During Hollywood’s golden era, hundreds of movie houses were built across the Southeast in cities and towns of all sizes. Today, some of those theaters are still in existence while others have been allowed to fade away. During the 1930s, many cities across South Carolina were slowly rebounding from the Great Depression. As the railroad expanded and brought in more people, small towns across the state quickly blossomed and the theaters became a popular source for family entertainment.
Originally constructed in an Art Deco motif, the theater first opened its doors in the late 1920s as the O’Dowd Theatre. It was later renamed the Carolina Theater around 1935. Film showings included a midday matinee and a Friday and Saturday night feature. Ticket prices were a quarter, give or take a few cents.
