What's New? (Jul-Aug 1970)

G. R. DILLON NAMED G. M. THEATRE CONFECTIONS LIMITED Gerald Ross Dillon, ‘Gerry’ to his friends and associates has been named by Mr. George P. Destounis to the important and responsible post of General Manager of all T.C.L. operations across Canada, and comes well equipped to tackle this new and challenging assignment. Gerry, while not perhaps born to this business, has spent his entire adult life with our company. A native of Ottawa, he ushered in the Imperial theatre while attending High School, and on graduating in 1948 became assistant manager of that theatre, at the same time acting as relief manager in several houses around Ontario. His next move was as manager of the Drive-In theatres in Chatham where he remained for a year. In 1951 Gerry joined T.C.L. as supervisor of Drive-In operations, and after one and a half years took on management of the Bloor theatre in Toronto, then the College where he remained until 1956. From the College he moved to the St. Clair, and six months later the Beach for about a year. At just about that time T.C.L. began a program of diversification expanding its activities to parks, hockey arenas, etc., and Gerry was given the nod to head the new department. !n June of 1962 he was assigned to Montreal as Branch Manager, and after two years returned to Toronto as Ontario Division Manager of indoor theatres, Drive-Ins, parks, arenas etc. He also handled all of our Drive-In accounts across Canada. Gerry has a passion for teaching as all those who have passed through his capable hands will verify, and one of his ambitions was to return to school to pick up enough credits to qualify him for an O.C.E. degree leading to a teaching career. His growing family responsibilities nipped this in the bud. Gerry and Jean Dillon live in Scarborough, a suburb of Toronto and are the parents of three children, Wayne 15, Brian 14 and Tracey, 9. In his younger days he played a bit of hockey and was a member of the league-leading T.C.L. team. He loves to fish, when he can get away for a while, and has done his share of travelling, attending confection seminars:and N.A.C. conventions across the continent. He has just been honoured by the N.A.C. by election to its board of directors. Gerry has never been too busy to lend a hand to all worthwhile industry projects and has rendered invaluable service to the Canadian Picture Pioneers and the Variety Club of Ontario. He hopes to be inducted into the F.P. 25-Year Club next year. Gerry’s friend in and outside the industry are legion, and all of us wish him much happiness and success in his new assignment. 50° N70 jill SOenr 70 tll SOeNe7O fli SOene7o ||| 5Q°N’70 ||| 50 ALAN BELL NAMED DISTRICT MANAGER Mr. W. N. Murray has announced the appointment of Alan Bell, manager of the Hollywood theatre in Toronto as a District Manager of an important group of theatres in Ontario, effective on Monday, July 13th, 1970. A native of Skegness in England, Alan attended school in his home town until he enlisted in the Royal Navy at the age of 16, in 1942. He saw action in World War 2, and spent a to tal of thirteen years in the service, being demobbed in 1955. After working for two years in a radio factory, he and wife Kathlene whom he married in 1951 decided that Canada was the place for them and wound up in Toronto where for a short time he worked at Addison Industries. In April of 1958 Alan and Kathlene joined our Investigation Department and travelled as a team from one end of Canada to the other. After six years of living out of a suitcase they decided that it was time to settle down, and Alan was assigned as an assistant manager at the Tivoli theatre in Toronto. From there he moved to the Imperial as treasurer under Bert Brown, and in 1965 was appointed manager of the Runnymede theatre. In 1968 Alan returned to the Imperial as manager, and a year later, in October of 1969 was appointed manager of the dual auditorium Hollywood. Alan and wife Kathlene have one son aged six. They own a home in a suburb of Toronto, and Alan devotes what time he can spare to his lone hobby, gardening. Congratulations Alan, and the very best wishes of all of us in the Famous Family are with you in your new, important assignment. —