Columbus‑born filmmaker David Maurice Bailey grew up seeing the Lincoln Theatre as a rundown building on the West Side. In the early 1990s, the venue was an eyesore where drug activity was common, and few residents gave it a second glance.
From dilapidation to documentary
Bailey began working as a freelance events producer for the theater in 2014, helping to stage dance, theater and concert series under the “Backstage at the Lincoln” banner. Originally, he planned a straightforward music documentary focused on concert footage captured with co‑producer John Ray. A 2025 heart surgery, however, prompted him to broaden the scope, adding the theater’s rich history and the surrounding community’s story.
“When I started, it was only about the music,” Bailey said. “Research showed me I couldn’t leave out the history. I needed to tell the full story.” The film will premiere free of charge at the Lincoln Theatre on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m.
Challenges preserving the past
Archival material proved scarce. Bailey attributes the gap to three factors: poor record‑keeping, buried history, and a lack of sustained city commitment to the neighborhood. As a result, many legendary moments—such as Ray Charles headlining the venue or Jackie Wilson staying at nearby Poindexter Village—have no surviving photographs.
To fill those gaps, the documentary weaves together new interviews with jazz pianist Bobby Floyd and archival conversations with the late saxophonist Gene Walker, alongside performances by contemporary artists like Paisha Thomas, Talisha Holmes, Mark Lomax and Eddie Bayard.
Community at the heart
Bailey emphasizes that the film is as much about community as it is about music. “It is definitely about community and the love for community, and then also what we stand to lose,” he said.
The Lincoln Theatre’s renaissance mirrors the broader revival of Columbus’s Bronzeville neighborhood, which suffered a post‑redlining decline after the 1960s construction of I‑70 cut it off from downtown. Recent years have seen new businesses, cultural events, and renewed pride among longtime residents.
Looking ahead
Despite the upswing, the documentary ends on a cautionary note. Demographer Michael Wilkos warns that rapid demographic shifts could leave Black residents a minority in the historic neighborhood by 2030. “While the area is making a comeback, if we leave, all that history leaves,” Bailey added.
Bailey’s work joins two other recent documentaries on local heritage, including a film about the Deardurff House, the oldest standing structure in Franklin County. Together, these projects aim to preserve Columbus’s cultural memory for future generations.
Screening details
The free screening will take place at the Lincoln Theatre, 1234 West Main Street, Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 6 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to stay after the film for a Q&A with Bailey and co‑producer John Ray.
Original reporting: Matter News (Columbus) — read the source article.
