41 records – page 1 of 3.

Andy Digney Film

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85335
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1934 and 1961]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
2 optical discs (approx. 2 hrs, 40 min) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Scope and Content
Item is a collection of 18 short films on DVD. These films were created by Andy Digney using his 8 mm camera and provide views of the Digney family gatherings, trips, vacations at home and abroad. They also provide glimpses of Burnaby parades, celebrations and the Digney Speedway. The 18 segments h…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1934 and 1961]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Physical Description
2 optical discs (approx. 2 hrs, 40 min) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
562-003
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-04
Scope and Content
Item is a collection of 18 short films on DVD. These films were created by Andy Digney using his 8 mm camera and provide views of the Digney family gatherings, trips, vacations at home and abroad. They also provide glimpses of Burnaby parades, celebrations and the Digney Speedway. The 18 segments have all been described at item level.
Subjects
Animals - Dogs
Recreational Activities - Fishing
Recreational Activities - Camping
Recreational Activities - Picnics
Geographic Features - Rivers
Events - Parades
Names
Digney, Andy
Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
Media Type
Moving Images
Photographer
Digney, Andy
Creator
Digney, Andy
Notes
Title based on contents of film
The original 8mm film footage was digitized and broken down into 18 segments, reflecting the original order. Items are described as 562-003-1 : 562-003-18
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Building and opening the Digney Speedway

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85334
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1949]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 film clip (10 min., 47sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 16. The film footage shows land being cleared to make way for the Digney Speedway located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue, one of the men seen in this footage clearing the land is named Lucky Fordham. The film continue…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1948 and 1949]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Physical Description
1 film clip (10 min., 47sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
562-003-16
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-04
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 16. The film footage shows land being cleared to make way for the Digney Speedway located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue, one of the men seen in this footage clearing the land is named Lucky Fordham. The film continues with footage of a press dinner in the garden of Andy Digney's home on Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby and is followed with footage of the Digney Speedway in operation for the grand opening on July 8, 1948. Midget cars and jalopies (stock cars) can be seen racing on the speedway. Some of the footage of the raceway pit and races switches to black and white.The film closes with colour footage of a truck moving Lucky Fordham's house from Bonsor Ave to the speedway.
Subjects
Sports - Automobile Racing
Names
Digney, Andy
Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
Digney Speedway
Fordham, Lucky
Media Type
Moving Images
Photographer
Digney, Andy
Creator
Digney, Andy
Notes
Title based on contents of film
Geographic Access
Bonsor Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Clinton-Glenwood Area
Maywood Area
Images
Video

Building and opening the Digney Speedway, [between 1948 and 1949]

Building and opening the Digney Speedway, [between 1948 and 1949]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-16.m4v
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Burnaby Image Bank subseries

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription64462
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1910] (date of original) -1993
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Description Level
Subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and other material
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's Image Bank project records. Records include: Image Bank database and backups in a variety of formats; 813 photographs collected by Simon Fraser University Archives staff; eleven screened negatives from the Burnaby Image Bank that were us…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[1910] (date of original) -1993
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Historical Society fonds
Series
Community Archives Collection series
Subseries
Burnaby Image Bank subseries
Physical Description
Photographs and other material
Description Level
Subseries
Access Restriction
Open Access
Accession Number
BHS1999-03
BHS2004-13
BHS2001-15
Scope and Content
Subseries consists of the SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee's Image Bank project records. Records include: Image Bank database and backups in a variety of formats; 813 photographs collected by Simon Fraser University Archives staff; eleven screened negatives from the Burnaby Image Bank that were used for the publication "Burnaby: A Cultural Inventory and Resource Guide"; and one VHS tape and DVD access copy of "Burnaby's Photographic Family Album / Burnaby Image Bank Collection / Volume 1 / 1992" which was created by the Committee for public viewing and purchase. The collection of photographs for the Image Bank project were gathered from various donors to commemorate the Centennial of the City of Burnaby. All photographs were collected from Burnaby families' personal albums by Simon Fraser University Archives staff during 1991 with a focus on the history of the people and the landscape of Burnaby. Photographs were collected from every decade for every neighbourhood in effort to describe the City's evolving ethnic, cultural and physical landscape. In March 1992, 20 of these images were selected by a jury for their aesthetic quality and displayed at the Bennett Library Gallery at Simon Fraser University for the "Images of Burnaby" exhibition. This exhibit travelled to various locations between 1992-1993 within Burnaby and Douglas College in New Westminster. The entire 800+ collection was made available for public purchase and viewing on video cassette. As well, each Burnaby school and each branch of the Burnaby Public Library received their own VHS copy for information and research purposes. The "Image Bank" video collection was buried alongside the video "Images and Voices of Burnaby" in the City of Burnaby's time capsule, mounted at City Hall in 1992.
Media Type
Photograph
Textual Record
Moving Images
Creator
SFU/Burnaby Centennial Committee
Notes
Title based on contents of subseries
PC 370, MSS131, MSS088, MI577
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Bylaw Number: 35 - Municipality School Board Loan Bylaw 1908

