February 24, 2025
Vehicle registration line, 1983
Hundreds of people stood in line on Feb. 28, 1983, at the Fayette County Courthouse to re-register their vehicles. A new law that went into effect at the start of the year was intended to reduce the long waits, but the transition period meant motorists had to wait … and wait. The new law called for all motorists to register or re-register their vehicles on their birth month. Under the old law, re-registration was due on the month of a vehicle’s purchase. At the time, 65 percent of all vehicle purchases were in the first three months of the year, hence the crowd in late February. Click on the photo for more detail. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Green Lantern restaurant, 1979
Virginia “Mom” Haycraft, left, and Lorraine Taylor behind the bar at the Green Lantern restaurant at East Seventh Street and Elm Tree Lane in January 1979. Haycraft owned and operated the restaurant since 1940 and Taylor had worked there for 30 years. The Green Lantern became a popular hangout with Transylvania University students starting in 1960. Click on the photo for a better view of the items for sale behind the bar. Published in the Lexington Herald-Leader on Jan. 17, 1979. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
Bear Bryant returns to Lexington, 1973
Alabama football Coach and Athletic Director Paul Bear Bryant greeted Mrs. Charles Mitchell of Lexington after arriving at Blue Grass Field on Sept. 21, 1973. The trip marked the first time Bryant, who coached at Kentucky for eight winning seasons, brought a team into Lexington to face the Wildcats. Bryant coached at UK from 1946 to 1953 before leaving for Texas A&M. He later went to Tuscaloosa and was the legendary coach of Alabama for 25 years, leading the Crimson Tide to six national titles. Behind Bryant is Alabama basketball coach C.M. Newton, who came to Alabama after coaching at Lexington’s Transylvania College for 12 seasons. After leaving Lexington in 1953, Bryant had a good relationship with Kentucky basketball coach Adolph Rupp, and in 1969, he took Rupp’s advice in hiring Newton to revive Alabama’s basketball program. Newton went on to lead the Tide to three straight SEC titles. After a 30-year coaching career, he came back to Lexington in 1989 to be the athletic director at his alma mater, UK, where he served for 11 years. As for the game the following day, a Commonwealth Stadium record crowd of 54,100 chanted “Beat Alabama” and “Let’s skin the Bear” to welcome back their former coach. Despite taking a 14-0 lead at the half, UK lost to heavily favored Alabama, 28-14. Kentucky plays Alabama Saturday day in Tuscaloosa. Click here to see other photos of Bryant from our archives. Photo by E. Martin Jessee | Staff
Gallant Bess visits Lexington, 1946
Bess, “the horse with the human mind,” led by trainer Joe Atkinson, mounted the steps of the Fayette County courthouse as several thousand people watched, filling the courthouse lawn and completely blocking Main Street. The milling mob so excited Bess, a 7-year-old gelding, that he had to be calmed before performing some of the tricks that had won him a widespread reputation. Bess was exhibited at the courthouse on Sept. 14, 1946, after a parade down Main Street. In the center background, a newsreel cameraman, mounted on an automobile, photographed the crowd and the performance. Click on the photo for a larger view. Bess, whose real name was Harry, was the star of the movie “Gallant Bess,” which was to have its world premiere in Lexington the following week. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Golfer Marion Miley, 1941
Pioneer golfer Marion Miley in 1941. In an era before women’s professional golf, the Lexington resident won almost every important women’s amateur championship except the national title, which eluded her in some close tournaments. Miley and her mother were brutally murdered 75 years ago this week during a robbery at Lexington Country club — a crime that sent three men to the electric chair. Miley’s life and tragic death are explored in a new Kentucky Educational Television documentary film, “Forgotten Fame: The Marion Miley Story.” KET will begin airing the documentary Thursday. Herald-Leader Archive Photo
Pizza delivery for Big Blue Madness campers, 2009
Kentucky basketball player DeMarcus Cousins was among the UK players who served pizza and signed autographs for fans who camp out for Big Blue Madness on Oct. 2, 2009, in Lexington. Coach John Calipari also signed autographs for fans. The team frequently brings pizza to campers during their stay on the grounds outside Memorial Coliseum. This year’s camp-out for Big Blue Madness tickets began at 5 a.m. Wednesday and ends when tickets are distributed at 10 p.m. Friday. Photo by Mark Cornelison | Staff
Arnold Palmer in Lexington, 1989
Golf legend Arnold Palmer got a tour of the Child Development Center of the Bluegrass in Lexington from executive director Peggy Stephens on Sept. 11, 1989. Palmer visited two United Way of the Bluegrass agencies, the Center for Creative Living, a day care program for senior citizens, and the Child Development Center, which provides early intervention and therapy services for children with and without disabilities. Palmer, a spokesman for GTE throughout the United States, was invited to tour the agencies by Bob Calafell, chairman of this year’s United Way general campaign, and vice president and general area manager of GTE South. At the Child Development Center, Palmer signed autographs, watched children eat and play, and he encouraged a boy undergoing physical therapy. “I feel grateful that I’m in a position to help raise money,” Palmer said. “I do (these things) because I feel like if I can help give other people the same opportunities I’ve had, that’s good enough for me. When I … see what is happening in a place like this or in children’s hospitals, I think of how fortunate we are that we do have people that really do care. That is something you just can’t replace.” Palmer, who made golf popular for masses, died Sept. 25, 2016. Photo by Clay Owen
Lexington police reloading ammunition, 1949
Patrolman Wallace McMurray reloaded ammunition in the Lexington Police Department basement on June 7, 1949. Under a new program, all officers went through pistol practice, and to reduce cost, McMurray was responsible for casting bullets, and reloading empty casings for the officers. The equipment he used was recently bought to keep up with the demand of the training. Click on the image for a close look at his work station and supplies. Published in the Lexington Leader on June 8, 1949.
Big Bertha gets a cleaning, 1985
Lexington Center employee Craig King held the ladder for Bob Stoops as he checked the speakers on Big Bertha on March 18, 1985. The speaker cluster had been lowered to the Rupp Arena floor for a complete cleaning before the NCAA Final Four later that month. A new center-hung scoreboard and sound system is being added to a more tech-friendly Rupp Arena. Photo by Charles Bertram | Staff
Commonwealth Stadium, 1975
Aerial view of Commonwealth Stadium during Kentucky’s game against Maryland on Sept. 27, 1975. The game ended up a tie, 10-10. UK’s record that season under coach Fran Curci was 2-8-1. The area around Commonwealth Stadium, built in 1973, has changed dramatically. At bottom is the intersection of University and Cooper Drives. The Kentucky Wildcats look for their first Southeastern Conference win of the season at 7:30 p.m. Saturday when they take on South Carolina. Photo by Ron Garrison | Staff
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