The Story of Pink Morton and the Morton Theater in Athens, Georgia

The historic Morton Theater, located at 195 West Washington Street in Athens, GA, is a testiment to African-American enterprise and culture. It was the first theater in the country to be built, owned and operated by an African-American, and for many years was a center of business and the performing arts for the local community.

And it all happened because of Pink Morton, an enterprising and resourceful man who came from humble beginnings to become a pillar of the local community. Monroe Bowers Morton was born in May of 1853, the son of a white father and an African-American slave. He was unable to get much education, but through dilligence and hard work, was able to eventually go into business as a building contractor. In this capacity, he designed the Wilkes County courthouse in Georgia and took part in the construction of a government building in Anniston, Alabama. In 1896, he became a state delegate to the Republican National Convention, and was on the committee that informed William McKinley of his nomination as the Republican Party candidate for President. After McKinley was elected, Morton was appointed Postmaster for Athens, Georgia, an office which he held for five years.

Pink lived on Prince Avenue in Athens, a street of Victorian mansions where many prominent citizens lived. In addition to his many other achievements, he is remembered as the publisher and editor of the Progressive Era, a local African-American newspaper.

In 1909, Morton designed and financed the construction of the Morton building. It was on the corner of Washington and Hull Streets in downtown Athens, a locale known as "Hot Corner," which was a center of commercial and cultural life for the local African-American community. At that time, Pink Morton owned some thirty buildings in downtown Athens, of which the Morton was the largest. It is believed that the design for the building is a modified version of the design for the nearby New Opera House designed by Frank Cox of Chicago.

The Morton Building served two purposes. The first floor was used for business, and many of Athens' black doctors, dentists and pharmacists practiced there. Many of these were distinguished in their fields, including Dr. Ida Mae Johnson Hiram, the first African-American woman to be licensed to practice medicine in the state, and Dr. William H. Harris, a founder of the Georgia State Medical Association of Colored Physicians, Dentists and Druggists. Others included Dr. Isadore Horace Burney and three brothers, Drs. Burnett, Farris and Albon Jackson, who came from a distinguished family of three physicians and two dentists.

The other function of the Morton building was to serve as the location of the Morton Theater. Built to seat 550, the Morton has a balcony with tiered risers, pagoda-style boxes, and seating for about 300 on the floor. The building was wired for electricity at the time of its construction, but also had gas lights which it retains to this day.

The first artist to perform at the Morton Theater was Alice Carter Simmons, a classical pianist. Over the years, Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey and Duke Ellington also played there.

In the 1930's, Charlie Morton, Pink's son, turned the place into a movie theater, and it continued to be a prominent gathering place in the local community. After a fire in the 1950's, the building was closed down.

The Morton family sold the Morton Building in 1973, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. In 1987, a local sales tax was put in place, providing funds for the renovation of the Morton Theater. This work was completed in 1993.

The Morton Theater is one of only four black vaudeville theaters that still exist in the US. Before the renovation, local musicians sometimes used the building for rehearsals and performances. REM filmed the video for "The One I Love" at the Morton. Today, the Morton Heritage Players present contemporary American theater productions throughout the year, as well as the Athens Creative Theater, the Black Theatrical Ensemble, and the town and Gown Players.

Sources:

The New Georgia Encyclopedia http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Article.jsp?id=h-2758

Morton Theater: Athens' Historic Showplace http://www.mortontheatre.com/history/pink.php

U.S. National Register of Historic Places http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMNKT_Morton_Building__Athens_GA