What's New? (Jul-Aug 1970)

JACK FITZGIBBONS RETIRES One of the most honoured, respected and loved members of our industry for nearly forty years, Jack Fitzgibbons dropped a bombshell in our midst in early spring with the announcement that he planned to relinquish his duties as president of Theatre Confections Limited in the middle of September of this year. It was not an easy decision to make for one as active as Jack, but following some serious neck surgery, twice in three years, he felt it only fair to his family to protect his health and conserve his strength and energy by moving to a less rigorous and demanding climate, Hawaii, birthplace of his wife Barbara. A native of Bay Shore, Long Island, Jack attended grade school in Wellesley, Mass., and high school at LaSalle Military Academy, Oakdale, L.I. He moved to Canada in 1930 when his late father John J. Fitzgibbons Sr. was appointed Director of Theatre Operations for Famous Players. ° | first met Jack when he was about fourteen and spent his summers as a sweeper and odd-jobs man in Ben Cronk’s sign shop which at that time handled all the display work for our Toronto theatres. After three years of this, attending school in the meantime, he graduated to usher at the then new Eglinton theatre in Toronto, and in 1937 joined the booking department of Empire-Universal Films in_ their Toronto office. From 1937 to 1940, while attending lectures at the University of Western Ontario in London he also continued his education in the theatre business under Bill Trudell at the Capitol theatre in that city. In 1940 Jack took off for the West and was appointed assistant manager of the Metropolitan theatre in Winnipeg, at the same time acting as a special field representative in the promotion of some of the major attractions playing the west at that time. He also spent some time in the booth of the Capitol in Winnipeg learning the rudimentary principles of projection. One year later he headed for New York where he worked in the contracts division of Paramount-Publix, filling in his nights as a checker for the Ross Federal Checking Agency. In September of 1941 Jack embarked on his military career with the U.S. Army’s 106th Infantry, 27th Division as a second Lieutenant. He saw action in the South Pacific and ran up a distinguished service record which earned him several decorations including the coveted Bronze Star with two Oak Leaf Clusters, also an Arrowhead commemorating three dangerous beach landings. He was Honourably discharged with the rank of Captain and returned to civilian life in 1945. While on a tour of duty in Hawaii, Jack met, wooed and married Barbara Elizabeth Greenwell. They are the parents of three sons, John J. Ill, a chartered accountant in Honolulu, Michael, an engineering student at Queen’s University in Kingston, and Peter who is studying Business Administration at Western in London. On his return to civilian life in September of 1945, Jack set up Theatre Confections Limited, leaving in 1947 to organize his own confection company, Hollywood Confections Ltd., which was merged in April of 1948 with Theatre Confections with Jack as Vice-president and general manager, and currently president. In 1948 Jack took some time off to attent the management Training Course in Business Administration at the University of Western Ontario School of Business. Jack’s extracurricular activities are legion, both in and outside of our industry. A charter member of Variety Club Tent No. 28 of Ontario he served on the crew for four years until his election as Chief Barker in 1960. The following year he was presented with the club’s Heart Award, the highest honour Variety can confer on its own. From 1961 to 1967 he served in various Capacities on the board of Variety International, winding up as a vice-president and second assistant International Chief Barker. A member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, Jack served as a director in 1962-63 and again from 1968 to the present time. On the international confections scene Jack has been an executive member of the board of directors of the National Association of Concessionaires since 1945, serving as president in 1953-54. He has just been elected a life time honourary ‘member of N.A.C. In addition to his industry affiliations Jack has for many years been a director of the Ontario Cancer Society, and from 1957 on was a member of the Public Relations Committee of the national association. He is a director of the Lady of Mercy Hospital and has been active on the board of the Canadian Welfare Society. He was also actively associated with the Red Feather campaigns prior to it becoming the United Appeal. Jack was general chairman of the very successful Canadian Motion Picture Industry Convention and Trade Show in 1966, 67 and 68. He is vice-chairman of the O'Keefe Centre’s board of management in Toronto, and in 1968 was honoured for his many contributions to Canada’s cultural and charitable activities with the highly prized Canada Medal. Jack has been a valued colleague and good friend to many of us in Famous, and we'll miss him. Our very best wishes will follow him, Barbara and their boys to Hawaii, where we hope they will find the peace and contentment they so richly deserve. Aloha nui Jack and Barbara.