Special to The T&D

COLUMBIA -- Many South Carolinians can recall hearing stories about the filming of some pretty big movies in various locations in the past decade or two. But it would probably surprise most folks to know that the Palmetto State has served as the location for a large number of motion pictures -- some major, some virtually unknown -- over more than 100 years.

The South Carolina State Museum has reached back in time to gather scores of a.jpgacts, photographs, posters and other memorabilia from movies great and small to produce the new blockbuster exhibit, "Hollywood Comes to South Carolina: A Century of Filmmaking in the Palmetto State," which can be seen in the museum's Blockbuster Gallery through Oct. 19.

"The exhibit will showcase the significant number of movies produced in the state over the past 100 years and give our guests an idea of the complexity of the undertaking and the organization needed to produce a motion picture," said Chief Curator of History Fritz Hamer. "It also will be a lot of fun for folks to see the many costumes, photos, a.jpgacts and pieces of equipment -- some very famous and familiar -- that have contributed to some of their favorite Hollywood movies."

The exhibit will trace the history of films large and small made in South Carolina over the entirety of the 20th century and will include early documentaries and educational films in addition to major motion pictures.

Guests will see photographs, posters, movie clips, filmmaking equipment, costumes, props and other artifacts they may have seen on the big screen or perhaps even in person in their towns or helped build, Hamer says. And of course, information on South Carolina stars will be included.

Included are such items as a "fat suit" worn by Eddie Murphy in "The Nutty Professor 2"; the gallows used in Mel Gibson's Revolutionary War epic "The Patriot"; a pair of pants worn by Kevin Bacon in "Death Sentence," the recent release filmed in Columbia; a dress worn by Julia Roberts in "Something to Talk About," and the "interview" couch used in "The Big Chill."

Other items include a knife used by John Wayne, a working fire engine used in the mini-series "Chiefs," costumes worn by Bruce Willis, Samuel L. Jackson and Jeremy Irons in "Die Hard with a Vengeance," scripts, models, film equipment . . . and the list goes on.

In addition, clips from films can be seen on monitors throughout the exhibit gallery. A number of South Carolina-related films will be shown at special programs throughout the run of the exhibit.

"We'll also incorporate short interviews with local South Carolinians involved in films that were made here," Hamer says.

Media sponsors for the exhibit include WIS-TV, The State and Lamar Advertising.

Admission to "Hollywood Comes to South Carolina" is $3 in addition to regular admission for ages 3 and up.

For more information, call 803-898-4921 or visit www.southcarolinastatemuseum.org.

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