By Rihab Abou El-Hesen

 

Translated by Lina Yahya

 

  

 

  Investments lock up Beirut's Golden Age. "Baalbek studio" which was the first, before Egypt, to present colored movies will soon be part of history after its owners decided to change it to a parking lot.

 

 

 

 

 

According to a decision issued by Minister Salim Wardeh, Ministry of Culture in Lebanon blocked last March destruction works at "Baalbek Studio" in an attempt to categorize it as a heritage building. Unfortunately, the Ministry's efforts to convince the owners to keep the building did not succeed and it couldn't take such a step because the premises are not a public company and its owners can do whatever they consider appropriate.

 

Real estate investment won over Lebanese artistic heritage. And instead of the small studio which gathered famous Arab and Lebanese artists, Lebanese will have a new parking lot and a humongous modern building.

 

 News broke the hearts of Lebanese artists who enjoyed accompanying "Baalbek Studio" in its flourishing trip. Their heart ache was too painful and went out to fill the skies but no ears to listen. Owners did not change their minds. They refused to preserve the 'mental and cultural treasure' as artists' Dean Jean Kassis likes to call it. Kassis pointed out to some attempts by Lebanese artists, Chawki Matta, and Egyptian performer, Nour el Sherif, to keep this cultural landmark from being destroyed. The attempts raised Egyptian newspapers' worries of competition that will rise if "Baalbek Studio" re-operates so they blocked them up.  

 

Ministry of Culture didn't have better luck. However, Minister Salim Wardeh's was able to convince concerned people to give the remaining cinematic equipment to the Ministry which will keep and display it in the cinema department affiliated by the Ministry.

 

 What about the building?

 

Minister Wardeh clarified that the Ministry is still negotiating with the owners, but "We, at the Ministry don't have the ability to own the building despite the great cultural artistic mental memory that it stores," he added.

 

Minister Wardeh also confirmed that the Ministry will do its best to keep the building which is considered the first in the Middle East that have such an artistic, cultural and mental memory. However, he pointed out that final decision is in the hands of the cabinet. He added that he will soon put this subject on the table in the cabinet in order to reach a final decision concerning that.

 

On the other hand, Lebanese artists shocked by what's going on called upon people to protest and try to preserve this distinguished historical landmark from destruction. Trying to spread awareness of what's going on, Liliane Nemri, daughter of late Alya Nemri, organized a group on facebook to condemn what's going on and call to turn "Baalbek Studio into an art museum that tells the story of Lebanon's movies industry.

 

An issue confirmed by dean of Lebanese artists, Jean Kassis, who pointed out that the studio's problem is an old one and they have tried to re-inject life into it but circumstances were against it.

 

Story of Baalbek Studio

 

 Birth Story of "Baalbek Studio" couples with banker, Youssef Bidess (Antra Bank), and wealthy Badih Boulos of Palestinian origin who started the Studio in his villa in Sin el Fil region. One cannot separate "Baalbek Studio's" foundation from Near East Radio Station earned experience. Kamel Kostandi one of senior workers at the Near East Radio Station said that founders of the Studio did not seek at the time of its foundation and before it was given its current name more than developing their work style at the Radio Station.

 

 The Studio was known as "Lebanese Company for Art Recordings" before its activities included cinematic projects.

 

 Administrative and artistic tasks were distributed at the foundation stage among each of Toufic el Bacha, Nizar Mikati, Zaki Nassif and Kamel Kostanti while as Sabri el Sherif was the one responsible of the music department which was the backbone of Rahbani brothers works mainly at Baalbek festivals.

 

 Fairouz was considered the artistic tripartite that included Abed el Majid Abou Laban, Sabri el Sherif  and Kamel kostandi who joined the Studio from Near East TV Station at the beginning of the sixties. Their wide art competences paved the way for them to be "Baalbek Studio" cornerstones.

 

Moreover, this art tripartite was the first to announce the birth of al Sanayeh Radio Station which is known nowadays by Lebanon Radio Station. 

 

Musician Mohammad Abed el Wahhab witnessed the birth of this greater art institution in 1965 winter upon his first visit to it where singer Sabah and poet Toufic Barakat were waiting for him. Toufic Barakat was carrying in his hand a poem that was considered at that time a letter to all resident and expatriate Lebanese, the poem entitled "Aa Daya'a Yamma Aa Daya'a" (Let's go to village, mum, let's go to village).

 

 No doubt efforts of senior people at that time led Studio Baalbek to prosperity. Then, the misfortunate incidents of Lebanese civil war gradually turned down the glow of the Studio. The government turned helpless and was no more able to bear the expenses a thing that led to closing its doors and lying off the employees. Final blow came from Israel war planes which resulted in destroying the Studio in the summer of 1982. Work in the studio stopped.

 

I 1992, the Studio was re-opened to be mainly a place where students present their projects, but with the arrival of 2010 the dream of revival faded away.