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23405
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
35
Final Adoption
1909 Jun 11
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
35
Final Adoption
1909 Jun 11
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 36 - School Board Extra Municipal Revenue Bylaw 1909

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23404
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
36
Final Adoption
1909 Jun 11
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
36
Final Adoption
1909 Jun 11
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 57 - Road Appropriation Bylaw, 1906

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23387
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
57
Final Adoption
1906 Dec 15
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
57
Final Adoption
1906 Dec 15
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Less detail

Bylaw Number: 65 - Poles and Wires Regulation Bylaw 1908

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23379
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
65
Final Adoption
1908 May 05
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
65
Final Adoption
1908 May 05
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 75 - Local Improvement Bylaw 1909

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23369
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
75
Final Adoption
1909 Apr 23
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
75
Final Adoption
1909 Apr 23
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Less detail

Bylaw Number: 285 - Land Sale Bylaw No 14, 1920

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23163
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
285
Final Adoption
1920 Oct 25
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
285
Final Adoption
1920 Oct 25
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Less detail

Bylaw Number: 330a - Land Sale Bylaw No 19, 1921

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23568
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
330a
Final Adoption
1921 Oct 03
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
330a
Final Adoption
1921 Oct 03
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Less detail

Bylaw Number: 517 - Road Regulation Bylaw 1983 (?)

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw22931
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
517
Final Adoption
1926 Apr 19
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
517
Final Adoption
1926 Apr 19
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 598 - Kaufman-Morrison Agreement Bylaw 1927

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23565
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
598
Final Adoption
1927 Jul 25
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
598
Final Adoption
1927 Jul 25
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 599 - Superannuation Bylaw 1927

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23566
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
599
Final Adoption
1927 Aug 01
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
599
Final Adoption
1927 Aug 01
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 628 - Boundary Road Agreement Bylaw 1927

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23567
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
628
Final Adoption
1927 Oct 10
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
628
Final Adoption
1927 Oct 10
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
Less detail

Bylaw Number: 773 - Margaret Jane Patton Undertaking Bylaw 1928

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw23563
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
773
Final Adoption
1928 Sep 17
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
773
Final Adoption
1928 Sep 17
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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Bylaw Number: 909 - Road Improvement Bylaw 1928, Amendment Bylaw 1929

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/bylaw22543
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
909
Final Adoption
1929 Jun 17
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Repository
Legislative Services
Bylaw Number
909
Final Adoption
1929 Jun 17
Format
Bylaws - Other
Collection/Fonds
City Council and Office of the City Clerk fonds
Documents
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C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel series

