Beltonian Theater Reopens This Week With Live Music, Classic Film
A Downtown Belton landmark is reopening this week with live music and screenings of a classic Western.
The Beltonian Theater opens Friday with a live performance from Texas musician Jenna McDaniel at 7 PM. There will also be screenings of 1960's 'The Magnificent Seven', starring Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, and Charles Bronson.
Advance tickets are on sale now at the box office, 219 E Central Ave, and online at www.thebeltoniantheatre.com.
New owner Zechariah Baker gave us a tour of the historic theater Tuesday, which you can see in the video above. He also wrote a short history of the theater and his involvement with it, as well as a few details about what he wishes to do with the fantastic piece of Belton's downtown landscape, which you can read further down the page.
Zechariah plans to show other great classics, including Mel Brooks' 'Star Wars' sendup, 'Spaceballs', which will screen just in time for people waiting out the long lines to see 'The Last Jedi'.
More live music is on the way too! To see a full list of upcoming movies and music acts, visit www.thebeltoniantheatre.com.
An historic theatre in downtown Belton is under new ownership and bringing classic movies and live events to another generation of Central Texans beginning November 3.
In 1922, the Belton Chamber of Commerce selected a winner from 300 entries in a contest to name the new theatre in Belton, and The Beltonian was the name selected. Since then, the theatre has had a long and storied history. It shut down as a theatre in the 1960s and became a church, a pool hall, and an antique store. In 2006, the property underwent a major renovation from a shell of a building. Since then, it was movie theatre and had short incarnations as a comedy club and a restaurant.
New owner, Zechariah Baker, is a UMHB alumnus and Belton resident with 10 years of management experience in family entertainment, including jobs at SpeedZone and Cowboy Stadium in Dallas and Cinergy Cinema in Copperas Cove. He envisions a multi-purpose venue featuring classic movies and live events.
“About two years ago, I was walking in downtown Belton, and saw the ‘For Sale’ sign on The Beltonian,” Baker said, “Since then, I’ve wanted to own it and bring a nostalgic fun time to downtown Belton. A couple of months ago, all the pieces fell into place to make it possible. We’ll have great live events and classic movies, and a full concessions menu including beer and wine from Salado vendors.”
Opening weekend is November 3-5 and will feature a concert by Central Texas native, Jenna McDaniel, on Friday night at 7 p.m. Seating is limited and advance tickets are being sold at the box office Monday – Friday, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, there will be showings of the original (1960) movie, The Magnificent Seven. Movie times can be found on The Beltonian Theatre website, www.thebeltoniantheatre.com