Sottile Theatre
Sottile Theatre is a historic 785-seat performing-arts and rental venue owned by the College of Charleston in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Sottile Theatre is a historic performance venue in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, operated and owned by the College of Charleston. The building began as a commercial movie palace created by Albert Sottile, president of the Pastime Amusement Company, and opened on August 20, 1927, under the name Gloria Theater. Its opening program was the film After Midnight, starring Norma Shearer. With approximately 2,000 seats at opening, it was described as the largest theater of its kind in South Carolina. Designed by architect C. K. Howell, the building reflected the architecture and operating model of the 1920s movie palace. It functioned both as a cinema and as a vaudeville house, combining film presentation with live entertainment. Its interior included a domed ceiling, decorative plasterwork, a proscenium stage, ornamental ironwork, and large murals created by Italian artists working in New York City. The venue also became associated with Charleston's film history when it hosted the South Carolina premiere of Gone with the Wind, attended by members of the cast, including Charleston-born actor Alicia Rhett. The theater was remodeled in 1966 and subsequently stood unused as a theater for several years. The College of Charleston acquired the former Gloria Theater in 1976. During the first decade of College ownership, the building was primarily used for storage while plans for a major restoration developed. The restoration effort was advanced in the 1980s under College of Charleston President Harry M. Lightsey Jr. In 1987, the College received the King Street frontage of the property by donation, consolidating control of the building. Federal support of $1.2 million was approved in 1989, helping fund extensive rehabilitation, and the theater reopened in February 1990. The restoration retained important historic features while adapting the building for contemporary performance use. The stage received a twelve-foot apron, the orchestra pit was enlarged for more demanding musical productions, and a two-story addition supplied expanded dressing rooms and scenery storage. Lobbies were renovated, and a second-floor lobby and covered porch improved circulation and audience amenities. The auditorium continues to feature its blue, sky-like dome with star-like lights, a plaster oculus, decorative ironwork, and a proscenium framed by ornamental molding. Today, Sottile Theatre operates primarily as a rental and presenting venue rather than as a single-purpose commercial cinema. It accommodates local, regional, and national performing-arts organizations and is used by Spoleto Festival USA, among other cultural presenters. The current auditorium capacity is approximately 785 seats. The venue's identity combines historic preservation, College of Charleston stewardship, and flexible use for concerts, theater, dance, film, lectures, festivals, and other public programs. Its continued use preserves a significant Charleston entertainment landmark while providing a professional performance space in the city's downtown cultural district.
History
Sottile Theatre originated as the Gloria Theater, a large commercial entertainment house developed by Albert Sottile, president of the Pastime Amusement Company. Architect C. K. Howell designed the building as a Charleston example of the grand movie-palace tradition. A building permit for a project estimated at $105,000 was obtained in late February or early March 1921, and construction began in 1922. The venue opened on August 20, 1927, showing Norma Shearer's After Midnight. Its original capacity was approximately 2,000 seats, making it one of the largest theaters in South Carolina. The building was designed for both motion pictures and live entertainment, and therefore operated as a movie theater and vaudeville house. Its auditorium included a decorative domed ceiling, star-like lighting, ornamental ironwork, a proscenium stage, and large painted murals. These murals were created on canvas by Italian artists based in New York City and were displayed as part of the theater's original opening design. The Gloria Theater also participated in Charleston's cinematic history. The South Carolina premiere of Gone with the Wind was held there, with members of the film's cast present. Alicia Rhett, a Charleston native who played India Wilkes, was among those associated with the event. The building was remodeled in 1966, but it later ceased operating as a theater for several years. In 1976, the College of Charleston purchased the former Gloria Theater and began considering its conversion into a substantial performance facility. The College initially planned a venue of roughly 1,000 to 1,200 seats, but the building spent approximately a decade being used mainly for storage while funding and restoration plans developed. A major preservation and modernization campaign took shape in the 1980s under College of Charleston President Harry M. Lightsey Jr. In 1987, the owners of the King Street frontage donated that portion of the property to the College, which had previously owned only the auditorium section toward George Street. Federal authorities approved $1.2 million in renovation support in 1989. The rehabilitation preserved significant historic fabric while introducing practical improvements, including a twelve-foot stage apron, an enlarged orchestra pit, expanded dressing rooms and scenery storage, renovated lobbies, and a new second-floor lobby serving the balcony areas. The restored theater reopened in February 1990. The venue later became known as Sottile Theatre, honoring its original developer. Its historic auditorium retains the blue, sky-like dome, twinkling ceiling lights, plaster oculus, ornamental ironwork, and decorated proscenium. A second-floor plaza and covered porch overlook George Street. In 2011, College improvements revealed two murals that had been hidden beneath acoustic tiles. The discovery prompted conservation work, including removal of one mural for protection and repair and in-place treatment of the other. Sottile Theatre now functions as a flexible rental and performance venue owned by the College of Charleston. It hosts local, regional, and national performing-arts groups and has served as a venue for Spoleto Festival USA. With a current capacity of approximately 785 seats, it links Charleston's early cinema and vaudeville history with contemporary concerts, theater, dance, festivals, film events, lectures, and other cultural programming.
