Walk down East DeKalb Street in Camden and you’ll see it. It’s not flashy. It doesn’t have a thirty-foot digital marquee screaming about the latest superhero CGI fest. Honestly, the Little Theatre in Camden, South Carolina, looks like a page torn out of a 1940s scrapbook. It’s small, brick-faced, and sits right there at 506 East DeKalb, just a few blocks away from the historic downtown buzz.
For a lot of folks around Kershaw County, this place isn’t just a movie house. It’s a time capsule. While the rest of the world is busy paying twenty bucks for a popcorn and sitting in a theater with four hundred people they don’t know, the Little Theatre keeps things, well, little.
But don't let the name fool you. The impact of this spot on the local culture is massive.
The Weird History of 506 East DeKalb
You sort of have to understand what was there before to appreciate why the theater feels the way it does. Back in the early 1900s, the lot was home to the George T. Little residence. It was one of those grand, beautiful Camden homes that defined the "historic district" vibe.
Then came 1923.
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Fire. The house burned down. It was a total loss, and for a while, the land just sat there. When the theater was eventually built on that footprint, it inherited the name of the family that lived there. It wasn’t called "little" because of its square footage—though it is cozy—it was named for the Little family.
The theater officially opened its doors in the late 1940s. Since then, it’s survived the rise of television, the death of drive-ins, and the era of the massive suburban megaplex. It’s still family-owned, which is basically a miracle in the modern entertainment business.
What’s Playing? (And Why It’s Different)
If you’re looking for 4D seats that shake when a car explodes on screen, you’re in the wrong place. Basically, the little theatre in camden south carolina is a twin-screen cinema. That means they’ve got two screens. That’s it.
They usually run first-run movies. You'll see the big Disney hits or the latest drama, but the experience is just... quieter. There’s something about the scale of the rooms that makes the movie feel like a private screening for you and fifty of your neighbors.
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- Tickets: They are famously affordable. We’re talking prices that make you feel like you’ve traveled back to 1998.
- The Popcorn: Ask any local. It’s the real deal. None of that pre-bagged stuff you find at the mall.
- Atmosphere: It’s "no-frills." The lobby is small. The staff is usually a handful of people who actually know the regulars.
Honestly, it’s the kind of place where you can take a whole family and not have to check your bank balance afterward. In 2026, that’s becoming a lost art form.
The Connection to the Arts Center
Sometimes people get confused. They hear "Little Theatre" and they think of live stage plays. In Camden, the live theater scene usually happens over at the Arts Center of Kershaw County, which is just a hop and a skip away on West Wateree Street.
The Arts Center has the Wood Auditorium (which holds about 280 people) and a Black Box theater. If you want to see a production of A Midsummer Night's Dream or a local musical, that’s where you go.
However, the movie house on DeKalb Street and the Arts Center are like two sides of the same coin. They both keep the town’s soul alive. While the Arts Center brings the "high art" and the live performances, the Little Theatre provides the nightly "pop culture" hangout. They both serve that specific Camden need: entertainment that doesn't feel like a corporate product.
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Why You Should Go Now
Small towns across the South are losing their independent cinemas. It's a tragedy, really. When a town loses its local theater, it loses a primary "third place"—that spot that isn't work and isn't home, where people just exist together.
The little theatre in camden south carolina is still standing because the community refuses to let it go. It’s survived 80+ years of change. When you buy a ticket here, you aren't just paying for two hours of a movie; you're keeping a piece of Kershaw County history from being turned into another parking lot or a generic office building.
It’s about the creak of the floorboards. It’s about the way the light hits the brick outside before the sun goes down. It's about knowing exactly where you are the moment you walk through those doors.
How to Visit Like a Local
If you’re planning a trip, here is the "non-tourist" way to do it:
- Check the times: They don't always have a dozen showtimes. They usually have one or two evening shows and a matinee on the weekends. Check their local listings or their social pages first.
- Dinner on Broad Street: Hit up one of the local spots downtown for a burger or a sandwich, then walk or take the 2-minute drive over to the theater.
- Bring Cash: While they take cards now, it’s always easier to have a few bucks for the concessions.
- Parking: There is street parking and a small lot, but on a busy Friday night, it can get tight. Give yourself ten minutes.
Actionable Next Steps
- Verify Showtimes: Call (803) 432-7330 or check their current web presence for this week's lineup. Showtimes often change on Fridays.
- Support the Scene: If you're looking for live theater instead of movies, head to artscenterkc.org to see the 2026 schedule for the Wood Auditorium.
- Make it a Double Feature: Visit the Camden Archives and Museum earlier in the day to see photos of what DeKalb Street looked like back when the Little family still lived in the house that preceded the theater.