The Belaire Theatre
Pre-Investigation
The Belaire Theater opened in 1966 as a single-screen movie theatre in a strip shopping center located in Hurst, Texas. It was converted to a four-plex probably in the 1970’s. In 2005, Artisan Center Theatre, a non-profit community theater group, moved into the Belaire Theatre. The old theater is currently used for rehearsals, storage of props and costumes, and set construction.Monica of SPI began volunteer work at the Artisan in the fall of 2007. She was told by other volunteers that the theater had a ghost but no one would give her specifics. All the ghost websites have essentially the same blurb about the Belaire Theater, which goes as follows: “This theater is rumored to have had a projectionist pass away due to a heart attack in the building. Other spirits floating around include a young girl and a not so nice guy named Neil. Strange sounds, doors closing and actual interaction with the young girl have all been experienced.”
Dee Ann Blair, the co-founder of Artisan Center Theater has had the following experiences: (a) she does not like going upstairs by herself (the former projection rooms are upstairs); she is often very uncomfortable and nervous when she has to venture up to the second floor and (b) once, while walking down the hallway that separates the two sides of the four movie theaters, she felt a rush of cold air pass right through her chest area. She also relayed that a former employee was working late one night building set pieces and he heard a man speaking to him in a foreign language; however, no one was in the building but the employee.
Based on the Tarrant County Appraisal District records and City Directory review, the Belaire was constructed in 1966. Based on that information, Monica researched a local newspaper of the time, Mid Cities News Texas. In the April 3, 1966 edition, several pages were devoted to the grand opening of the new Belaire Theatre. Photographs of two projectionists are part of the special feature. One of the projectionist’s name is James Neel and the other is Vernon Huffines. On Ancestry.com, Monica found multiple family tree entries for James Neel who died in Hurst, Texas on June 12, 1980. In particular, three family tree entries provide the same additional information for James, as follows: “He served in Europe in World War II. He was a motion picture projectionist for 46 years… He died in his projection booth in Hurst, Texas.” The cause of death is given as “heart disease”. Is it possible that the “not so nice guy named Neil” is the projectionist, James Neel?
Just prior to our investigation, Dee Ann Blair related to Monica that one of their volunteers stated that a couple of years ago, when the Artisan’s offices were located in the Belaire lobby, a man came into the theater at the end of the day while the volunteer was closing out the books. The visitor said he was one of the original projectionists for the theater. This man told of another projectionist who came in one night and hung himself in the projection room. Monica wonder if this original projectionist who was relaying this information was Vernon Huffines, so she did some searching. She found Vernon’s son, who also was a projectionist at the theater; however, he related that he doesn’t know anything about a suicide or hanging in the theater. Vernon Huffines, the original projectionist has passed away.
Alison, a physic with Spirit of the Baker, and Monica of SPI performed a pre-investigation walk through of the site. None of Monica’s findings (rumored or otherwise) were relayed to Allison. Allison picked up on a spirit with a “J” name, possible, Jerry, Jeremy, or Jeremiah, who hung himself in the northwest projectionist booth area. Her impressions were that he was very angry and did it out of spite as in “I’ll show you”. She placed the incident occurring sometime in the 1970s. Allison also picked up on a female energy named Cynthia who she feels worked at the theater in the ticket booth. Cynthia did not die in the theatre but Allison sensed that Cynthia walked in on the hanging and her fear, etc. remains as a physic impression. Allison also picked up on a second male energy (no name came to her). He is a thin older man with dirty blond hair wearing brown overalls and a train conductor-type hat. She says he is very curmudgeonly and doesn’t like people messing with his space. Is this unnamed “not so nice” presence the one who is mistaken for Neil?
Alison also kept hearing the song “Chantilly Lace” but for the life of her could not figure out why she was hearing that song since it was song released long before the theater was constructed. Monica did some research and found that “Chantilly Lace” was included in the movie “American Graffiti” which was shown in 1973. This is interesting considering Alison senses that the hanging occurred in the 1970s.
Investigation
On January 12, 2008, the following members of SPI conducted an investigation of the Belaire Theatre: Monica, Kevin, Cheryl, Rebecca, Jessica, Caitlin, and Karen.
