And That’s Showbiz
Feb 6, 2023
Deep in the French Quarter of Charleston, South Carolina, you can find a beautiful pale-brown building, its balconies trimmed with embellished green iron, with a wide front entrance that sits behind a row of sculpted brownstone columns. The Historical Dock Street Theatre, situated on the corner of Church and Queen Street (formerly Dock Street) is one of the district’s oldest buildings, and the first theater of the Thirteen Colonies. Yep! It’s that old.
Built in 1736, the theater has definitely seen its share of ups and downs— both literally and figuratively. The Dock Street Theatre had to be rebuilt in 1754 after being destroyed by fire (presumably the Great Charleston Fire of 1740), and by the end of the 1700’s, the once bustling theater went out of business and was abandoned.
In 1809, an entrepreneur named Alexander Calder bought the building, turning it along with its adjacent properties into the Planter’s Hotel, which he heavily renovated, fashioning it to attract and draw in wealthy clientele. The building once again became lively and buzzing. Unfortunately, the end of the Civil War saw a third decline of the building, and it once again fell into disrepair.
In 1935, well into the Great Depression, President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted the “Works Progress Administration” agency, which worked to rebuild roads and other public works. The old Planter’s Hotel building was included as one of the WPA’s projects, and it was given a $350, 000 renovation, reopening as the Historic Dock Street Theatre on the evening of November 26, 1937.
The city of Charleston further renovated the building in 2010 to the sum of a cool $19 mill’. It is currently owned and operated by the city.
The Haunting of the Dock Street Theatre
Over 350 years of history has given the theater a rousing paranormal presence. Theatergoers have reportedly seen shadows in the rafters and wings, and ghostly apparitions floating along the stage.
One of the spirits is believed to be that of actor Junius Brutus Booth (phew, say that ten times fast). And yes, he was related to another Booth actor (read: assassin) you may have heard of—Junius was his father in fact. Apparently murderous tendencies ran in the family, because while performing at the Planter’s Hotel with his theater group, good ol’ Junius Brutus attempted to kill the hotel’s manager.
Another one of the ghosts is said to be that of a beautiful girl named Nettie who is said to have arrived in Charleston around 1840. Nettie came from a small country town, excited by the prospect of the “high life of the city” and to find love. Sadly for her, Nettie was 25, which was something that would have given her the age-appropriated title of “old maid” in those times. Man, so if I were alive then, I’d be getting my senior discounts on right now. In addition to her age, her social status would have caused the wealthy men of the town to pass her over, being largely opposed to marrying below their own class.
Nettie, frustrated at her initial rejection by the city’s high society, was forced to find work and obtained a job as an office secretary for the St. Phillip’s Episcopal Church. Although Nettie did well there and made good friends with the priest, Nettie still dreamt of a better life. She saved as much money as she could before quitting her job at the church. With the money she saved, she purchased a beautiful red dress. Wearing it she was able to obtain a successful job as a call girl at the Planter’s Hotel, with the sole intent to submerse herself into the wealthy culture there. Of course, she never truly fit in, and was never considered as one of their own. Bitter about her repeated rejection and non-acceptance into society, Nettie often confronted her clients while they were out with their wives, causing her to ultimately be shunned and to lose her existing customers.
One stormy evening, Nettie became utterly distraught and, while wearing her red dress, climbed the balcony of one of the upper floors of the hotel. She flew into a rage and cursed the people of Charleston. As the storm outside raged, the St. Phillip’s priest, who had stayed friends with Nettie, hurried from the church into the street below, begging her to go inside. Just as she shouted back to him, “You can’t save me!” she was suddenly struck by a bolt of lightning, killing her instantly.
It is said you can find Nettie’s lost spirit, still in her gorgeous red dress, roaming the halls of the theater today.
As for the other ghosts that frequent the old Dock Street Theatre, whether they are past guests of the Planter’s Hotel looking to relive their elegant time spent there, or past actors of the theater, still searching for their moment in the spotlight, there is no lack of ghostly encounters to be found at the old theater on Church and Queen.
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So that is the Historical Dock Theater in Charleston. I feel so bad for poor Nettie 🥺 … Not so much for Junius Brutus whatshisface. 😬
Have a great day friends, and let’s all be glad that ladies in their 20s are no longer called “old maids”. Like, way to go with that one, 1800’s. 👎👎
And I thought I felt old in my 30’s in 2023. 🤷♀️
[🧡DT]