Carver Theatre
1519 Harden Street,
Columbia,
SC
29204
1519 Harden Street,
Columbia,
SC
29204
1 person
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Related Websites
National Park Service -- Carver Theatre
Additional Info
Previously operated by: Booker T. Theaters, Dixie Amusement Co.
Architects: William P. Crosland
Previous Names: Capri Theatre
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The Carver Theatre, located in Columbia, SC, was one of two theatres that catered exclusively to the African American community. It was opened on May 1, 1942 with Walter Pidgeon in “Dark Command”.
It was located alongside the Waverly community, which was the pre-eminent African American community in Columbia. Many important community members lived there, including doctors, lawyers, educators, ministers and skilled tradesmen. It was also located in good proximity to historically African American Benedict College and Allen College.
In addition to showing movies, the theatre also featured weekly talent shows for area youth that were based on the famous “Amateur Hour” in Harlem.
On April 2, 1975 it was renamed Capri Theatre and began screening aduilt movies. The opening program was “Lady Delia” & “Me Please”. The Capri Theatre was closed on January 22, 1978 with “The Creatures” & “Velvet Empire”.
In 1979 it began use as a church. In the 1990’s it became a live theatre reverting back to the Caver Theatre name. In the 2000’s it became a church again. In 2022 under new owner restorations are planned.
The building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 17, 2003.
Contributed by
Lauren Grubb
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Recent comments (view all 4 comments)
Additional exterior and interior photos can be seen below. The Agape Church renovated the theater around 1998 and used it for a few years, but has since moved on. The building’s current occupant, if any, is unknown:
http://tinyurl.com/22k5gu
The Carver Theatre located at 1519 Hardin St. in Columbis,Sc. was remolded in the summer of 1966. I got my license and in the fall it opened. After I got out of service Mr.Z asked if I wanted to come here and help with the remolding of the theatre. It had the same type equipment as the Ritz in Memphis. It had a balcony the floors were carpeted the restrooms were upstairs either side of the balcony. The projection room about 12'x 20'. Two windows 18"x24"high off the floor. the ac in the pictures were installed sometime later. The other projectionist name was Mr. Watson The manager name was A.E.Smith. The ticket booth was on the corner of the building with the consecession stand was right behind it. The office was upstaris behind the balcony. The glass window next door was a barber shop operated by a man with a bad led, called Little Joe .
The Carver Theatre is one of only two classic theatres left in Columbia. The Fox being the other which is being restored and will become the Nickelodeon in the fall of this year. The Carver has not had much attention, hopefully that will change. Recently a historic building was demolished in the Waverly area and that has brought other historic buildings under the microscope, which is a good thing.
The Carver Theatre launched on May 1, 1942 with “Dark Passage” on a 30-year lease. A great deal of the operational cycle was by Dixie Amusement Company. It would serve African American Audiences along with the long-running Capitol Theatre. Dixie updated the venue in the 1950s. Following the expiry of the lease, new operators relaunched the venue after closing it for another refresh.Upon reopening, it was renamed The New Carver Theatre on May 10, 1972 with a double feature of “Soul to Soul” and “Beast from the Amazon.” Under new operators, the theater’s name reverted to the Carver Theatre showing chopsocky and blaxploitation double features beginning on May 3, 1974 with “Hell Up In Harlem” and “Top of the Heap.”
Under new operators and very likely on a sublease, the venue is renamed as the Capri Theatre showing double feature X-rated films. Its relaunch as the Capri occurred on April 2, 1975 with “Lady Delia” and “Me Please.” A topless usherette promotion at the Capri went awry in July of 1976 likely leading to the end of the X-rated policy. On July 21, 1976, the Capri - likely back to its previous operators - switched back to blaxploitation, cult repertory, and chopsocky double features. Film exhibition ended at the Capri / former Carver permanently on January 22, 1978 with a double feature of “The Creatures” and “Velvet Empire.”
Beginning in 1979, the venue was used for a house of worship. In the 1990s, the name of the venue was restored to the Carver Theatre with live plays before returning to a house of worship in the 2000s. On July 17, 2003, the Carver Theatre received a National Register of Historic Places designation and sign. Officials of the local HBCU institution, Allen University, purchased the building and announced a restoration plan in 2022 to restore the Carver to its original luster.