Canadian Film Weekly (Apr 26, 1944)

April 26, 1944 HOUGH this 1910 photo yielded a cloudy cut, we think it has ocular appeal. These camera-frozen showfolk are part of the 22 members of the staff of the Nickel Theatre, St. John, New Brunswick, who posed for posterity on a December day 34 years ago. The Nickel, known locally as “the Big Nickel” to distinguish it from the other theatres which were still referred to generally as “nickle shows” because five cents was for years the usual price, was later destroyed by fire. Walter Golding, manager of the Capitol, St. John, when it was opened in 1913 and still occupies that post, was chief of staff at the Nickel. Golding, shown in the centre of the raised trio, had the photo mounted on a large mat, signed the printed sentiments it bore, and distributed it as a Yuletide who became greeting. “My third Christmas on the job,” stated the card, “and all the boys and girls happy, healthy and willing. My worst wish is that it continues this way with all.” Walter is flanked by Andy Phillips, treasurer, and Frank Fitzgerald, assistant manager. Fitzgerald is still with Golding. Just about the dean of Canadian theatre managers, Walter left the newspaper game for show business and has always been one of St. John’s leading citizens, a leader in civic welfare and a legislator. He maintains a close friendship with an ex-St. John boy who wandered afield named Louis B. Mayer. LBM of MGM has hosted Walter in Hollywood and they must have fished up many a pungent memoir of St, John. J ET the camera of your eyes 4 now pan to the lower left and fix on two fresh-faced young people, Mr. and Mrs. Archie Mason, now of Springhill, Nova Scotia, where Archie manages the Capitol Theatre and doubles as His Worship the Mayor. The Masons came to Springhill in 1923 and since then Archie lost two Provincial elections as the Liberal candidate ——19387 and 1941. He came mighty close each time in what is recognized as Tory territory. In 1942 he was elected mayor of Springhill with the highest number of votes ever given a candidate for that office. He was re-elected in 1944 and, as was the case in the pre vious election, won a greater majority than any other mayor in Nova Scotia. Now to flash back. Archie is another whose first days in show business were due Canadian FILM WEEKLY — Top row, left to right: row: iArchie Mason. Andy Golding and Frank Fitzgerald. Extreme left, first Phillips, Walter H. Extreme lJeft, second row: Mrs. Archie Mason. to the Allens. A Hamilton boy, he left home to get a job at the Massey-Harris plant in Brantford. That having been accomplished, he strolled around to take a look at the Brantford of 1906. The front of a place called the Theatorium attracted him. “TI will always remember the setup there,” says Archie, “because it was my introduction to show business. On the outside was an automatic cylinder Edison Phonograph playing and repeating constantly the song hit of the day, ‘If It Don’t Concern You Then Let It Alone.’ I deliberated with myself whether I should use the dime I had in my pocket for a doughnut and coffee, or whether I should forgo the doughnut and take in the show.” But the spell was on him. He paid his nickel and entered the Theatorium., On the stage a man was singing ‘The Holy City” while a motion picture with the same title was on the screen. It was probably one of the Allens Jule or the late Jay J., or perhaps it was Ben Cronk. The scene helped him make up his mind about which way of life hé wanted to follow. “Tl had the urge but not the nerve to ask them if they wanted a § Singer,” recalls Archie. “Finally, I made the plunge and after singing the song at the next show for them I was engaged. I stayed with them, singing ‘ulcerated’ songs about 15 times a day for several weeks. Then I went back to Hamilton.” After that he was in show business for better or o begin with it was for bitter or -worse. In Hamilton he picked up a portable gas outfit and hit the worse — ann f¢ ana road, showing films from town to town. When winter came he took a store in Orangeville but the weather was bad, the equipment was limping and the n oney Was soon gone. His next London, where he Bennett Theatrical stop Was talked the Enterprise Company into giving him a trial as a singer at the Unique, Hamilton, which was managed by Bill Melody. Ken Findley, who had been in the Maritimes theatres for opening Bennett, returned ARCHIE MASON rODAY Page 9 to head office a asked Archie to go back wit! hin Archie ent and he’s iil there. When the Bennett outfit fold ed im 1909 Archie moved to St. John as projectionist at the Nickel Theatre, a Keith Albee unit. He left there in 1917 to take over a proposition for himself at Wolfville, Nova Scotia — but he wasn’t through with the stage yet. Mrs. Mason, the first licenced woman projectionist in the Maritimes, ran the place while Archie went troubadouring. After studying for a season in Zoston, he show late Selurwn «’ welw vii which the starred, joined the “Buddies,” in Charlie King and stayed with it during 1919-20 Then he called it a day as far as the stage was Wolfville and settled down with his wife and family concerned, re turned to Archie was recognized as an expert in projection in those days. In 1913 the New Brunswick government lecided to license projectionists and he was asked to prepare the examination papers. In 1914 he helped draft a new Theatre and Cinema-~ tograph Act for New at the request of the attorneygeneral and later met a similar request from the Nova Scotia inspector of theatres. He was slated to theatre tor and examiner of operators for New Brunswick if the government was re-elected. It was not. Today Archie is the National pendents and prominent members of the Canadian motion picture industry. He has maintained an active interest in many things, particularly sports, having headed Nova Scotia baseball and hockey associations on a number of occasions. He is a fine speaker and an engaging conversationalist. Brunswick become Inspec chairman of Council of one of the Indemost In the Maritimes they think lot of that rave up a 17-year-old kid who a doughnut as admissior te an interesting career. we think it was worth it Does Archie? Ask him sometime. Lee world of 1910 was one of growing change. New ideas Were pushing old ones out. pub lic taste was broads ning and the giants of the gens rations before were pDASSIN£ on S famous folk who died that we , were Edward VII, Florence Nightingale, Mark Twain and O Henry. That was the year Vi tor Herbert's “Naughty Marietta” opened um ‘The Rosary” wa wv ritt n. Anothe 4 histo. ic event took place that year the fir t xperimental broadcast fro the Metropolitan Opera. What wa loing on the filn (Continued on Page 15)