Many South Carolinians can recall hearing stories about the filming of some pretty big movies in various locations in the past decade or two. But it would probably surprise most folks to know that the Palmetto State has served as the location for a large number of motion pictures, some major, some virtually unknown, over more than 100 years.
The South Carolina State Museum has reached back in time to gather scores of artifacts, photographs, posters and other memorabilia from movies great and small to produce the new blockbuster exhibit Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State, which opens Jan. 12.
"The exhibit will showcase the significant number of movies produced in the state over the past 100 years and give our guests an idea of the complexity of the undertaking and the organization needed to produce a motion picture," said Chief Curator of History Fritz Hamer. “It also will be a lot of fun for folks to see the many costumes, photos, artifacts and pieces of equipment – some very famous and familiar – that have contributed to some of their favorite Hollywood movies.”
The exhibit will trace the history of films large and small made in South Carolina over the entirety of the 20th century, and will include early documentaries and educational films in addition to major motion pictures.
Guests will see photographs, posters, movie clips, filmmaking equipment, costumes, props, and other artifacts that they may have seen on the big screen or perhaps even seen in person in their towns or helped build, says Hamer. And of course, information on South Carolina stars will be included.
Included are such items as a "fat suit" worn by Eddie Murphy in "The Nutty Professor 2;" the gallows used in Mel Gibson's Revolutionary War epic "The Patriot;" a pair of pants worn by Kevin Bacon in "Death Sentence," the recent release filmed in Columbia; a dress worn by Julia Roberts in "Something to Talk About" and the “interview” couch used in "The Big Chill."
Other items include a knife used by John Wayne, a working fire engine used in the mini-series “Chiefs,” costumes worn by Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons in “Die Hard with a Vengeance,” scripts, models, film equipment…and the list goes on.
In addition, clips from films can be seen on monitors throughout the exhibit gallery. A number of South Carolina-related films will be shown at special programs throughout the run of the exhibit.
"We’ll also incorporate short interviews with local South Carolinians involved in films that were made here," says Hamer.
Media sponsors for the exhibit include WIS-TV, The State and Lamar Advertising.
Admission to Hollywood Comes to South Carolina is $3 in addition to regular admission for ages three and up.
The exhibit can be seen in the State Museum’s Blockbuster Gallery through
Oct. 19, 2008.
For more information on Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State, contact Fritz Hamer at (803) 898-4921 or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org
This 1920s fire truck from the Chester Fire Department was used in the popular mini-series “Chiefs,” which starred Charlton Heston, Keith Carradine and others. Filmed in Chester, “Chiefs” is one of many movies made in South Carolina which are featured in the South Carolina State Museum’s new blockbuster exhibit Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State, which opens Jan. 12.
Photo by Susan Dugan/courtesy S.C. State Museum.
“The Big Chill” is only one of many movies, big and small, which have been filmed in South Carolina over the past 100 years. Artifacts from this movie and many other objects, costumes, photos, posters and more can be seen in the South Carolina State Museum’s new blockbuster exhibit Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State, which opens Jan. 12.
Photo courtesy S.C. State Museum
Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid and Tom Cruise starred in “Days of Thunder,” one of the many movies made wholly or partly in South Carolina. In Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State, the new blockbuster exhibit at the South Carolina State Museum, movie fans can see costumes from this film and others, plus equipment, documentaries, props and much more relating to the important role our state has played in the making of many famous productions.
Photo courtesy S.C. State Museum