The Belcourt Theatre on Friday morning unveiled a historical marker and a Metro Council resolution honoring the nonprofit film center’s 100th anniversary. The marker, placed near the Belcourt’s entrance by the Tennessee Historical Commission, references the Hillsboro Village arthouse’s long and at-times tumultuous history.
Under a blazing late-summer sun, speakers at the marker dedication included Belcourt historian and archivist Teddy Minton, Belcourt executive director Stephanie Silverman and Mayor (and card-carrying Belcourt member) Freddie O’Connell. Also present were a number of Belcourt board members, as well as Metro Councilmembers Joy Styles, Ginny Welsch, Terry Vo and Tom Cash — the latter of whom represents District 18, which is home to the Belcourt.
The beloved Nashville nonprofit celebrates its 100th birthday this week
As covered in the Scene’s recent two-part cover story on the Belcourt’s centennial, the theater has had many names and many incarnations over the past 100 years, and has come perilously close to extinction on more than one occasion. The historical marker references many of the theater’s previous lives, including its time hosting the Grand Ole Opry and its run as Hillsboro Theatre — as well as a stretch in the late 1990s when the building was “in disrepair and struggling to find a purpose,” at risk of being razed by developers.
In his remarks, the mayor, who noted that he celebrated his 30th birthday at the theater, referenced late, great Scene editor Jim Ridley’s Jan. 21, 1999, cover story “Fade to Black” — a call to arms to save the institution.
“I can think of a dozen reasons why the Watkins Belcourt should be saved,” reads a portion of Jim’s story, read by O’Connell. “Because it’s a piece of our history. Because the cutting edge of an art form as democratic as film shouldn’t be the exclusive property of bicoastal snobs. Because it makes Nashville a richer place. Because going to the movies is a relatively cheap thing that can bring you in contact with other people and make your life a little better for two hours — sometimes a lot better.”
See shots from Friday’s dedication by Scene photographer Angelina Castillo above.
