The Columbia Theater opened in downtown Paducah in 1927. The grand movie palace brought a sophisticated level of entertainment to our booming river city.
However, before Christmas of its first year, the Columbia pushed local conventions by opening their doors on Sundays – a clear violation of sabbath laws. Owner Leo Keiler, wanted these laws put to the test in court, and the state was all too willing to oblige.
Three trials were held with eleven workers indicted for working on Sunday. The biggest problem wasn’t about simply breaking the Sabbath laws. The cases were complicated by the fact that crowds of people flocked to the theaters for the Sunday shows, which continued to be held for months while the trials played out.
Concerned citizens packed local churches to protest the affront to pleasant society being carried out by Leo Keiler and the temptations of Hollywood. Such things were expected in the “big cities,” but they would not be tolerated on Broadway in Paducah.
Three months later, in April of 1928, two cases were dismissed because the juries could not reach a decision. The third trial ended with seven of the theater workers being fined the minimum amount of $2.00 each. Movies continued to play on Sundays without issue. The Great Depression and World War II may have overshadowed the controversy.
As a footnote, Kentucky’s sabbath laws have never been repealed. They are still on the books, though they haven’t been enforced in decades. The fine is $35 in today’s dollars. You’ve been warned.
