As Eatonton residents await the second “grand opening” of the beloved PEX Theater in downtown Eatonton, the Old School History Museum decided to visit Susan Peck Park and hear stories of the theater that only she would know.
Susan is the granddaughter of John Peck Jr., founder of the PEX Theater, and daughter of John Peck III, who owned and operated the theater after his father’s death.
John Peck Jr., a member of the Labor Union of Projectionists, was already experienced in the movie business when he moved in the 1930s from Dublin, Ga., to Eatonton.
He established the PEX Theater in the Jefferson Avenue building previously occupied by the Dixie Theater. Public acceptance of the new theater got off to a rocky start, however. The price of admission to the Dixie Theater had been nine cents, but Peck was asking 11 cents. A protest march broke out in downtown Eatonton and in the end, a compromise of 10 cents for admission was reached.
In the early ‘40s, Peck bought another downtown property and built the PEX Theater that we know today. Not only did the 900-seat theater feature movies, but it also served as a “live” venue for celebrities such as famous bluegrass singer/ songwriter Bill Monroe.
In 1948, Peck had another big hit when the PEX hosted the regional premiere of the Disney movie Song of the South.
Park also shared several poignant stories highlighting the importance of the theater to the community. She said her grandfather had a coal-burning furnace that warmed the entire PEX. He purchased half a train carload of coal at a time and the theater was always warm in the wintertime. During the 1940s, times were hard for many locals, and wages were never enough.
People quickly learned it was less expensive to pay for a theater ticket for a day than to try to heat their own homes. So, no surprise that families often came to the “picture show” (especially on Saturdays) and watched the feature over and over all day long!
John Peck Jr. died in 1950, and John Peck III kept the theater alive and popular into the 1990s.
Especially in the early days, Susan’s dad was quite creative in featuring events such as “Twist” dance contests and hosting movie stars such as Tex Ritter, Lash La Rue, and even Frankenstein at one time!
Although the theater had limited film showings in the late-80s, Peck opened it in 1986 to host a special premiere of the film The Color Purple.
On a special day of celebration, author and Eatonton native Alice Walker was in the audience to watch the film based on her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
Things began to change for the PEX as television offered more programs that kept people home.
When the theater was no longer profitable, Peck III closed it, sold the seats, leveled the theater floor, and rented out spaces to small businesses until the 2000s.
Today, John Peck is remembered as a man who loved Eatonton and its citizens. He was loved in return and appreciated by those who frequented his PEX Theater. For a listing of arts organizations and happenings in Lake Country, visit www. lakecountryarts.org.