If you are near my age and you lived in Soperton as a child, you will remember the Pal Theatre. The Brice company of Vidalia operated the Pal Theatres of Vidalia, Mount Vernon, Lyons, and Soperton and Pete's Drive between Vidalia and Lyons. For 15 cents on a Saturday you could stay as long you liked for the continuing train of feature western, comedies (cartoons), a serial feature. The movie was 13 cents. The two cents change bought a Tootsie Pop or two Tootsie Rolls. The prosperous teenagers might buy a box of Dum-Dums. Popcorn was the most extravagant item on the menu.
Ms. Juanita, the manager, was an institution then and is still a leading citizen today.
J. W. Daniels took over the theatre from the Brices and operated the Dan Theatre until just about everybody had TV at home.
Today's picture show is not a movie. When this blog was created in late 2006, the weekly 30-year-old photo was the main reason for being. Lots of local people check the blog, and others with Soperton connections go on-line to check it. Besides scanning and uploading a picture per week, I also print out a 13"x19" paper print and put it in the window at Morings Cash Store.
The display was not even announced several months ago, and hardly anyone noticed until the collection grew larger and larger. Now people of all descriptions stop on the sidewalk, anytime day or night, to look, point and talk.
To see that is one on the most satisfying things in my life. All the hard work and long hours have paid off. I believe now that my life was not in vain. I feel like the picture show is bringing generations together, bonding people, promoting the community spirit.
Whenever you are in Soperton, go by Morings and see the picture show. For more fun, take a friend.
Posted by Bill Ricks - the Snapshooter of Soperton
1 comment:
I remember the $0.15 Saturday matinees well, as well as the smell of the boys bathroom, ugggh! I was fond of sneaking up to the telephone exchange next door and persuading Lallie Jones to let me operate the switchboard. My mother was appalled one day, thinking I was at the double-feature, only to pick up the receiver and hear me chime, "Number Please!"
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