Charlie’s Place Episode 5: All Costs
This episode recounts a violent Ku Klux Klan attack on Charlie's Place in Myrtle Beach on August 26, 1950. The Klan, led by Grand Dragon Thomas Hamilton, targeted Charlie's establishment, rumored to be a place where Black and white individuals mingled. Residents recall the terrifying sight of KKK members in white robes driving through town, many of whom were identified as professionals and law enforcement officers. Charlie, the owner, bravely confronted the Klansmen and was subsequently abducted. The attackers vandalized his club, assaulting patrons and firing numerous shots. During the chaos, a Klansman wearing a Conway policeman uniform was shot and killed, with speculation that he was killed by his own. The incident left the Black community traumatized, with lasting fear and distrust towards white individuals and authorities. Many consider this event a dark stain on local history, representing pure evil. The attack also led to heightened vigilance within the Black community, with families taking measures to protect themselves from further violence. The memory of that night continues to resonate as a symbol of racial terror and injustice.
