Rocky, Jurassic Park, Taxi Driver: Summer Classics to return to The Kentucky Theatre
The Kentucky Theatre Summer Classics series, a 30-year tradition, will hit the big screen on May 29.
The series features classic films every Wednesday until Sept. 4 when it closes with “The Big Lebowski.”
Hayward Wilkirson, the director of The Kentucky Theatre, said show times are at 1:30 p.m. and 7:15 p.m.
Tickets are $6.50 and can be purchased online or in person at the theater.
Wilkirson suggested arriving at the theater early as the series may attract up to 800 people.
“We know it can be frustrating if you get there early ... but every year we have an organist that plays before the summer classics, and this year, we’re also going to do vintage cartoons,” Wilkirson said.
The series will kick off with “The Odd Couple,” a comedy directed by Gene Saks, which follows Oscar, a suicidal divorcee who moves in with Felix, his best friend.
The movie preceded the popular TV show that featured Jack Klugman as Oscar and Tony Randall as Felix.
Wilkirson also highlighted four other films from the series he is excited for: “The Red Shoes,” “The Third Man,” “Rebecca” and, seemingly most notable for Wilkirson, “Cinema Paradiso.”
He said that while he is unsure if he has a favorite film, “Cinema Paradiso” is “way up on his list.”
Wilkirson said it is the one foreign film of the series, which takes place in Italy after World War II.
He added that for the past year, a University of Kentucky student has been emailing him every month “begging” the theater to show the movie.
“It’s a really moving movie,” Wilkirson said. “The last scene of ‘Cinema Paradiso,’ if you don’t tear up, well, you don’t have a heart. It’s a beautiful, beautiful moment.”
Fans of the summer programming can also look forward to the theater’s new Art On Screen series, which pairs films about art or the lives of artists with an “engaging speaker.”
Wilkirson said the next part of the series will be about the Lexington artist, Henry Faulkner.
“Under the Southern Cross: The Art and Legacy of Henry L. Faulkner” will feature a Q&A with filmmaker Jean Donohue on May 30 at 7 p.m. at the theater.
Wilkirson said this event will be of great interest to Lexington.
“A lot of Lexingtonians of a certain generation really love Henry Faulkner,” Wilkirson said.
For more information about the additional films featured this summer, the upcoming Art On Screen event or ticket options, film lovers can visit The Kentucky Theatre website.
This story was originally published May 27, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
