Various Theatres, Charleston, SC

Various Theatres - Charleston, SC

During our research, we have discovered many Charleston theatres that are now all but forgotten. We wanted to include these theatres and the little we know about them. Some of them were movie theatres. Some were combination houses that showed both live shows and movies. We welcome any information regarding these Charleston theatres. Please email us at info@scmovietheaters.com

Bon Air Theatre
364 King Street

The Bon Air was an open-air theatre in Bon Air Park at 368-372 King Street on the southeast corner of King and Calhoun. It was in operation in 1907. An advertisement in July, 1907, suggested that one "drop in and take a look at Bon Air Park." It offered "Fine Pictures and Expert Operators at the same old prices of 5 cents." While movies were shown, the primary attractions were live performances, illustrated songs, and amateur contests. Fresh air made the outdoor form of entertainment popular. The long summer days and frequent showers in the autumn limited the number of performances each day. Outdoor movie presentations soon disappeared. A variation of the outdoor movie returned in the 1940's with the construction of Charleston's first Drive-In theatres.

Uno Theatre
368 King Street (formerly the Bon Air Theatre portion of Bon Air Park)

The Uno Theatre was a small theatre operated by local people that showed mostly two-reel comedies at low prices. The advertisement at the right is for a 1914 Eclair Comedy "Just Kids" billed with a second two-reel French production "Remember" made in 1916.

Colonial Theatre
372 King Street (formerly Bon Air Park, corner of King and Calhoun)

The Colonial Theatre was managed by Mr. W.S. Rivers.

News and Courier - March 29, 1914

Carolina Theatre
399 King Street
Opened: June 17, 1932

The Carolina Theatre was decorated inside and out in a "modernistic" style and had a seating capacity of 450 people. The equipment included an RCA Victor photophone sound system. The owner of the Carolina was H.B. Cook of Kershaw. Salvatore H. Sottile of Charleston was the manager. Admission was ten cents for all parts of the house.

The advertisement at the right shows a double feature at the Caolina Theatre.

Crescent Theatre
617 King Street

The Crescent Theatre is listed in the 1914 City Directory. We have found no other references of the Crescent Theatre. Because of its location, we suspect it was a theater for African-Americans.

Dreamland Theatre
220 King Street

The News and Courier of May 30, 1907, states that James Sottile acquired a small theater on the corner of King and Market Streets called the Dreamland.

News and Courier -
November 24, 1932

Dixieland Theatre
568 King Street
Opened: c. 1921
Closed: c. 1923

John J. Miller, who operated a burlesque theatre for African-Americans on King Street above Columbus, bought the property at 568 King Street and built another theater for African-Americans modeled on the Victoria Theatre. There were stage and screen shows. When this venture failed, varous parties leased the theater. Miss Maude Gibbon leased it for the Charleston Philharmonic Society and renamed it the Charleston Theatre. This soon failed and the theatre was operated for a time by Mr. Sims of Orangeburg. Mr. Cook, of Walterboro, ran it for a short time.

For five years, it sat empty under a lease from Pastime Amusement Company. In 1931, it was purchased by Mr. Basil Kerr. He remodeled it and opened it as the Palace Theatre.

Elco Theatre
549 King Street
Opened:
Closed: 1931

The Elco was owned by Mr. Basil Kerr. In 1931, he bought the Dixieland Theatre from John J. Miller. He closed the Elko and opened the Dixieland, renaming it the Palace Theatre.

Fairyland Theatre
348 King Street

In May, 1908, Edward J. Aylward operated the Fairyland Theatre for African-Americans. It is listed in the City Directory as a "colored" business. The theatre presented moving pictures and held benefit performances for organizations such as the Church Home Orphanage.

Lyric Theatre
348 King Street
Opened: August, 1909

The Lyric Theatre, according to tradition, introduced Charleston to Burlesque.

Maceo Theatre
422 King Street
Opened: 1912
Closed:

The only reference we have found is a notice in the News and Courier dated February 6, 1912, stating that Martha Russell gave a lecture on "How Motion Pictures Are Made."

Leader Theatre
422 King Street (formerly the Maceo Theatre)

News and Courier
1915
"His ever-piercing eyes were wherever she looked. Glibert Blye saw something in June, the runaway bride that he liked. He followed her and made life miserable for her."

Milo Theatre
566 King Street

The Milo Theatre was operated for blacks by John Miller, who was proprietor of the Dixieland Theatre. The theater was not a commercial success.

New Theatorium
Opposite 321 King Street (exact address not known)
Opened: c. 1908
Closed: c. 1909

This theatre was owned by George Brantley. The New Theatorium and the Idle Hour were closed shortly after the formation of Pastime Amusement Company in order to reduce competition among the several movie theatres in operation at that time.

Orpheum Theatre
424 King Street
Opened:

This period photograph from our collection, is of a stage act. On the front of the photo is written, "Silver Turner and Silver, Orpheum Theatre, Charleston, SC, 1892." On the bottom it says, "Bert Cole, Stage Manager." On the reverse, "Compliments of Tourist Comedy Trio to our little Stage Mgr. Burt Cole. Silver Turner and Silver."

Obviously, a stage house, we're not sure the Oprheum Theatre ever exhibited films.

Photograph on board 6.5" x 5.5"

Airdome Theatre

The Airdome Theatre was opened in Hampton Park with stock attractions for the summer months. Messrs. Gus Smith and Harleston Matthews were the proprietors. The second stage curtain from the Academy of Music was discarded in 1907 and moved to the Airdome Theatre. The curtain had been long familiar to theatre-goers at the Academy. The Poet and Peasant painted on the curtain, showed a young man and young woman in the foreground, a meandering brook nearby and sheep browsing in a verdant meadow.