These are just a few ways to describe the entrepreneur who owned an integrated nightclub during Jim Crow in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. What happened here would come to define a community and generations to come. This is the almost forgotten history of Charlie’s Place.
Follow the rise, fall, and legacy of a nightclub that dared to integrate music, culture, and community—against all odds. Binge the entire season ad-free by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Charlie's Place show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
Charlie Fitzgerald ran more than a nightclub—he cultivated a world. He was sharp, mysterious, and unbothered by the rules of segregation. But he wasn’t alone. His wife Sarah ran the kitchen and kept the neighborhood kids in line. Ms. Pat danced like nobody was watching. Roddy listened from the trees. Dino snuck in from the white side of town, drawn to the music he wasn’t supposed to hear. Together, they remember a place that wasn’t supposed to exist—and the people who made it unforgettable.
Charlie’s Place isn’t just history. The story still lives on in the streets, buildings, and neighborhoods of Myrtle Beach. From restored landmarks to everyday spots with hidden pasts, these places will connect you to the music, the people, and the moments that shaped a community and generations of visitors. Some stand just as they were, others have evolved, but each holds a piece of the story.
Charlie's Place is a podcast series co-produced by Atlas Obscura and Rococo Punch in partnership with Pushkin Industries and Visit Myrtle Beach. Hosted by filmmaker Rhym Guissé, the show uncovers the hidden history of a legendary Black nightclub in Jim Crow-era South Carolina—and the people who made it a symbol of culture, resistance, and community. Starting July 21st, binge the entire season early and ad-free by subscribing to Pushkin+. Sign up on the Charlie's Place show page on Apple Podcasts or at pushkin.fm/plus.
