The forgiving state of mind is a magnetic power for attracting good.
~ Catherine Ponder
The library held our annual retreat at the historic Lyric Theater in the East End. For those unfamiliar with Lexington, the East End has traditionally been the African American section of town. Under Jim Crow, Lexington was highly segregated like the rest of the south. Opening in 1948, the Lyric offered a movie house for the African American community, and they would sometimes have huge acts come through like Count Basie, Ray Charles, and, rumor has it, Ike and Tina. It remained open until 1963, and then it just kind of fell into disrepair. It was just this side of the grave when the City acquired it under Eminent Domain, got a few grants, and reopened in 2010.
I’d never been to the Lyric before today. They’ve done an amazing job, basically rebuilding it after the poor thing sat empty for decades. They changed the seating configuration to allow for a larger stage and wider seats, so that it now holds a little over half of what it used to. They replaced balcony seating with a very nice tech booth. They also built a Cultural Center alongside the theater, and it was the first LEED building in Lexington. The Cultural Center not only offers conference space, but houses a very nice art gallery as well. We were given a tour – our tour guide was great, but you know me, I don’t remember his name – and it really helped me understand just how much work has gone into this revitalization. The Lyric isn’t just an historic theater. It is a symbol of a community that is very much alive, welcoming to everyone, and happy. There’s a lot of happiness in the East End and you really feel that when you walk through The Lyric’s doors. It was a great experience. My only complaint is that I didn’t get to see Ike and Tina perform. That must have been one whiz bang of a show. Lordy!
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