The Holy City’s Riviera ~ Charleston’s Landmark Theatre
At night, the corner of King and Market Street is lit up by the Riviera Theatre’s marquee containing 16,000 lights! By day, the Art Deco style marquee of the Riviera Theatre juts out over a colorful, painted sidewalk on lower King Street, providing an iconic landmark.
The Holy City’s Riviera by William R. Beebe, 36 x 30, Oil on canvas, $10,000
The Holy City’s Riviera by William R. Beebe, theatre detail
The Holy City’s Riviera by William R. Beebe, storefront detail
Charleston is known as the Holy City because of its many churches and its tolerance of religious freedom when settlers came, beginning in 1670. In modern day times, Charleston is frequently rated the #1 friendliest city in America. I chose the wording on the marquee as a big welcoming sign to all residents and visitors walking the streets of Charleston.
Every time I walk along this stretch of King Street, I marvel at the retro-looking, Americana-like theatre and admire how it fits so nicely with the backdrop of colorful, historic storefronts. I also think what a shame it would be to ever lose such a town treasure!
The Riviera Theatre was built in 1939. It is considered to be Art Deco in style, both inside and out. The interior features hand-painted crown molding, flexwood walls, and magnificent murals. It was equipped with the latest projection equipment and was considered state of the art in its day. Its opening film debut was Secrets of a Nurse starring Edmund Lowe, Helen Mack, Dick Foran, and Paul Hurst.
Thanks to interest groups over the years, the theatre has survived decades of financial hardship. At times the theatre sat empty. For a short time, in 1979, the Riviera became the Community Baptist Fellowship Church. Then it reopened and featured foreign and classic films. Talk of it being demolished or turned into a restaurant and retail space, was floating around town.
Eventually, in 1997, Belmond Charleston Place leased it and invested $4 million in a complete renovation, restoring the theatre to 90% of its original grandeur. Now, it hosts business conventions, weddings and events.
Thanks to the Belmond Charleston Place, which is directly across the street from the theatre, the Riviera Theatre lives on. King Street wouldn’t be the same without it.
I chose to make my painting, The Holy City’s Riviera, timeless: depicted without cars and without people. I wanted it to resonate with the many generations of people who have fond memories of it going back to their childhood, and with people who are just discovering it and marveling at it, like myself. Sure, the storefronts may be more colorful and have new ownership, but the Riviera Theatre is as it once was, an architectural masterpiece.
I love the Art Deco design of the theatre and the surrounding architecture. I love Charleston and how it still has that small town feel, with the energy of a big city.
I hope this painting instills in you a desire to come to Charleston, or creates nostalgic feelings of past visits.
Thank you for reading my journal and for your interest in my art! The Holy City’s Riviera was a labor of love, one that I enjoyed thoroughly.
“One of the joys of being an artist is having the freedom to follow my passion….”
What’s next?
Drawing by William R. Beebe