- 2011
Historic murals rediscovered
[1]Renovation work uncovered two large murals hidden beneath acoustic tiles, leading to conservation efforts.
- 1990
Restored theater reopens
[1]Sottile Theatre reopened in February after extensive preservation and modernization work.
- 1989
Federal renovation support approved
[1]The federal government approved $1.2 million in support for the theater's renovation.
- 1987
King Street frontage donated to the College
[1]The College of Charleston received the building's King Street frontage, consolidating its ownership of the theater complex.
- 1976
College of Charleston acquires the building
[1]The College of Charleston purchased the former Gloria Theater and began planning its restoration as a performance venue.
- 1966
Major remodeling
[1]The theater was remodeled, although it later remained unused as a theater for several years.
- 1939
Gone with the Wind premiere in South Carolina
[1]The Gloria Theater hosted the South Carolina premiere of Gone with the Wind, with cast members in attendance.
- 1927
Gloria Theater opens
[1]The theater opened on August 20 with a screening of After Midnight and an original capacity of about 2,000 seats.
- 1922
Construction begins
[1]Construction began on the theater commissioned by Albert Sottile and designed by C. K. Howell.
- 1921
Building permit issued
[1]A permit was obtained for a theater project estimated to cost $105,000.
Products and positioning
A historic Charleston cultural venue that combines preserved 1920s movie-palace architecture with modern facilities for professional performances, festivals, community events, and College of Charleston programming.
Performance venue · 1927
Historic auditorium
The main auditorium is a restored 1920s movie-palace space with approximately 785 seats. Its notable features include a blue sky-like dome, star-like ceiling lights, a plaster oculus, ornamental ironwork, and a decorated proscenium. The room supports concerts, theater, dance, film screenings, lectures, and festival events.
Venue services · 1990
Performance and event rentals
Sottile Theatre provides a downtown Charleston setting for local, regional, and national performing-arts organizations. Its restored stage, enlarged orchestra pit, dressing rooms, scenery storage, lobbies, balcony access, and audience facilities allow the building to support a range of touring, institutional, and festival productions.
Festival venue
Spoleto Festival USA presentations
The theater is used by Spoleto Festival USA as one of the Charleston venues for festival programming. Its combination of historic character, central location, and professional performance infrastructure makes it suitable for music, theater, and other performing-arts presentations.
Brand decisions
2011
Conservation response to mural discoveryOtherBackground
College improvement work revealed two large original murals beneath acoustic tiles, exposing damage and deterioration caused in part by the earlier tile installation.
Action taken
The College began conservation work, removing one mural for safekeeping and repair while leaving the other exposed for treatment.
Aftermath
The murals became part of the theater's visible historic fabric and restoration program.
1976
College acquisition and proposed conversion to a performance venueStrategyBackground
After the former Gloria Theater had spent years outside regular theater use, the College of Charleston acquired the property and considered restoring it as a large performing-arts facility.
Action taken
The College developed restoration plans, eventually combining historic preservation with new stage, audience, backstage, and lobby facilities.
Aftermath
The building reopened in 1990 and became a College-owned rental venue for a broad range of cultural programs.
Recent events
- 2011
College of Charleston undertakes improvements and uncovers historic murals[1]
Other
During improvements to Sottile Theatre, the College of Charleston discovered two large murals concealed beneath acoustic tiles. The murals, painted on canvas by Italian artists in New York City during the theater's construction, depict classical and mythological scenes associated with music and drama. One was removed for safekeeping and repair, while the other was uncovered in place for eventual restoration.
- 1990
Sottile Theatre restoration reopens the former Gloria Theater[1]
Other
After years of inactivity and a major rehabilitation led by the College of Charleston, the theater reopened in February 1990 with expanded stage, orchestra-pit, dressing-room, storage, lobby, and audience facilities.
Sources2 sources
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