By Judy Salamacha ~
The Central Coast lost a cultural treasure on Sept. 22. Mr. J.B. Buckley spent 102-years on this earth and the past 39 in “retirement” busily producing live theater at the Pewter Plough Playhouse of Cambria.
It began as an antique store, but the creativity in Buckley noticed his 
store patrons were often visiting Cambria before or after touring Hearst Castle. They were looking for something more to do during their vacations. Buckley re-designed the store to offer drama, comedy and musical tributes to Cambria by way of community theatre and a gathering place to sip a glass of wine while meeting the actors and listening to traditional tunes played on a grand piano.
The first production in 1977 was, “Look Homeward Angel.” Coverage of opening night included a piece by Los Angeles Times staff writer, Kevin Thomas.
Thomas wrote, “…striking accessories, gathered by the Buckleys over the years, range from a superb 17th-Century Venetian arch at the rear of the theater to outsized corbels in the pub.
While Mrs. [Olga] Buckley presides over the horseshoe bar, [Jim] Buckley often entertains at the piano, over which vintage sheet music is scattered. From time to time a localite, who comes in for a drink — and some warm hospitality — ends up being cast in a play.”
After World War II, Buckley attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, and signed up for a course at the U.S. Army’s theatre school in Biarritz, France. Richard Whorf was also there, directing, “Richard II.” Guthrie McLintic did “Winterset,” and Albert McCleery, who was in charge, would later hire Buckley to design sets for NBC’s Matinee Theatre.
Buckley was briefly a movie set decorator at MGM, designed hotel interiors, exhibits for Disneyland and the overall design of the Movieland Wax Museum. In 1953, he wrote a textbook, “The Drama Of Display,” with beautiful photo-illustrated pages.
The Pewter Plough Playhouse has always been a family affair with the goal of producing some of the great plays of our times. Mr. Buckley was the artistic director, designing sets for years while his son, James Lee Buckley, was the house manager until his untimely death in December 2013. Mr. Buckley said, “He was my best friend and I told him to slow down. I miss him terribly.”
I had the pleasure of spending an evening with Mr. Buckley last year. The moment he was seated next to me, I felt in the presence of genius. He revealed that at 101, “The love of the art form still drives me.” He attended as many performances at the theater as his health allowed.
I was there to support a friend during a staged reading of the play, “Sea Marks,” featuring Mara Purl and Christopher Land. Purl’s career had changed from actress to bestselling author of the Milford-Haven Series based on Cambria personalities. We became friends through her multiple presentations at the Central Coast Writers Conference.
Some 30 years ago, Purl and Land took a 6-week break from their Hollywood television and movie careers to appear at the Pewter Plough. Sea Marks is about a Welsh fisherman tied to the sea and his village, but searching for the love of his life.
Purl and Land will return to Cambria in October for a revival of Sea Marks (see Community Calendar, Page 22) and pay tribute to J.B. Buckley. His reserved chair will be held empty.
I plan to be there, but will miss sitting next to him again. I’ll miss his review of the set and the performances, but I’ll always have the memory of the evening I spent with the creator of a dream-come-true for J.B. Buckley.
RIP Mr. J.B. Buckley. Kill the lights. Lower the curtain…
