Famous News (Summer 1990)

ea Looks like he had to wait in the rain as well. 10:00 pm Computer line goes down. (So tell me something I don’t know!) 12:00 am Last guest leaves the washroom. This is significant, because the last movie ended at 11:15 pm. 1:00 am Gets home. Pours the phone and answers the coffee maker. Boy, is he tired! 1:05 am Finds a note from his girlfriend. Manager tries to remember what she looks like. 2:00 am Phone rings .... i! The annual Motion Picture Pioneers Picnic and Golf Tournament, Ontario chapter, was held on Thursday August 16 at the Glenway Golf Club in Newmarket, north of Toronto. Great organization, good weather and a terrific turnout ensured that a fun day was had by all. Famous Players’ director of advertising Doug Pinder is the Pioneers’ secret weapon: his hard work and leadership is one of the main reasons the event is so successful, year after year. Also worth mentioning is the important contribution of every volunteer, from the ticket sellers to the prizes committee to the hot dog grillers. Famous Players assumed sole ownership of the three theatres in Lethbridge Alberta in July, thereby ending a partnership with the Shackleford family that began in 1928. In that year, A.W. Shackleford and Famous Players formed a partnership company and together opened the 900-seat Capitol theatre. The next year, 1929, the Capitol was transformed into Lethbridge’s first "talkie" theatre. In 1932 Majestic Theatres Limited was formed as the The victorious (for a while) Heart Stabbers volleyball team. From Left, Cliff Narbey, Judy Holm, Andy Emilio, C/FP Distribution’s Yvonne Rose and Visnja Cuturic, and Captain Ron Emilio. partnership corporation (continuing until this July when Famous Players purchased the Shacklefords’ interests). The rest, as they say, is history. A. W. Shackleford, now 91, went on to become one of Lethbridge’s leading citizens. He was mayor for many years, served on countless committees and performed untold civic duties, all the while raising a family and running theatres. Son Bob and sister-in-law Florence Crofts became active members in the family business and they, along with A.W., were presented with plaques and native Canadian artworks by Executive Vice-president Cliff Narbey in honor of their life-long contributions. As Famous Players continues to renovate, expand and build theatres across the country we receive many thanks and other forms of appreciation, including media coverage. A recent expansion which has garnered Famous lots of attention is the restoration of the Capitol theatre in Kingston. Anyone who has visited Kingston knows that it is a popular and charming tourist attraction because of its many important historic buildings and properties. The original stone facade of the Capitol, which was built in 1920 and bought by Famous in 1923, was restored and the entrance, lobby and auditoriums completely renovated. The theatre is opening in three phases; the first two screens opened in July and the second pair at the end of August. The final three screens are to open September 28. (See photo next page.) For the fourth consecutive year, Famous Players played host to the Kidsummer Kids’ Film Festival. Kidsummer is a media-sponsored series of free events (one each day of the summer) for families in the Toronto area. On the morning of Thursday August 9 approximately 600 parents and kids flocked to the Yorkdale Cinemas to see one of four classic movies screened: The Wizard of Oz, The Black Stallion, Born Free and The Little Prince.