April 28, 2025
State Christmas tree lighting, 1981
Hundreds of spectators turned out Dec. 11, 1981, in near-freezing weather for the lighting of the state Christmas tree on the plaza in front of the Capitol in Frankfort. The 2015 Commonwealth Christmas tree lighting was held Monday night. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Lafayette boys basketball players, 1959
Four players on the Lafayette High School basketball team, from left to right, Roscoe Mitchell, Jeff Mullins, Ray Jorboe and Jim Burns. Published on Jan. 20, 1959. Monday marks the opening of the 2015-16 Kentucky Boys basketball season. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
‘Mobile church,’ 1976
Former Herald-Leader chief photographer John C. Wyatt spotted the juxtaposition of a pickup truck’s camper top and the steeple on Calvary Baptist Church and decided to make what he referred to as a “corny picture.” The pickup truck was parked in a lot on High Street, and it struck Wyatt as a mobile church when he saw it on Feb. 4, 1976. Photo by John C. Wyatt | Staff
First Governor’s Cup, 1994
In the second quarter, Louisville halfback Anthony Shelman dove over the Kentucky defense for Louisville’s first touchdown in the first Governor’s Cup on Sept. 3, 1994, in Commonwealth Stadium. Kentucky won the game, 20-14. Photo by David Perry | Staff
Black Friday shoppers, 2005
Four generations of shoppers, great-grandmother Jo Ann Cox, in the front passenger seat, grandmother Karen Roberts, left, mother Kellie Sparks, right, and great-granddaughter Mariah Polly, all from Lawrenceburg, kept warm in their car on Nov. 25, 2005, instead of standing in line to get into the Lexington Best Buy store, which opened at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, the traditional first day of the holiday shopping season. David Stephenson | Staff
Tewes turkeys 1991
Tom Tewes posed with a few of his turkeys on Nov. 26, 1991, at Tewes Turkey farm in Erlanger. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Phoenix Park, 1984
What would become downtown Lexington’s Phoenix Park is shown under construction in September 1984. This view is from Wallace Wilkinson’s Park Plaza apartments. Phoenix Park was built on the former site of the Phoenix Hotel, which was demolished in 1981. The block at left is now the stalled CentrePointe project. Photo by Frank Anderson | Staff
Exotic dancers protest security measures, 1973
Exotic dancers Vienna Ithier, left, and Patricia Sands offered a not-so-fiery protest against airport “anti-hijacking” security measures on May 13, 1978 at Blue Grass Field in Lexington. They wore their costumes on the plane from Chicago so the outfits wouldn’t be mishandled by airport security. They claimed that garments from their onstage wardrobe were continually being “ripped and torn” by security police at various airports. The entertainers, in Lexington for a nightclub engagement, were clowning for news photographers after disembarking. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Picadome students measure up to basketball players, 1984
From left, Picadome Elementary students A.J. Petrucelli, Tanya Pass, Issac Coffey and Mark Patterson stood next to life-size drawings of University of Kentucky basketball players on April 3, 1984. The players are, from left, Dicky Beal, Kenny Walker, Sam Bowie, Melvin Turpin and Jim Master. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Crosby, Stills & Nash, 1977
Crosby, Stills and Nash (from left, Stephen Stills, David Crosby and Graham Nash) performed at Rupp Arena in Lexington on Nov. 6, 1977. The folk rock group played to 14,000 on the Sunday night. The over two-hour show included electric and acoustic sets. Each had a turn at the mike for a few solo efforts. The stop in Lexington was part of a 26-date tour of the west, midwest and south. Ticket prices were $7.50 and $8.50. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
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