Belcourt Theatre
Hillsboro Theatre, Nashville Community Playhouse | |
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| Address | 2102 Belcourt Avenue Nashville, Tennessee United States |
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| Opened | 1925 |
| Website | |
| http://www.belcourt.org | |
The Belcourt Theatre is a 2-cinema theater located in Nashville's Hillsboro Village district. It is operated by a non-profit organization, and features independent films, as well as live performances.
History
Opened in 1925 as the Hillsboro Theatre by M.A. Lightman, Sr, of Malco Theatres and his father Joseph Lightman as a silent movie house, boasting the most modern projection equipment and the largest stage in the city.[1] As the community grew, the Belcourt adapted to the new needs of the neighborhood by providing a regular home for two highly successful performance groups. Nashville Children's Theatre, the longest running children's theatre of its kind, and the venerable Grand Ole Opry both shared the Belcourt stage during the 1930s.[2] The Opry's tenure from 1934 to 1936 shaped the format the radio show still uses today. Due to the intimate size of the room, the Opry began playing each show to two separate audiences. Performers found themselves playing two fifteen-minute performances rather than the single half-hour performance to which they were accustomed.
In November 2007, the theatre was purchased by a non-profit coalition of local arts activists (operating as "Belcourt Theatre Inc.") for $1.4 million.[3]
Today
The Belcourt currently features a variety of entertainment events, including film—much of it independent—as well as live performances within the same venue. Its concession stand is a rarity as it includes a variety of food and drink items, including pizza, wine, and draft beer from local brewerey Yazoo. The venue has been home to Nashville's incarnation of the 48 Hour Film Project and other festivals and special events.
The Belcourt is also the base theater for the live Rifftrax showings streamed into nationwide theaters, and co-hosts a monthly 16mm film series called The Light and Sound Machine with Third Man Records at their live venue.
References
- ^ Nashville Blotter: History of Nashville - Belcourt Theatre
- ^ Cinema Treasures | Belcourt Theatre
- ^ DeVille, Nancy (2007-11-06). "Belcourt Theatre sold to preservationists". The Tennessean.