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription17810
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Date
[190-] (date of originals) - 2012
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Description Level
Series
Physical Description
238 photographs + 3 audio cassettes + 2 sound recordings (mp3) + 6 videocassettes + 8 video recordings (mp4)
Scope and Content
Series consists of records created and adminstered by the Burnaby Village Museum pertaining to the history, acquistion, restoration, preservation and documentation of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. Series have been arranged into the following subseries: 1) Carousel photographs subseries 2) Caro…
Repository
Burnaby Village Museum
Collection/Fonds
Burnaby Village Museum fonds
Series
C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel series
Description Level
Series
Physical Description
238 photographs + 3 audio cassettes + 2 sound recordings (mp3) + 6 videocassettes + 8 video recordings (mp4)
Scope and Content
Series consists of records created and adminstered by the Burnaby Village Museum pertaining to the history, acquistion, restoration, preservation and documentation of the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. Series have been arranged into the following subseries: 1) Carousel photographs subseries 2) Carousel sound recordings and films subseries
History
"The C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel was built in 1912 in Leavenworth Kansas by the Charles Wallace Parker Company. It was the one hundred and nineteenth carousel made by the company and was so named the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel. In 1913 the carousel was sold to Mr. F.K. Leggett of Houston Texas for $5,886.00 and was originally equipped with a steam engine and ""wishbones/grass-hopper/jumping horse"" mechanisms. It toured Texas for two years with the Lone Star Circus until 1915 when the machine was shipped back to the factory. It is believed that the machine was rebuilt by the factory with fancier horses and heavier rounding boards referred to as the “Superior” style. Some of the horses were built around 1917 and some between 1920 and 1922. The factory records consulted do not tell for certain where the machine went between 1915 and 1936, possibly to San Jose, California from 1918 until 1922 and then to San Francisco California, or Tacoma, Washington. Accounts from the family of James W. "Jimmy" Robertson, supervisor of rides for Happyland, tell of him travelling with his wife Dora Robertson to Washington, Oregon and California in the fall of 1935 or early 1936 to pick up a new carousel for Happyland. By May 1936, the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel was in operation in Happlyland inside Hastings Park. The Parker #119 carousel was installed in a pavilion in Happyland which had been built in 1928 by a rival company (Philadelphia Toboggan Company - P.T.C.) and was located next to the "Shoot the Chutes" ride in Hastings Park. Here it remained until Happyland was demolished in 1957. The C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel was then moved to a new small pavilion in Playland until that too was demolished in 1972. From 1972 to 1990, the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel was operated outdoors inside Playland, and was put away each winter. In 1989 it was announced that the carousel would be sold off horse by horse at an auction in New York. Venus Solano and Doug McCallum and other local people came together to save the carousel and formed The Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Vancouver Carousel (also known as "Friends of the Carousel"). The first directors of the society consisted of, President and Chairman, Venus Solano; Secretary, Doug McCallum; Director, Keith Jamieson and Director, Nina Freid Rhodes. In May 1989, the Friends of the Carousel approached the Burnaby Village Museum Association who agreed to provide a home for the carousel, pending the approval of Burnaby Municipal Council. Don Wrigley who was president of the Burnaby Village Museum Association joined the board of The Friends of the Carousel as a liaison. The Friends of the Carousel first acquired two horses from the carousel, who were named Julius and Belle. These two carousel horses were used in fundraising over the summer of 1990, at which time the carousel was operating again for a short time inside Playland. The carousel horse named Julius was restored by William Dentzel III (a descendant of one of North America’s original carousel manufacturers) and the carousel horse named Belle was partially stripped and repaired. These carousel horses served as before and after examples of restoration. In June 1990 Don Wrigley was elected as president of The Friends of the Carousel and they set about raising the $350,000 to purchase the carousel and begin restoration work. With a lot of hard work, the help of the Government of British Columbia and the support of the Municipality of Burnaby, the carousel was purchased. Funds were also raised by The Friends of the Carousel to pay for the restoration, and Burnaby agreed to build a new pavilion for it as a Centennial project. Keith Jamieson, a carousel expert, was brought in to coordinate the rebuilding project and restoration work. The Centennial Parker Carousel (C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel) and the Don Wrigley Pavilion where the carousel is housed, opened at Burnaby Village Museum on March 25, 1993.
Accession Code
BV013.19
BV019.21
BV019.39
BV020.5
BV020.12
BV022.2
X5124
X5125
Date
[190-] (date of originals) - 2012
Media Type
Photograph
Moving Images
Sound Recording
Related Material
Lower Mainland Association of the Friends of the Vancouver Carousel fonds
Keith Jamieson fonds
Faye Diamond fonds
See also: Burnaby Village Museum artifacts for the C.W. Parker no. 119 carousel as well as souvenir memorabilia from Lower Mainland Association of Friends of the Vancouver Carousel
Arrangement
Records have been created by various staff members of Burnaby Village Museum during the acquistion and research of the carousel. Some records were compiled together into a collection by subject and arranged according to their general material designations within the Burnaby Village Museum archival collection.
Notes
Title based on contents of series
Further accruals are expected
Contact Burnaby Village Museum to access sound recordings and moving images
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Digney family and the Oak Theatre gardens

