On June 2, 1986, when Calvin Gilmore opened his doors to the first paying customers of The Carolina Opry, few locals or vacationers knew what to expect. Another country bar? Maybe Hee Haw at the beach?

What they got was a breath of fresh air. A sensational show in a cool theater. The kind of show you could take your kids or your grandmother to—but it also blew back the hair of your hard-to-please brother-in-law from New York. By late summer the word had gotten around that something spectacular was happening at The Carolina Opry, and the long line of patrons snaked out the door and around the building. Tour buses stood bumper to bumper. Gilmore had only 12 entertainers and musicians to work with, himself among the number, but they packed a wallop. 

Eight years later, the dam broke. Imitators rushed to cash in on The Carolina Opry’s success. The Dixie Stampede (now Pirate’s Voyage) grabbed his kite tail by sharing his prime site in Myrtle Beach. The investment group that created the Alabama Theater used Gilmore’s architect and his literal blueprints to build a theater. Burroughs and Chapin planned an entertainment complex that they hoped would corner the whole market with numerous shows. 

Nearly 40 years later, The Carolina Opry remains the top show in the market and Gilmore stands alone as a producer, performer, and entrepreneur. 

Though some have survived, none have managed to create the high quality production standard or the customer loyalty of Gilmore Entertainment. Why? Well, maybe because the cook is in the kitchen. The show is not created by a hired gun from somewhere else; it is written, produced, and directed right here in Myrtle Beach by the onsite owner. And it may be worth noting that it is owned entirely by the Gilmore family. 

The inauguration and phenomenal success of The Carolina Opry Christmas Special (“The Christmas Show of the South”) made Myrtle Beach a year-round destination. Many may have forgotten that thirty years ago Myrtle Beach rolled up the sidewalks after Labor Day. It was hard to find a restaurant open for lunch in December. Then the Christmas tour buses began to roll to The Carolina Opry Christmas Special. Families from throughout the region came to Myrtle Beach in December just to see the show. Hotels and restaurants not only opened—they filled. And a new seasonal market was born.

And along the way, spurred on by the entertainment boom that Gilmore inspired, the Grand Strand experienced exponential growth. The buzz brought heavy hitters like Marriott and Hard Rock Café and Medieval Times to the banquet table. 

Gilmore himself has performed numerous times on The Grand Ole Opry, was recognized for his accomplishments by the South Carolina state senate, and was bestowed the Palmetto Patriot award. His shows stand alone on the Grand Strand with major media accolades include NBC Nightly News, USA Today, CNN, Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, The New York Times, Detroit Free Press, and a host of others. The Huffington Post recently noted that Gilmore’s shows featured “World-Class entertainers that blew us away . . . literally!”

Gilmore’s shows are the only shows to have won every major South Carolina tourism award, including the coveted South Carolina Governer’s Cup and Most Outstanding Attraction and are the only shows to be voted #1 for 30 years.

Now approaching our 40th anniversary season, The Calvin Gilmore Theater brings a level of production diversity never seen in Myrtle Beach. The theater hosts 3 original productions: The classic Carolina Opry show, Time Warp and the much-loved Carolina Opry Christmas Special (“The Christmas Show of the South”). The theater is also home to the Myrtle Beach Performing Arts series, featuring celebrity concerts like Dwight Yoakam, Gladys Knight, Blues Traveler, Gaither Vocal Band, Leann Rimes, Art Garfunkel and Travis Tritt as well as uncanny tribute tributes to artists like ABBA, The Bee Gees, Michael Jackson, the Eagles and more.

If the Carolina Opry Theater doesn’t have what you want, then you may need to check your pulse! You know the old saying: There's nothing like an original.