North Myrtle Beach in Horry County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion

Roberts Pavilion Face of Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

1. Roberts Pavilion Face of Marker

Inscription. Roberts Pavilion
1936–1954The Roberts Pavilion, built in 1936 by William Roberts, was an early open-air oceanfront pavilion on the Grand Strand. The rhythm & blues of the post-World War II era—later called beach music—was played on jukeboxes here and at other popular pavilions on the beach. At these pavilions dancers perfected the Shag, named the state dance in 1984. Beach music was named the state popular music in 2001.
Ocean Drive PavilionRoberts Pavilion was one of several local pavilions destroyed by Hurricane Hazel on October 15, 1954. Ocean Drive Pavilion was built here 1955-1957 with salvaged timbers and the same foundation. This area is still called Ocean Drive or “O.D.” although it was consolidated into North Myrtle Beach in 1968. O.D. is home to the Shaggers’ Hall of Fame, and the pavilion hosts shag events from April to November.

Erected 2007 by The O.D. Pavilion Social Shag Club. (Marker Number 26-18.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1889.

Location. 33° 49.122′ N, 78° 40.35′ W. Marker is in North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in

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Horry County. Marker is at the intersection of Ocean Boulevard and Main Street, on the right when traveling north on Ocean Boulevard. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: North Myrtle Beach SC 29582, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sonny’s Pavilion (approx. 1.8 miles away); Fort Randall (approx. 2.1 miles away); Chestnut Consolidated School (approx. 2.4 miles away); Atlantic Beach (approx. 2.8 miles away); Rebecca Randall Bryan (approx. 5.2 miles away); Rev. George Whitefield (approx. 5.3 miles away); Washington's Southern Tour (approx. 6.4 miles away); Boundary House (approx. 6.7 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. OD Pavilion Social & Shag Club Web Site. Wait a few seconds after you load this page to hear a typical Shag dance song through your computer speakers from the early days of the Shag. (Submitted on January 14, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

2. Save the Last Dance for Me: A love Story of the Shag. This 2012 book by Phil Sawyer and Tom Poland starts with an in-depth history Shag dancing. “ ‘Instead of jumping up and down, they wanted to move side to side and swing their hips.’ [Myrtle Beach] city fathers sent the police to arrest the hip shakers for indecent exposure. ‘Night after night,’ said

Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

2. Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion Marker

Jack Thompson, ‘the popular dancers were dragged off the dance floor by the nape of their neck and seat of their pants and were hauled off to jail.’ Kids worked the crowd with milkshake cups to raise the thirty-five dollar bail money. ‘That became so rampant in 1954 and 1955 and that particular crowd of dancers … finally got fed up. They migrated to Ocean Drive’.” (Submitted on February 16, 2013, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.) This website may earn income if you use this link to make a purchase on Amazon.com.

Additional keywords. Jitterbug, Lindy Hop

Marker is At the Foot of Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

3. Marker is At the Foot of Main Street

On the right of the photograph is Main Street heading inland from the beach. Photographer is at the parking lot at the foot of Main Street with the ocean behind him.

O.D. (Ocean Drive) Pavilion Behind Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

4. O.D. (Ocean Drive) Pavilion Behind Marker

Ducks "The Place Where The Dancers Meet" On Main Street image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

5. Ducks "The Place Where The Dancers Meet" On Main Street

Sign reads "Wed - Shag dance lessons; Happy Hour 4-7 5 Days; Fri & Sat - DJ Gary Stellpflug".

The 2006 Tile on the Shaggers Hall of Fame Walk image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

6. The 2006 Tile on the Shaggers Hall of Fame Walk

The tiles are on the sidewalks on either side of Main Street. This one is in front of Ducks.

Judy's House of Oldies — And Shag Shoe Store image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

7. Judy's House of Oldies — And Shag Shoe Store

Signs in windows read “Shaggin’ Video Tapes; Shag Shoes Now Available; Traditional Shag & Line Dance DVD's, shag shoes & decals.”

Myrtle Beach Water Tower image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

8. Myrtle Beach Water Tower

It reads "Welcome to North Myrtle Beach, Home of the Shag" and shows two dancers doing the "Lean".

The Winter Beach at North Myrtle Beach image. Click for full size.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, January 14, 2008

9. The Winter Beach at North Myrtle Beach

Roberts Pavilion image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Harry A West, circa 1946

10. Roberts Pavilion

Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 16, 2009

11. Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion

Photographed By Stanley and Terrie Howard, October 16, 2009

12. Roberts Pavilion / Ocean Drive Pavilion

Credits. This page was last revised on June 23, 2021. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7,058 times since then and 70 times this year. Last updated on September 8, 2008, by Brian Scott of Anderson, South Carolina. It was the Marker of the Week February 17, 2013. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on January 14, 2008, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 10. submitted on June 19, 2021, by Harry A West of Sarasota, Florida. 11, 12. submitted on October 21, 2009, by Stanley and Terrie Howard of Greer, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.