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85251
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1940 and 1944]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 film clip (10 min., 12 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 14. The film opens in with the Digney family in their yard and garden and Grandma Swan's funeral (Royal Oak Cemetery). The remainder of the footage provides views of the gardens surrounding the Oak Theatre and includes footage of a wedding,…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1940 and 1944]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Physical Description
1 film clip (10 min., 12 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
562-003-14
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-04
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 14. The film opens in with the Digney family in their yard and garden and Grandma Swan's funeral (Royal Oak Cemetery). The remainder of the footage provides views of the gardens surrounding the Oak Theatre and includes footage of a wedding, family pets at play, men and women playing badminton, views of both the interior and exterior of the Oak Theatre including female ushers. The film then moves on to a War Bond Drive and parade along Kingsway followed by more views of the Oak Theatre gardens.
Subjects
Geographic Features - Gardens
Ceremonies - Funerals
Ceremonies - Weddings
Names
Digney, Andy
Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
Oak Theatre
Digney, Alice
Media Type
Moving Images
Photographer
Digney, Andy
Creator
Digney, Andy
Notes
Title based on contents of film
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Marlborough Area
Images
Video

Digney family and the Oak Theatre gardens, [between 1940 and 1944]

Digney family and the Oak Theatre gardens, [between 1940 and 1944]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-14.m4v
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Digney family at Bonsor Avenue and family outings

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85309
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1946 and 1947]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Description Level
Item
Physical Description
1 film clip (13 min., 10 sec.) : digital,col., si.
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent colour film segment identified as Reel 15. Film footage opens with Andy and Alice Digney in the yard of the Digney family home on Bonsor Avenue and their son Ernest Frank (Dig) and his wife Dorothy (Dot) with thier infant son Paul at age 6 months and later as a toddler wi…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
[between 1946 and 1947]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Physical Description
1 film clip (13 min., 10 sec.) : digital,col., si.
Description Level
Item
Record No.
562-003-15
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Accession Number
2014-04
Scope and Content
Item is a digitized silent colour film segment identified as Reel 15. Film footage opens with Andy and Alice Digney in the yard of the Digney family home on Bonsor Avenue and their son Ernest Frank (Dig) and his wife Dorothy (Dot) with thier infant son Paul at age 6 months and later as a toddler with a variety of family members. Footage also includes a view of Prince George, family members with Elephants and ponies from the Bible Brothers Circus, the Crystal Pool and Butchart Gardens in Victoria. The film closes with Paul, grandpa Dig and the family dog, Nero back in the yard of their home on Bonsor Avenue.
Subjects
Persons - Children
Animals
Animals - Horses
Animals - Dogs
Names
Digney, Andy
Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
Digney, Paul
Digney, Dorothy
Digney, Alice
Media Type
Moving Images
Photographer
Digney, Andy
Creator
Digney, Andy
Notes
Title based on contents of film
Geographic Access
Bonsor Avenue
Historic Neighbourhood
Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
Planning Study Area
Maywood Area
Images
Video

Digney family at Bonsor Avenue and family outings, [between 1946 and 1947]

Digney family at Bonsor Avenue and family outings, [between 1946 and 1947]

