135 Church Street, a

135 Church Street, a

c. 1956-1957

11/21/2016 (date digital)

Dock St. Theater

Back of photograph: "(c) Henry P. Staats / Dock St. Theater / 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 that is known today is a mishmash of six buildings ranging from the 18th and 19th century eras, although only some of the brick walls within the space date back from the original theatre, it is still the last surviving antebellum hotel structure in the city. 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 first opera ever staged and performed in the country, Flora, also took place at the Dock Street. 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. The Planter's Hotel was a popular place to stay with wealthy planter's prior to the Civil War during the February social season

Planter's Punch was allegedly created at the once famed hotel. Civil War hero Robert Scott Smalls was a waiter in the Planter's Hotel dining room prior to the war. 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. 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. The Neoclassical woodworking and mantels were salvaged from the Radcliffe-King mansion, demolished as another WPA project during the Depression. The newly renovated theatre reopened in 1937. 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 latest renovation made the space more comfortable for patrons and also made it handicap accessible.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 12 x 12 cm

Donated to CLS by Henry P. Staats.

Vores, 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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