Cannonborough Elliotborough in Charleston in Charleston County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Lincoln Theatre
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Little Jerusalem
Photographed by Graham Glaab, April 24, 2025
1. Lincoln Theatre / Little Jerusalem Marker
Lincoln Theatre. In 1919, the Lincoln Theatre opened at 601 King St. and became Charleston's longest operating theater for African Americans. It was run for most of its history by African American manager Damon Ireland Thomas (1875-1955). For a time it was the only theater in the city where black patrons sat without restrictions. The Lincoln hosted movies, vaudeville troupes, public speakers, and local acts. It closed c. 1971 and was razed in 1989 after sustaining damage from Hurricane Hugo.
Little Jerusalem. In the first decades of the 1900s, Jewish-owned stores clustered along King St. in an immigrant neighborhood sometimes called "Little Jerusalem." Businesses here included furniture and dry goods stores, shoe repair shops, Zalkin's kosher meat market, and Mazo's deli. One early arrival, Russian-born Samuel L. Banov (1870-1933), ran a successful clothing store at 595 King St. and invested in real estate nearby, including 601 King St., which he opened in 1919 as the Lincoln Theatre.
Erected 2019 by The Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina. (Marker Number 10-111.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Immigration • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Location. 32° 47.594′ N, 79° 56.49′ W. Marker is in Charleston, South Carolina, in Charleston County. It is in Cannonborough Elliotborough. It is on King Street north of Spring Street, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 595 King St, Charleston SC 29403, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Historic Charleston and in the Lowcountry. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in the
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Calvary Episcopal Church (approx. Ό mile away); Jonathan Jasper Wright (approx. Ό mile away); a different marker also named Calvary Episcopal Church (approx. Ό mile away); Cannon Street Y (approx. Ό mile away); Weston-Grimke Homesite (approx. 0.3 miles away); United Order of Tents Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Hampstead Cemetery (approx. 0.3 miles away); William Aiken House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charleston.
Photographed by Graham Glaab, April 24, 2025
2. Lincoln Theatre / Little Jerusalem Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 25, 2025, by Graham Glaab of Charleston, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 347 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 25, 2025, by Graham Glaab of Charleston, South Carolina. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
