African American Theater Buildings in Kentucky

Of the more than 1,500 theaters listed within the title African American Theater Buildings by Eric L. Smith, a few were located in nine Kentucky cities between the years 1900-1955. The theaters were managed by both African Americans and whites, and the predominate clientele were African Americans. The theaters in Kentucky were:

• Higgins School in Vicco (Higgins School merged into Liberty Street School in 1940)
• Frankfort - Kentucky State College Theater, picture house
• Henderson - Doxy Theater, picture house
• Lexington - Ada Meade, Lyric Theater, and Orpheum Theater, all picture houses
• Louisville - Dixie Theater, Grand Theater, and Lyric Theater, picture houses. Lincoln Theater, and Palace Theater, both picture houses and vaudeville. Ruby Theater and Victory Theater were both vaudeville
• Mayfield - Unique Theater, picture house
• Owensboro - Plaza Theater, picture house
• Paducah - Hiawatha Theater, picture house
• Pikesville - Liberty Theater, picture house [should be Pikeville, KY]
• Winchester - Lincoln Theater, picture house

Texas, Florida, and North Carolina were the states with the most African American theater buildings. Also included in E. L. Smith's book is a listing of African American drive-in theaters, all were in the South.