135 Church Street, b

135 Church Street, b

c. 1956-1957

11/21/2016 (date digital)

Dock St. Theater

Back of photograph: "Dock St. Theater / Chas. / 135 Church St." 135 Church Street, the Dock Street Theatre/ Planter's Hotel, was the space of one the nation's earliest theatrical spaces as well as resting place for wealthy planters prior to the Civil War , then it was repurposed back to its original use as a theatre again. The Dock Street Theatre, named so because at that time Queen Street was known as Dock Street, opened in 1736 with a performance of the "The Recruiting Officer The theatre was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1740, so the property was purchased by the Calder family, and the Planter's Hotel. The facade that is recognized today dates from this new building with it/s recessed porch, brown sandstone columns, and wrought iron balcony was completed in 1809. Following the Civil War the Planter's Hotel went into decline and it was rescued from demolition in 1935 as a WPA (Works Progress Administration) during the Great Depression and converted back to the Dock Street Theatre between 1935-1937. Local architect Albert Simons built the new theatre in the shell of the Planter's Hotel, designing it to look like a 18th century London playhouse. In 1973 the theatre was placed on the National Historic Register. Now belonging to the city, the Dock Street Theatre underwent another (19 million dollar) renovation from 2007-2010. The Dock Street Theatre we know today is not only home to the theatre company Charleston Stage as well as a significant performance space for the Spoleto Festival. References: Dock Street Theatre (2017). America's first theatre. Retrieved from: https://www.charlestonstage.com/dock-street-theatre.html Poston, J. (1997). The buildings of Charleston: A guide to the city’s architecture. Columbia, University of South Carolina Press. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. National Register Properties in South Carolina, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston County (135 Church St., Charleston). Retrieved from: http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710057/index.htm

visible image 9 x 9 cm

Donated to CLS by Henry P. Staats.

Vories, Dylan (digital assistant)

This item is in copyright but can be used for educational purposes. Please contact Charleston Library Society for more information for any use not qualifying as educational use.

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StillImage

Hinson Audio/Visual Collection

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