Canadian Film Weekly (Jan 24, 1945)

JACK ARTHUR Musical director, stage producer, theatre manager and now district manager, Jack Arthur was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and toured this country and England as a musician, Jack traded his fiddle for a baton and organized and conducted symphony orchestras in the Regent, Hippodrome, Uptown and Imperial Theatres before going into management. JIM BAILEY In July, 1907, James Bailey entered the booth of the Wonderland Theatre, Guelph, Ontario, as a projectionists’ apprentice. Since then, this Galt-born employee has been projectionist in the Regent, Galt; Capitol, Kitchener; Capitol and Royal, Guelph. ART BARBER Since 1923 Arthur H. Barber has been in charge of the projection room at Head Office in Toronto. Art was born in London, England, and began his career as a projectionist at the Tivoli, Toronto, in 1918. The following year he screened pictures for the troops at Whitby and 1920 started in the booth at Strand, Toronto. FRED BALDASSARI It was in 1910 that Fred Baldassari became an apprentice to the projectionist in the Unique Theatre, Hamilton. Born in Italy, Fred came to Hamilton with his family and as a youngster became immediately interested in movies. When he obtained his license he moved to the Savoy, and later the Capitol, Hamilton, and is now at the Tivoli Theatre. NOEL BARROW Noel G. Barrow, Secretary of Famous Players, was born in the Barbados, British West Indies, and Noel’s first contact with show business was as audit clerk with Pathe Freres in New York in 1916. He came to Canada with the old Paramount Theatres Company, Toronto, and has held an _ executive position with Famous Players since its ) organization. ADRIENNE CAZE Born in St. Boniface Man., Miss Adrienne Caze started her career in show business as a singer of illustrated songs in the Starland Theatre, Winnipeg, in July, 1907. She toured the vaudeville circuits and in Vancouver she “‘opened’”’ the Strand (then the Allen) and has handled the cash boxes in the Dominion and Capitol Theatres. She’s been at the Kerrisdale since 1932. ‘GUS’ DEMERY Gustave R. Demery was an usher at the Theatorium, Toronto, in 1906, when he decided to become a projectionist. He served his apprenticeship and started in the booth of the Alhambra. He’s now at the Tivoli. Gus was born in Liverpool, England. ROLY DARBY Roland G. Darby was born in Luton, Bedforshire, England, and joined the Head Office staff at Famous Players in 1920 as bookkeeper. “Roly’? was assigned to several theatres, including the Capitol and Palace, Montreal, and the Imperial, Toronto. He served wtih the Canadian army overseas and is now head of the Insurance Department. The Famous Players’ 25 Year Club will be inaugurated in January on the occasion of the 25th ‘Anniversary of Famous Players Canadian Corporation Limited. The Club will be an exclusive one—being composed entirely of men and women who have had 25 years continuous service with Famous Players. When the Company was established on January 2, 1920, only 18 theatres formed the Famous Players group including theatres in British Columbia and Ontario. Theatres in the middle West did not come under F.P. banner until several years later. Thirty-seven employees who helped staff the first head office and theatres are still active in Famous Players, and in their honor the Company held testimonial dinners in Toronto and Vancouver in January. Charter members of the 25 Year Club received a jeweled membership lapel pin, a gift of either a watch or a Victory Bond from the Company and other tokens of Famous Players’ appreciation of their contribution to the success of the Company. Members of the 25 Year Club include two of the Company’s district managers, the secretary of Famous Players, heads of the audit, account ing and insurance departments, supervisor of projection, a _ district booker, five managers, fourteen projectionists, a private secretary, two cashiers, two doormen and two members of stage crews. The 25 Year Club will become a Famous Players’ institution. Each year, on January 23rd, new members of the 25 Year Club will be honored by the executives of the Company when they become eligible to wear the Club’s jeweled pin. While only 37 employees are eligible for the Club membership this year there are many who have served twenty to twenty-four years. MAURICE DOYLE Maurice J. Doyle was appointed treasurer of the Regent Theatre, Tor onto, in 1918 and held similar positions: in the (Alhambra and Pantages Theatres. He also spent about eight months at Head Office. Maurice became a theatre manager, starting at the Parkdale, and has been in charge at the Tivoli and now at the Runnymede, Toronto. CHARLIE DENTLEBECK Charles A. Dentlebeck was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and