Editing Theatre Exhibit (section)

=== '''ENTERTAINMENT (short wall)''' ===
'''CENTER PANEL:'''

An “Electric Theatre” showing (filmstrip movie projection) took place on October 26, 1901, in Davenport’s Hall (the second floor of the Davenport building). This was actually a year before the first movie theatre opened in the USA! It was presented by Edison’s Electrical Theatre and Specialty Company. Admission was 10¢ and 25¢. For comparison, when the Greer Theatre opened almost 50 years later, children under 13 could go for 13¢!

Was it really the first? It probably was. There was an electric theatre showing at the Greenville Street Fair April 9–13, 1901, which drew “crowds” from Greer — going on special excursion trains for the event. There’s a good chance that someone from Greer went to this event and was inspired to bring it home; perhaps Charlie Drace, or Mr. Davenport.

We have an article in the library archive that quotes someone saying the first movie shown in Greer was much later, and shown on an outdoor wall of the Victor YMCA. While I don’t doubt that event happened, it wasn’t actually the first.

'''The Alamo (Alimo) Theatre:''' we know almost nothing about it, including where it was located. But look at the text panel for the organ: there’s a 1910 newspaper classified ad hiring a piano player for the “Alimo” (we’ve found it spelled both ways). On June 1, 1911, Mr. Jason League became the new proprietor of the Alamo, and promised to give Greer the newest, best, and most up-to-date pictures. We have found two or three other references of this type, and nothing more.

'''The Grand Theatre:''' The major theatre in Greer for decades was located, on today’s landscape, in the narrow courtyard alley right beside Abbott’s Frozen Custard on Poinsett. Yep — it was hardly wider than a car! While we’ve been told by some people that it was only six seats across — three each on either side of a center aisle — I don’t believe that to be true. At its largest point, the theatre held over 500 people; a later version, in which theatre was shortened to make room for a lobby with concessions and restrooms, still held 350. It was very long and narrow.

'''The ''other'' Grand Theatre:''' notice the photo of a WW1-era building labeled “Grand Theatre.” Where was this photo taken?! We know of the Grand on Hill Street (Poinsett), but this photo wasn’t there: the 1922 Sanborn fire map shows that the Hill Street building hadn’t been built yet. One possibility:

'''The 1911 mystery theatre:''' not referenced in this exhibit, the 1911 Sanborn map shows a motion-picture theatre on the “CBL corner” of Trade and Randall. This could be the Alamo, the Dixie (below)… or possibly an early location of the Grand Theatre. However, that seems unlikely, because the photo doesn’t match what was on that location: a 2-story brick building with a hotel on the second floor. It’s more likely the Alamo.

'''The Dixie Theatre:''' we don’t know where this early theatre was located; but it was in Greer, and owned by Charlie Drace. He advertised both the Grand and Dixie in the same ads, for a while.

'''The Ideal Theatre:''' This was a large stage theatre, and the building still remains: it was most recently Grace Hall, at 108 Trade Street.
The Rialto Theatre: This building still exists as well, at 300 Trade Street. The left half of the building (now Pour Sports) was the theatre. It remained in operation for a very long time — I haven’t tracked down when it closed, but probably in the late 60s or early 70s. If you look at this building, you can see that it is still labeled “Rialto” over the center door.

'''Others:''' There have been several other theatres in more recent years. One of those served the Black community during segregation; it was in Sunnyside.

'''BEFORE THE THEATRE (left panel)'''

It’s hard for us to imagine life in 1873, when the first families moved into Greer. Even those relatively well-to-do were working extremely long, hard hours; most were farming or raising animals, even if they were also merchants. There was little time for entertainment.

'''Salesday''' was fairly standard across the southeast United States during this period, typically on the first Monday of each month. It was a time when farmers from all around came to gather in the town square, sell their goods, and buy what they needed. Traveling salesmen (and hucksters!) would appear. Because everyone was gathered, it was an opportunity for political speeches or other community activity. Our photo of a Greer salesday is extraordinary for many reasons; perhaps most important, it is the only known photograph of the town square, original city hall, cottonseed oil factory, and surrounding buildings.

'''Christmas eve dance invitation:''' this is an original, handwritten invitation to a dance on Christmas Eve, 1894. Documents from Greer in the 19th century are extremely rare; this is an incredible, priceless artifact. Some notes about it:

* '''94 Greers SC Decr 2/2/nd''' — this looks odd to us now, but was a common way of writing an origin and date in correspondence at the time. It also shows that by 1894 “Greer’s Depot” and “Greer’s Station” were being shortened to just “Greers.”
* '''Davenports Hall''' — Most two-story businesses on Trade Street had open “halls” on their second floor, used by the community for meetings and events. This dance was held on the second floor of the building still known today as the Davenport. At that time, the first floor was a large general store owned and operated by D. D. Davenport.
* '''Chaperones''' — Mrs. W. W. Burgiss is Etta Bailey, daughter of the “first family” of Greer (W.C. and Victoria Bailey). She is 28 years old at this time; her husband William has spent the last few months building Greer’s first textile mill, which will open next year (1895). They will name the new mill after their 2-year-old son, Victor. The other chaperones (Mrs. Nesbitt, Ashmore, and Wakefield) are all from influential families, but I haven’t researched them yet. Similarly, the “Committee” consists of people in influential families; one of those is E. W. Bailey, Etta’s brother.
'''Games''' — I mention games that are well-known today, like charades; but I also mention some less-familiar games, like the knife-throwing game mumbletypeg (from “mumble the peg”) and card-dealing game bid whist (popular in Black communities). One of those less-familiar games mentioned is William William Tremble Toe. I put this in the list because Victoria Bailey specifically mentions playing it with her mother and her very young daughter, Etta. It’s a counting rhyme turned into a game (like “one potato, two potato”). Traditionally, grandparents taught the game to their grandchildren. Listen to a marvelous description by someone reminiscing about playing the game on [https://waywordradio.org/william-trembletoes/ A Way With Words] ([https://waywordradio.org/william-trembletoes waywordradio.org/william-trembletoes]).