Joey and Katie Carlin recently purchased the historic downtown theater, which first opened in 1922 and has long served as a gathering place for residents of Belton. The couple said their decision to buy the property was driven by both personal ties and concern for its future.
The Carlins, who have lived in Belton since 2010, said they grew increasingly worried when the theater closed and remained on the market for months.
“We got more and more worried that it was going to become something else than a theater,” Joey Carlin said.
The theater has played a role in their own family’s life, hosting school events and activities for their children.
“Our kids have been doing things here … so we knew it and loved it,” Katie Carlin said.
Initially, the couple planned to reopen the Beltonian as a traditional movie theater, but that vision changed as they began exploring the building and uncovering elements of its past.
“It’s been open since 1922, and we were really worried about that history being lost,” Joey Carlin said. “When we lifted up the screen, we saw the stage behind there and found where artists from 100 years ago had written on the walls.”
Those discoveries prompted the Carlins to expand their plans beyond film screenings to include live performances and community events.
“We want to continue to do the movies … but we’re really interested in getting some of those live productions back — concerts, comedy,” Katie Carlin said.
Renovations are already underway, beginning with efforts to bring the building up to code. The couple said future phases will focus on restoring the theater’s original 1920s appearance, including exterior features like the marquee and ticket booth, as well as interior elements such as tin ceilings.
“The goal is to restore this place to how it appeared in the 1920s,” Joey Carlin said.
The Carlins said they hope to reopen the Beltonian as a movie theater by early summer, with plans to introduce live performances later in the year as renovations continue.
Beyond physical updates, they said their goal is to reestablish the venue as a community hub.
“Since the twenties, it’s been a meeting place for the community,” Katie Carlin said. “We want to continue that … as a family-friendly place and a hub for the arts.”
Joey Carlin said the theater will focus on creating unique experiences rather than operating as a traditional first-run cinema.
“This is going to be a place where you come for something fun, something experiential … where people make good memories,” he said.
The Carlins said they are encouraging local artists, musicians and performers to get involved as they work to shape the theater’s future. They say the plan is to reopen as a movie theatre by early summer with the hopes of adding live performances later in the year as renovations continue.
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