What's New? (Jul-Aug 1970)

—— hee MORE ABOUT MANITOBA The editor of WHAT’S NEW sincerely regrets that due to circumstances completely beyond our control, mainly the late arrival of necessary material such as photos and biographies, a number of our managers were omitted from the Manitoba edition of our company organ. We offer our apologies for what to some may appear as a deliberate oversight, and hope that the following stories may serve to lessen the disappointment of those concerned. W. A. ARMSTRONG-TAYLOR Until his near-fatal wounding in an armed robbery in December of 1967, Jack Taylor, as he is familiarly known to his friends and associates was manager of the Lyceum theatre in Winnipeg. His history in this business goes back a long way. A native of England, Jack spent his early years in the British Army serving in Egypt, India and Maita. In 1929 he emigrated to Canada and wound up in Winnipeg scratching out a living the best way he could. Finally he got a job as caretaker and later doorman at the Osborne theatre in 1933, and eight years later assumed management: of the Rose theatre, now the Towne Cinema. In 1949 he was made co-manager of the Pembina Drive-In, the first in Western Canada, and ultimately took over complete management as well as supervision of three other theatres. In 1964 he was promoted to manager of the Lyceum where he remained until he was immobilized by an armed bandit’s bullets. Jack is a member of the Canadian Picture Pioneers, having served as secretary-treasurer of the Manitoba branch for three years, and is an honoured member of our F.P. 25 Year Club. He has been an energetic and dedicated participant in all industry affairs during his entire 35 years with the company. Jack and Ada are the parents of two girls, both married, and is spending his retirement years enjoying his family which includes six lovely grandchildren. HARRY GRAY Born and educated in Manitoba, Harry entered our business via the stage door route. At 18 he joined the Chesney Players, a repertory group playing the three Western provinces, later moved to Regina as an actor with a local stock company, then in 1928 moved to Winnipeg and the Dominion theatre stock company. By 1930 Harry felt he had had enough of the footboards and decided to get into the management end of the business, starting as an assistant manager at the Orpheum theatre. From the Orpheum Harry was moved to the Cresent, back to the Orpheum for a stretch, and then the Bijou. In 1936 he joined Western Theatres as manager of the Starland and four years later was promoted to the Lyceum theatre, the company’s key operation, where he remained until his retirement. Harry was a guiding spirit and moving force in all Industry undertakings, having served several terms as a director of the Manitoba branch of the Canadian Picture Pioneers and the Manitoba Theatres Association, chairing the latter organization's public relations committee for many years. He is a past Grand Master of the AF & AM in Manitoba, and is a member of the Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Harry and wife Helen, granddaughter of a former mayor and early Winnipeg pioneer are presently enjoying their retirement in Victoria. Their daughter Gloria, a former ‘Miss Winnipeg’ is married and has three children, and son Gerry is in the investment business in Vancouver, also married with two children, making Harry and Helen five-time grandparents. PEARL TRELEAVEN A native of Brandon, Manitoba, Pearl Treleaven has the distinction of being the first lady manager in Western Canada. While working part time at the Capitol theatre, Pearl managed to complete her formal education and in her spare time completed a business course. During her thirty years with our company, Pearl was an usherette, doorwoman, confection attendant, cashier, bookkeeper, assistant manager, and ~ presently manageress of the Strand theatre. She is a member of our F.P. 25-Year Club. JOHN PUNGENTE Manager of the Green Acres Drive-In theatre in Brandon, John began his career with our company in 1926 as an usher at the Colonial in Port Arthur, being promoted to assistant manager in 1929. During the illness of the manager of the Orpheum in Fort William, John covered for him, and later moved