40 Years of Entertainment: How The Carolina Opry Shaped Shows in Myrtle Beach
A milestone worth celebrating.
This year marks a milestone for The Carolina Opry, celebrating its 40 years of entertaining audiences in Myrtle Beach.
In fact, The Opry's opening in May 1986 was more than just a new show, it brought about the start of a new form of live entertainment in Myrtle Beach, one that focused on engaging musical performances, dazzling dance numbers and captivating comedy routines mixed with world-class stage production in a live theater setting.
The success of this formula, which combined the glitz of Las Vegas and the professionalism of Broadway with the soul of Nashville and a splash of beach energy has carried on throughout four decades and transformed Myrtle Beach's entertainment scene into a must-see experience.
In celebration of the Carolina Opry’s 40th anniversary, we are traveling through time to relive some of the theatre’s greatest moments and look at how it helped pave the way for the more than a dozen live theaters we have today.
How It All Began
Musician Calvin Gilmore moved from Missouri to Myrtle Beach with his family and a dream of opening a live music theater, which came true on May 2, 1986. The Carolina Opry was the first of its kind in Myrtle Beach — a mix of Broadway and Vegas — and would remain just that for the next seven years.
During that span of time, The Carolina Opry expanded from 12 entertainers and musicians into three area theaters at one point and more performances, including the debut of The Carolina Opry Christmas Special in December 1986.
Gilmore’s efforts didn’t go unnoticed, as The Carolina Opry was named the State’s Most Outstanding Attraction by the governor of South Carolina in February 1987.
A New Era: The Theatre We Know Today
In June 1992, Gilmore opened the new 2,200-seat, state-of-the-art theater to house The Carolina Opry.
This venture included partnering with Dolly Parton's Dixie Stampede to secure land in Myrtle Beach, where the Opry and Parton's Pirates Voyage dinner show still stand today.
Today’s entertainment lineup is a classic The Carolina Opry show, the decades-focused Time Warp show, the magical The Carolina Opry Christmas Special — known as The Christmas Show of The South.
The theater also hosts notable national acts and tribute artists with its Myrtle Beach Performing Arts Series. Past performers including musical legends like Gladys Knight, Art Garfunkel, Wynona Judd, Travis Tritt, Charlie Daniels, America, Kansas, the Gaither Vocal Band, LeeAnn Rimes, Tanya Tucker, and many more.
This year alone, the theater will host the likes of Amy Grant, Clay Walker, Graham Nash, George Thorgood & The Destroyers, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Scotty McCreery, and The Marshall Tucker Band.
Honors That Match The Legacy
Calvine Gilmore’s accolades over the past four decades include:
South Carolina’s Country Music Ambassador and The Carolina Opry as “South Carolina’s Country Music Ambassador” in 1992.
USA Today crediting Gilmore as “starting the Myrtle Beach boom” in 1992.
South Carolina Governor’s Cup for Overall Excellence in the Tourism Field in February 1993.
Induction into the Myrtle Beach Walk of Fame in 1995 and Hard Rock Café Hall of Fame in 1997.
Calvin Gilmore’s debut performance on The Grand Ole Opry in 2003.
Best Producer Award from The Entertainment Network in 2005.
South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford declaring May 31 as The Carolina Opry Day in 2006.
Pioneer of the Year in the Myrtle Beach area and the state’s Palmetto Patriot Award in 2010.
Recognition on the Wall of Honor for lifetime achievements in Calvin Gilmore’s hometown of Lebanon, Missouri.
To help celebrate The Carolina Opry’s 40th anniversary season, they are calling for past audience members to share their photos from their visit to the theatre. To share yours, clik below.
More Stages, More Spotlight
Here are a look at some of the many theaters which have followed in the footsteps of the Opry's "theater boom" over the years:
Barefoot Landing, North Myrtle Beach
Their doors opened in 1993, after country music band Alabama wanted to return to their music roots, where they got their start at The Bowery in Myrtle Beach. Today, the theatre at Barefoot Landing presents popular shows “ICONIC” and “The South’s Grandest Christmas Show,” as well as The Guest Artist Concert Series that brings in weekly acts, such as The Beach Boys and Jay Leno.
Broadway at The Beach, Myrtle Beach
This live theater at Broadway at the Beach presents a wide roster of live performances, from “Hot Jersey Nights” and magic shows to “Maximum Velocity,” a Le Grand Cirque production.
North Myrtle Beach
Greg Rowles, former lead man at Alabama Theatre, opened his own theatre in 2024 in North Myrtle Beach and today it features live music and variety shows six nights a week.
This Original Motown Tribute Show is a family-friendly cabaret that features timeless hits, powerful vocals, and high-energy performances that combine for an unforgettable show. GTS Theatre was originally built in 2000, and then later renovated in 2016.
Broadway at The Beach, Myrtle Beach
Legends in Concert first began belting out the hits from legendary musicians via cover artists in Surfside Beach in 1994, then moved to its current location in Myrtle Beach in 2010. Legends’ most recent concert lineup includes musicians covering Elvis, Carrie Underwood, Chad Smith, Bruno Mars, and The Blues Brothers, plus more musicals, like “Menopause The Musical 2.”
Myrtle Beach
Open since June 1995, the Medieval Times castle in Myrtle Beach has been transporting audiences back to the 11th century in this family-friendly dinner show. The theater’s action-packed plotline features knights jousting, sword fighting, and showcasing horsemanship while a queen cheers them on from her throne above.
Myrtle Beach
For more than a decade, Pirates Voyage Dinner & Show (at the former location of Dixie Stampede) delights audiences amidst a four-course dinner with pirate aerialists, divers, fighters, and more.
St. John's Inn, Myrtle Beach
The Polynesian Fire Show brings big island energy to the beach, with thrilling fire knife dancing, traditional Polynesian music, and high-energy performances that stop you in your tracks. It’s a hit with families, couples, and anyone who loves a little spectacle with their vacation night out.
Broadway at The Beach, Myrtle Beach
Wonders Theatre is a fan favorite led by entertainer and illusionist Charles Bach, who brings decades of showmanship to the stage. The theater is known for its fast-paced variety shows that blend magic, comedy, music, and specialty acts into one high-energy night out. It’s colorful, family-friendly, and full of surprises, making it a great pick for visitors who want classic Myrtle Beach entertainment with a fun, slightly quirky twist.
Ashley Daniels of Myrtle Beach is a full-time freelance writer, editor, wife, and mother of three sons and two fur babies. Most recently, she also became a published author of "100 Things to Do in Myrtle Beach Before You Die," part of a bestselling national series. A native of Eastern PA, Ashley received her bachelor’s in English Writing from the University of Pittsburgh and her MA in Writing from Coastal Carolina University. Today, her folio boasts nearly 25 years of regional and nationally published printed magazine features, blogs, and web copy for a roster of clients, and ADDY award-winning copywriting. For more info, visit ashleymdaniels.com