About the Film
Charlie’s Place, tells the story of an African American nightclub in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that was a significant stop on the Chitlin’ Circuit in the segregated South. The owner, Charlie Fitzgerald, welcomed blacks and whites to his club. From the 1930s to the 1960s, many of the greatest black musicians played there, including Billie Holiday, Ray Charles, Ruth Brown and Little Richard. In 1950 Charlie’s Place was attacked by the Ku Klux Klan and Charlie Fitzgerald was beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. Charlie’s Place closed in 1965, but today it is the center of efforts to revitalize the neighborhood. Charlie’s Place remains an important example of racial diversity and black entrepreneurship, and a symbol of hope for the City of Myrtle Beach.