started in show business in Canada in 1909 at the Avenue Theatre, Toronto, as manager. He had been projectionist in several theatres when he was appointed supervisor of projection in 1920. Mr. and Mrs. Dentlebeck have two daughters and two sons. “‘And three grandchildren,” adds Charlie, proudly. HAROLD EDWARDS Harold C. Edwards, projectionist in the Dominion Theatre, Victoria, doesn't explain how he came to switch from flautist in the orchestra of the Royal Theatre, Liverpool, to projectionist in the Dominion Theatre, but he started in show business in his birthplace, Liverpool, England, in 1896. TEDDY GEE Leek, North Staffordshire, England, is the birthplace of John Edward Gee, doorman at Shea’s, Toronto. Teddy knows everyone of any importance in town and never forgets a patron. He started at the Regent in August, 1919, and has been at the Uptown and Shea’s, Mr. and Mrs. Gee have two daughters. One son was killed in the last war. FRANK GOW An enthusiastic West Coast resident for many years, Frank Gow was bom in Guelph, Ont., and went to the coast in 1910, when he bought the Broadway Theatre, Vancouver. Frank joined forces with Famous Players when the company was formed and is supervisor of Vancouver suburban and up-country theatres. ‘DICK’ GEERING Famous Players’ Assistant Secretary and General Auditor, Lawrence G. Geering, was born in London, England. Dick, as he is popularly known, joined Famous Players in 1920 as an accountant on the Head Office staff and became head of the auditing department some years ago. ‘MIN’ HABICK Miss Wilhelmina Habick, born in Inckow, Ontario, was confidential secretary to the late N. L. Nathanson during his entire career in the industry, starting with Paramount Theatres Limited in 1918. Last year Min decided to switch to theatre management and became Maynard Joiner’s assistant in the Capitol, Vancouver. Now she’s managing the Grand Theatre, Galt. SAM HAIGH Samuel Haigh, projectionist in the Capitol Theatre, Vancouver, was born in Manchester, England, and in 1911 became projectionist in the Crystal Theatre, Wancouver. He has since been operator in the Dominion and Capitol Theatres. IGADE JACK LAVER Back in 1915 Edwin John Laver entered show business as assistant manager of the Garden Theatre, Toronto. He has filled assignments in the Alhambra, Bedford, Belsize, Garden, Parkdale, Tivoli, York and Bloor theatres. Jack was born in Chedder, England, and is manager of the Bloor, Toronto. The Lavers have one daughter. TOMMY MARSDEN Tommy Marsden served his apprenticeship on the staff of the old Crystal Palace in Toronto. The lad from Blackburn, England, became an operator in 1916 when he stepped into the booth in the Regent, Toronto. In 1920 he moved to Pantages (now the Imperial) and has been there since the day the house opened. Mr. and Mrs. Marsden have one son. BILL MORE Another former usher is William G. More, who began to carry a flashlight in 1914 at the Dominion Theatre, Vancouver. He obtained his projectionist’s license and has worked in the Dominion and Capitol Theatres. He was born in Victoria, B.C. Mr. and Mrs. More have one son. ‘CEC’ NEVILLE Leeds, England, was the birthplace of Cecil S. Neville, in charge of booking at the Vancouver office. In July, 1913, “Cec” started as a booker. He was treasurer of the Capitol Theatre, Vancouver, and travelling auditor for Famous Players for three years before he returned to the District Office as booker. Mr. and Mrs. Neville have one child. HARRY PEER To secure his license as a projectionist, Harry L. Peer worked in the Regent Theatre of Guelph, his home town, as usher and later apprentice. He became operator in the Regent and later the Castle, Capitol, Royal, and is now at the Palace. Mr. and Mrs. Peer have one son. ARCHIE PRENTICE When Pantages Theatre opened in 1920 the stage was rigged by Glasgowborn Archie Prentice. Archie was transferred to the Uptown, and later returned to the Imperial, where is is now in charge of the stage. Mr. and Mrs. Prentice have one daughter and four sons, one of whom is serving overseas ith the R.C.A.F. CHARLIE RICHARDS Charles A. Richards joined Famous Players in 1920 in one of the Company’s first theatres, the Teck, Toronto, as an usher. He was promoted to doorman and then manager and has been manager of Parliament and Carlton Theatres. He was born in Langstaff, Ontario, is married and has one dauhgter. ROBBIE ROBERTSON Motherwell, Scotland, was the birthplace of John Mack Robertson, affectionately known as ‘‘Robbie,” manager of the Capitol Theatre, Victoria. He was a projectionist in 1910 in the Maple Leaf Theatre, Vancouver. Mr, and Mrs. Robertson moved to Victoria many years ago, where “Robbie” has managed both the Dominion and Capitol Theatres. (Continued on Page 40)