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A resolution recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Belcourt Theatre.
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WHEREAS, the Belcourt Theatre is celebrating its 100th anniversary with Belcourt 100, a yearlong campaign to recognize the history and legacy of the neighborhood theatre; and
WHEREAS, the support of the Belcourt’s staff, members and audience have helped to create a vibrant venue that has endured through many forms as a cultural fixture; and
WHEREAS, the Belcourt was first opened as the Hillsboro by M.A. Lightman on May 18, 1925, as a 1,100-seat theatre that was home for films, vaudeville, community theatre, and concerts; and
WHEREAS, the first theatrical play was staged at the venue in April 1926 by the Nashville Little Theatre Guild. The theatre closed for films in 1927 but remained open as a community theatre stage until 1965; and
WHEREAS, the theatre first housed the Grand Ole Opry between 1935 and 1936, when the longstanding radio program introduced key structural changes that transformed the show and shaped its legacy. DeFord Bailey, the first African-American artist featured on the program, also performed at the venue; and
WHEREAS, the theatre reestablished itself as the Belcourt Cinema in 1962, becoming an art movie house that specialized in independent, foreign, and repertory films; and
WHEREAS, the property’s new owner, Fred Massey, added a second screen onto the original theatre, making the Belcourt the first dual-screen “twin theatre” in Nashville and the state; and
WHEREAS, the Belcourt Cinema continued to show films until 1997, when it temporarily closed amid fears of demolition; and
WHEREAS, the non-profit group BelcourtYes! first formed and signed a lease to try to save the theatre; and
WHEREAS, the Belcourt reopened after 17 months of renovations and planning for films, live concerts, plays, community events, and rentals. The Belcourt non-profit raised enough money to purchase the building itself in 2007; and
WHEREAS, the Belcourt underwent a major capital campaign that funded substantial changes and renovations from December. The theatre reopened in 2016 with a redesigned lobby, a new 34-seat screening room, and a new office wing; and
WHEREAS, the theatre endured during the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting its program online and showing drive-in films in its parking lot. The Belcourt fully reopened to the public in April 2021; and
WHEREAS, since opening a century ago, the Belcourt Theatre has played an instrumental role in shaping Nashville’s artistic and cultural identity, creating a place for audiences to come together and enjoy spirited, inspiring works; and
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper for the Metropolitan Council to recognize the Belcourt Theatre in its 100th year for its indelible role as a cultural institution in Nashville and Davidson County.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT OF NASHVILLE AND DAVIDSON COUNTY:
Section 1. That the Metropolitan County Council hereby goes on record as recognizing the Belcourt Theatre for the 100th anniversary of its opening in Nashville and Davidson County.
Section 2. This Resolution shall take effect from and after its adoption, the welfare of The Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County requiring it.