friends and people that have been coming here for a long, long time,” Mills said.
Along with Mills, long time show-goer Ally Frederick is excited to be back.
“It’s honestly a dream. I was really terrified that they wouldn’t reopen when they closed during COVID,” Frederick said.
Her love for the theatre started when she was seven, when she came with her parents to see Indiana Jones.
“Ever since then, I’ve come a lot at times, like once or twice a week I’ve come,” Frederick said
The heart of downtown Lexington is a love that Mills and Frederick are excited to see alive again.
The Kentucky Theatre is celebrating 100 years this year, and said each month they’ll show a different series of movies from different decades.