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-15.m4v
Less detail

Digney Family fonds

https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85415
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1936-19[61]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Description Level
Fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w + 1 film reel : col. ; 16mm + 7 optical discs (DVDs) + 1 portable drive
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a reel of film (digitized into four segments) created by Andy Digney; a panorama photograph of the Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League from 1958 or 1959; and 18 film segments on DVD that were originally created by Andy Digney between 1934 and 1961 and digitized by his grandson Paul Dign…
Repository
City of Burnaby Archives
Date
1936-19[61]
Collection/Fonds
Digney Family fonds
Physical Description
1 photograph : b&w + 1 film reel : col. ; 16mm + 7 optical discs (DVDs) + 1 portable drive
Description Level
Fonds
Access Restriction
No restrictions
Reproduction Restriction
May be restricted by third party rights
Scope and Content
Fonds consists of a reel of film (digitized into four segments) created by Andy Digney; a panorama photograph of the Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League from 1958 or 1959; and 18 film segments on DVD that were originally created by Andy Digney between 1934 and 1961 and digitized by his grandson Paul Digney in 2012. The 16mm film is divided into the following segments: the Oak Theatre in 1936 (construction and opening); the Royal Visit (from the King and Queen) in 1939; Burnaby Sports and May Day events (ca. 1937); and the Labour parade (ca. 1935). The 18 film segments contain footage of the Digney family at their home in Brandon, Manitoba, and Burnaby; views of the Oak Theatre and Digney Speedway in operation; and their travels throughout British Columbia and abroad. The 18 film segments are described at the item level and titled: Andy's first film; Brandon, Manitoba; Burnaby and Digney recreational events; Trip to Kamloops; Burnaby; Burnaby, Vancouver and the north shore; Galiano Island, Oak Theatre and Calgary; Travels to Ontario, Quebec and England; Travels to England #2; Travels to England #3; Parades; Digney family in Burnaby; Paul Digney and family; Digney family and the Oak Theatre gardens; Digney family at Bonsor Avenue and family outings; Building and opening the Digney Speedway; Digney family travel the praries; and San Francisco Trip.
History
Andy Digney was born in London, England, on July 27, 1886. His given names were Andrew Charles. In 1905, he immigrated with his elder brother to Raymore, Saskatchewan, and worked on a farm. In 1914, he met and married Alice Swan and in 1920 they had their one and only child, Ernest ('Dig'). The young family lived in Beatty, Saskatchewan, where they ran a small general store with a pool hall over the top. Andy sold the store and they moved to Carberry, Manitoba, where Andy worked selling lightning rods and hanging wallpaper. At this time, he met and formed a partnership with someone who owned a hand cranked move projector and in the evenings, he and his wife traveled to church halls in neighbouring towns, showing movies. Eventually, Digney purchased his own movie projector and opened a small theatre in Carberry. He worked odd jobs during the daytime and projected movies in his small theatre at night. Eventually he made enough money to move to Brandon, Manitoba, where he purchased a restaurant, which he turned into a theatre with living quarters above. Andy called the theatre 'The Oak' since the mighty oak was strong and stood forever. After starting the first Oak Theatre in Brandon, Manitoba, when talking pictures came along, Andy Digney, his wife Alice and son Ernest ('Dig') moved to Burnaby in 1935 and chose the site of their new theatre and home at the corner of Kingsway and Marlborough. The Oak Theatre - which opened on August 4, 1937 - was hailed as an artistic masterpiece for its ultra modern white stucco exterior, floodlights and pink-and-green neon marquee. The interior featured a mirrored ceiling, fireplace, and aquarium and had a colour scheme of orchid, royal blue, silver and black. Andy was a very involved member of the Burnaby community, becoming the founding president of the Lion's club and the chairman of the committee raising money for war bonds during World War II. In 1944, Andy suffered a severe heart attack, forcing him to retire, so in 1945, he sold the theatre to Odeon Theatres of Canada who continued to operate at this location until 1968 when competition forced its closure and demolition. Andy and his family relocated to a home on Bonsor Avenue on 3/4 acres where he spent much of his time cultivating a lovely garden. In about 1946, Andy was approached by the B.C. Midget Auto Racing Association [original name retained for historical accuracy], who were looking for a good location to race the smaller racing cars popular at the time. Andy was interested and purchased 10 acres of property located near the corner of Irmin Street and MacPherson Avenue and built a race track. The Digney Speedway opened on July 8, 1948, with stands that had capacity of holding 4500 people. In 1949, when the popularity of this kind of racing declined, Digney started racing roadsters. However, he struggled to find local drivers, and it was expensive to bring in drivers from elsewhere. In 1951, Digney found a winner: jalopy racing. Local men would buy 1930s cars and strip them down, remove the glass, and weld the doors shut. By early 1952 over 40 cars were showing up for jalopy races. By the early 1950s, the Speedway was well established, with coverage in the sports pages and on radio. Andy's son Dig worked at the race track but moved away with his wife in 1951 to work in Seattle. Dig and his wife Joyce, along with their two young sons, Paul and Bruce, returned to Burnaby in 1953, moving into a 550-square-foot apartment located above the Digney Speedway restrooms. In 1954, Simpson Sears built a large store on Kingsway and their parking lot came up to the back garden of the family home on Bonsor Avenue. Andy thought of building small stores on his property but in the end decided to build a bowling alley, clearing out his beautiful garden. The Digney Bowl opened on August 19, 1955, and Andy, Alice, Dig, and Joyce all worked at both the Speedway and the bowling alley. In 1956, Andy decided to finally retire and sold the bowling alley and home to his son Dig, which he paid for over time. Dig and his family moved into the house on Bonsor Avenue and ran the bowling alley until their son Bruce took over in 1980. Andy Digney died in 1964 while travelling with his wife in England. Alice died on June 3, 1982, and Dig died on November 27, 2009.
Media Type
Moving Images
Photographer
Digney, Andy
Creator
Digney family
Notes
Title based on contents of fonds
Photo/MI catalogue 562
Less detail

41 records – page 1 of 3.