Charleston’s Most Haunted Theaters

Posted: 05.26.2024 | Updated: 01.30.2025

Charleston, South Carolina, one of the most historically significant cities in the United States, is easily also one of the most haunted. The Holy City, was integral in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and was one of the first successful British colonies in North America.

But the most populated city in South Carolina is filled with more than just the living. Ghost hunters and paranormal investigators flock to this city every year. They fill the many haunted theaters lining the streets of The Holy City. But, unlike those that came before them, they are not looking towards the silver screen. More so, beyond it.

Stuck between history and hauntings lies the many haunted theaters of Charleston scene. Somehow, through various plagues and wars, Charleston has maintained the art of stage and cinema. An impressive history of movies and playhouses keep fans coming back. Some inquisitive fans bend the lines of reaity from the irksome depths of the unknown.

Dive into the magical wonder of the movies with Charleston Terrors. Join us on a Charleston ghost tour the next time you are in The Holy City and you might see some of these haunted theaters for yourself!

 What Is The Most Haunted Theater In Charleston?

Charleston’s iconic French Quarter is full of haunted theaters and other eerie locales. But the Dock Street Theater takes the cake when it comes to the MOST haunted theater. The ghost of Civil War-era actors and ladies of the night still roam the stage long after curtain call.

Dock Street Theater

Dock Street Theater History

Located in the historic Charleston French Quarter, the Dock Street Theater’s history began in 1736. However, in 1740 a fire quickly cut in short, destroying much of the city, including the first Theater in America.

Almost seventy years later, in 1809, a hotel was built on the same site by the Calder family. However, it was named the Planter’s Hotel after the horse racing Planter family. The theater remained with the new additions and for almost sixty years, the people of Charleston came to the Planter’s Hotel for the best entertainment the South could offer.

After the Civil War, the theater fell into disrepair, and in 1886 an earthquake rocked Charleston to its core. Sadly, the Dock Street Theater went dark and was left abandoned for almost fifty years.

During the Great Depression it became part of a WPA project, creating many jobs for Charlestonians. In 1937, the hotel owners opened a new theater, kept the name Dock Street, and even used part of the original theater to construct the new one.

The Dock Street Theater had some notable thespians grace its stage over the years. Civil War Naval hero and US Congressman Robert Small started as a waiter in the Planter’s Hotel.

Most notable was British stage actor Junious Brutus Booth, father of John Wilkes Booth.

The elder Booth performed at Dock Street prior to the War. The younger Booth went on to assassinate President Lincoln not long after the Civil War concluded.

Ghost Actors Linger Beyond The Final Curtain Call

Strange connections to the theater mark Booth’s legacy. It is said that Junius Booth had a bad temper. One evening he attacked the hotel manager and almost killed him.

Legend has it that his ghost haunts the Dock Street Theater to this day, even though he wasn’t in Charleston at his death. Theater employees say he’s been seen on stage after closing. But, what’s more disturbing about Booth’s ghost is that he likes to reach out and touch audience members occasionally.

Booth isn’t the only well-known ghost to haunt Doc Street; Nettie Dickerson also haunts this Charleston landmark. Dickerson was country girl in her mid-20s in the early 19th century. Unable to find any other work, she turned to the world’s oldest profession, prostitution.

She would frequent the Planter’s Hotel in search of clients. While she was doing well for a while, her clients’ wives eventually caught on and ran her out of business.

Penniless and disgusted by the hypocrisy of her community, Nettie made her way to the second-floor balcony and shouted at the people of the French Quarter below. As she cursed a local priest, she was struck by lightning and killed. She died in a bright red dress that day.

Many agree that she haunts the historic French Quarter theater, still in her red dress, robbed of her beauty due and a better lfie.

Broad Street Theater

 In 1792, the Virginia Comedians Company announced plans to build a new theater in Charleston. James Hoban, an architect for the first White House, designed the building’s front entrance right on Broad Street in the French Quarter.

The theater opened in 1793, a time wracked with deadly diseases. Business was very slow at first as many people feared public gatherings.

Then, a French theater on Church Street quickly joined Broad Street. After a few short seasons, the two companies merged, relatively saving the French Quarter Theater.The new theater decided on the name “ City Theater,” and the Broad Street location was temporarily closed.

But, by the turn of the century, the Broad was open again! Along with it was another theater and a music hall. However, due to the War of 1812, all theaters quickly closed.

When it was all over, the Broad Street reopened in the Fall of 1815 under new management. Ironically enough by a British actor named Joseph Holman. Theater groups soon arrived in Charleston, spruced up the theater, and put their companies to work.

Yet, by 1832, the playhouse saw a sharp decline in ticket sales; a year later, the building was sold and purchased by the Medical College of the State of South Carolina for $12,000.

The College was closed in 1838, but in 1840, the building was again reopened as a teaching hospital. It was one of the only integrated hospitals in the South during the 19th century. The Broad Street never reopened, but it was the first in a long line of legitimate, upscale theaters in Charleston.

Its long history, chock full of war, disease, and death have led many to believe that dark shadows move on their own inside this historic French Quarter theater.

South Windermere Cinema

The South Windermere Cinema was built in the post-Depression era along with the rest of the South Windermere Center. It was a local favorite for more than six decades and many Charleston natives have a lifetime of fond memories there. The theater was closed down in 2007 but reopened in 2010. Since then, employees have consistently reported strange occurrences.

After closing, cleaning, and putting up all the seats, employees will return to find all the seats down, every other row down, or sometimes every other seat down. Occasionally, pictures can be taken of what seem to be ghostly apparitions. These otherworldly activities lead to questions about what happened during the three years the cinema was closed.

While there are no reports of suspicious activity in the building during that time, speculation suggests someone ran afoul at this haunted theater, and their victim’s spirit now haunts the place of its death.

Haunted Charleston

For those who appreciate both sophistication and the supernatural, the haunted theaters of Charleston are must-sees while spending time in The Holy City. The history embedded in these buildings comes to life at night in the form of spirits wanting to tell their stories.

Want to learn more about Charleston’s haunted locations and their resident spirits? Book a Charleston ghost tour with Charleston Terrors tonight!

Read our blog for more scary stories about haunted theaters and other things that go bump in the Holy City and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok for spooky content around the clock.

Sources:

• https://thelittlehouseofhorrors.com/dock-street-theatre
• http://www.halseymap.com/flash/window.asp?HMID=10
• https://www.scprai.org/hauntingsa_g.html