John "Jack" Wesley Wadsworth's most important job as manager of the old Belvedere Theatre was caring for the children living in the low-income neighborhood that surrounded the old westside theater. "We teased Daddy by calling him a professional baby-sitter," said Jerry Wadsworth, his son. "Daddy loved the kids that came to his theater."
Mr. Wadsworth died Friday, May 27, 1988, at his home. He was 82.
Mr. Wadsworth became manager of the Belvedere in 1957, said Jerry Wadsworth. For the next 15 years he was father, friend, disciplinarian and Santa Claus to the neighborhood children. "Daddy wouldn't tolerate trouble," Wadsworth said. "All the kids wanted to sit in the front row. That was an honor. Because if they misbehaved, Daddy would make them sit in the back." Sometimes teenagers would go to the theater drunk, Wadsworth said. "Daddy wouldn't tolerate that. He'd call the police," Wadsworth said. "Daddy was friends with the juvenile judge. He'd tease Daddy all the time about his calling the police, having kids arrested and then showing up in court to ask him to have mercy on them."
Mr. Wadsworth threw a yearly Christmas party, Jerry Wadsworth said. He'd show a free movie and give the children treats from Norman's Market. Lawrence Norman, the former owner of the market, said Mr. Wadsworth was in the store shopping and mentioned he was having a free movie day. "I told him that I would donate treats for them," Norman said. "So every year I'd give them fruit or a drink. He asked me to make sure it was something nutritious." Wadsworth said his father recently saw one of his children – Howard. Howard was a troublemaker. Mr. Wadsworth gave him jobs at the theater to earn money. "Daddy was at a service station and this guy walked over to him and said…I just wanted to come over and thank you for everything you did for me," Wadsworth said. "Daddy was so excited about seeing Howard again." Howard is now a teacher in Eastern North Carolina.
Mr. Wadsworth worked for 20 years with Warner Bros. pictures at the company's Church Street building on Charlotte's old film row. He was later drafted into the Army during World War II. After the war, Mr. Wadsworth returned to film row. He later became the manager of several local theaters.
Mr. Wadsworth was a lifetime member of Keystone Masonic Lodge No. 726, AF & AM; Scottish Rite and York Rite bodies and the Oasis Temple of the Shrine.
Other survivors include sons, Jack Wadsworth Jr. and Jerry Miller Wadsworth; sisters, Miss Mary Wadsworth and Miss Nelle Wadsworth; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Wadsworth are 2:30 p.m. Monday at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, where he was a member. Burial will be at Forest Lawn Cemetery. Harry and Bryant Funeral Home is in charge.