American Theater

Doesn't The American have two screens now?

The American Theater has "small" and "large" screening rooms now. There are 360-degree images of each screening room and the lobby on their official web site. This is the only downtown Charleston movie theater now. The Riviera is a conference center, the Gloria (now the Sottile Theatre) is used for live entertainments by the College of Charleston, and the Garden Theater is being converted to retail space. The Lincoln Theater was demolished in 2000. The Arcade Theater was demolished in 2003. Charles and Celeste Patrick have not received the acknowledgement or appreciation they deserve for reopening and improving the American Theater. Those who made the huge investment in money, time, and labor have given Charleston a great gift.

My hat is off to Charles and Celeste Patrick for restoring this special theatre which I hope to see the next time we visit the historic City of Charleston!

An article in Charleston's The Post and Courier on February 17, 2005, said the American Theater will close to the public on February 26, 2005. I loaded the article on our South Carolina movie theater site at www.scmovietheatres.com if anyone wants to read the sad news. At least they will maintain it and rent it out to drama companies, business and church groups.

So sad to hear about the closing of The American. My fondest memory of this theater: in 1964, when I was 12, I rode the bus into downtown Charleston to see A HARD DAY'S NIGHT. No one wanted to go with me (or drive me there) so I just hopped on the bus and took matters into my own hands (of course I didn't tell my parents of my odyssey).

And I'll never forget the experience..........

A wonderful place to see movies. Thanks for the memories.

Exterior (and interior?) of this theater can be seen in "The Notebook" (2004).

TC: I saw the movie "The Notebook", but don't recall seeing the American so must rent the movie or buy the DVD so I can hit the pause button!

When the couple first met as teenagers they went to the movies with another young couple. The American marquee is clearly visible in the background. Interestingly, the theater was built in 1942 but the movie scene took place in 1939/1940. In fact it did look a brand new theater in the film. Too bad it has closed. Of course that scene took place in Seabrook, SC so the American was just substituting as a period movie theater.

PS Mapquest shows 2 Seabrooks within 20 miles of each other. Pretty confusing!

I saw the movie prior to my involvement with CT so wouldn't have noticed at the time the scene you refer to in the movie.

I read an article saying that this theater closed in february of 2005. Does anyone know if this is true

The American Theatre has closed as a regular movie house. However, they plan to show movies during certain times of the year. You can read about it at their web site at http://www.americantheater.com/movies/

"The Post and Courier (Charleston, SC), Oct 19, 2003 pE1 {SUNDAY}
SMALL-TOWN STORY: ~Radio ,' filmed in Walterboro, opens Friday with premiere screenings at the American Theater here Monday and in Anderson on Thursday."

It seems like this theatre had a lot of recent publicity as far as movie premieres and appearances in movies. Hope it returns to a full time movie house.

In my research I show the theatre opened in 1942 and seating was listed as 700.

I believe that this is the old American theater in a recent photo:
http://community.webshots.com/photo/293527411/293527411NXNKYl

TC - The theatre shown in community.webshots is the Riviera Theatre. It is also on King Street in Charleston but is a conference center now. The entrance and lobby have been restored. The balcony still has seating but is used for meetings not movies. The auditorium has been converted into two stories with retail shops below and a ballroom above.

thanks for the clarification. I still believe that the American was featured in "The Notebook" and not the Riviera as the photo indicates.

Here is a more recent photo:
http://flickr.com/photos/sh/345402/

Love those front doors with the circle windows which is so art deco. The night photo is almost enchanting to look at...can almost see, in my mind's eye, John T. and Olivia by the door on a date!

Although I wish the 1942 art deco hadn't been 'twinned'.

Here is a 2006 photo of the American Theater.

Here is another photo:
http://tinyurl.com/q4cbf

This is a recent photo of the American Theater.

That photo must have been taken on the 14h of July as that is Bastille Day in France!

The theater to change to a hotel in March 2008

Patrick Properties, which owns and operates the American Theatre in Charleston, has purchased property south of the theater which they plan to open as a 64-room hotel in 2009. The American Theater will continue to be a theater. The American Theater stopped screening feature films in 2005 but is still hosting live stage shows and booking business events. This information is from a newspaper article in Charleston's Post and Courier dated August 12, 2007.

The theater will be part of the hotel ispoke with the owners today .........

The American Theater in October of 2007.

last day is feb 20th 2008

Are you implying that the AMERICAN will be torn down, refurbished, or rennovated as something other that a theatre/auditorium?

IT will become part of the hotel ..the lobby i believe...

Here is a more recent photo.

the hotel now set to start in july or aug 08

http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A42287

WEDDING EVENTS

Posting “predictions” about a theater is not historical information. When these predictions prove to be false, they diminish the value of this forum. Anyone’s comments are welcomed by all of us, as long as they are factual. Posting rumors or false information is not appreciated. Please don’t trash this excellent forum.

Another photo can be seen here.

WHO WROTE PREDICTIONS???

You did "Kreskin". :)

LOST YOU LOST ME...

"But last week, we also learned the American Theater will be renovated to specialize in wedding-related events."

This will be part of the hotel we completed......

Don't feel bad, I'm always lost. Didn't the article that you linked to predict that this building would be used for weddings?

They are going to use the space for weddings and will be part of the hotel when the hotel gets built.....

As i tryed to lease this space from them i can tell its fact and just about everyone in Charleston knows there plans.

LOST HOW YOU BEEN???

I'm doing okay. Thanks for asking. I hope that all is well by you and that business is good at your theater.

Theater auditorium has been gutted for banquet hall ....june 2008

The name of the architect that I found for this theater is Augustus E. Constantine.

This is another photo of the American.

Another 2008 photo is here.

Here is a photo circa 1970s:
http://tinyurl.com/lwlnku

What would the source for that photo be?

King Street in Charleston had its share of theatres
Academy of Music AKA Riviera 225 King St.
Theatorium AKA New Theatorium 321 Kings St.
Pastime 282 King St.
Wonderland 249 King St.
Elisnore AKA Idle Hour 263 King St.
Majestic 343 King St.
Bon Air 364 King St.
Priness AKA Fairyland 304 King St.
Lyric 348 King St.
Elco 549 King St.
Uno 368 King St.
Dixieland 220 King St.
Dreamland (African American( 568 King St.
Maceo AKA Leader 422 King St.
Crescent (Believed to by African American) 617 King St.
Orpheum 424 King St.Colonial 372 King St.
Carolina 399 King St.
Garden 371 King St.
Lincoln 601 King St.
Gloria 331 King St.
Palace 568 King St.
American 446 King St.
Nothing left to show for all the rich history of theatres along King Street today.

LM no sense asking for the source of any photos that he posts, you won't get an answer. They are from his photobucket and he surely wasn't the photographer. Very sad that you can't just link to the photo from its source to give the proper credit where the credit is due.

This is a 2009 night photo.