Palmetto Theater

The opening of the Palmetto was an important event for Hampton, which was a small, rural community at that time (the population was just under 2,000 residents). There were two previous attempts to establish a theater in the town but both failed. Opening night occurred on August 12, 1946 and 550 people attended; many of them had to sit on chairs in the aisles. The theater, which had a stage, also hosted live performances.

The Palmetto was the site of controversy in 1950. Until then, it was closed on Sundays to follow the state's law (it was called the Blue Law) that prohibited exhibitions or entertainment events. However, in May of that year, Hayne and Stanley made the controversial decision to open the theater on Sundays. Soon, other theaters in the area followed suit. Many locals, including ministers, condemned the owners.

The issue came to a head on on Sunday September 10th when Hayne and Stanley were arrested for breaking the law. They only spent 20 minutes in jail when the mayor paid the bond for their release. They complained in the press, arguing that if the Blue Law forced movie theaters to close on Sundays, other places such as swimming pools, drug stores, and service stations should be closed too. The controversy didn't last too long, however. In the coming months it died down and eventually there was no mention of it in the press and it appears the charges against Hayne and Stanley were dropped. The Palmetto continued showing movies on Sundays despite the controversy, even on the night the two men were arrested. The event was significant in that it represented significant social change in Hampton County, where participating in recreational activities on Sunday became accepted. It foreshadowed the changes to the Blue Law that were made later.

"Palmetto Theater, SC." Carolina Historical Consulting, LLC. Accessed May 25, 2021. https://www.carolinahistorical.com/palmetto-theater.

Plaag, Ph.D., Eric. "Palmetto Theatre." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. October 9, 2012. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/ca63733f-06e4-4eff-9c75-cfef9d5faddc.