Research

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[between 1934 and 1964] (date of originals), copied in 2016 and 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney family fonds

Description Level

Fonds

Accession Code

BV019.18

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

7 mp4 videos (approx. 3hr., 18 min.) : digital, 23 fps

Material Details

Films were digitized in 2019 from original 8 mm format

Formats

mp4

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

May be restricted by third party rights

Scope and Content

Fonds consists of various short films created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. Films include; a compilation of Burnaby content shot by Andy Digney and narrated by Lisa Codd (Curator of Burnaby Village Museum) along with a collection of six films shot on 8 mm film. Film content includes footage of members of the Digney family and friends in Burnaby; the Digney homes on Bonsor Avenue and Kaymar Drive; construction of the Digney Bowling Alley and the Simpsons-Sears building; Lawn bowling at Central Park as well as various family events, gatherings, vacations and trips. Films are arranged and described at item level.

History/Biography

Andy Digney was born in London, England on July 27, 1886. His given names were Andrew Charles and 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 lightening 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, he 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 1936 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 house at 2698 Bonsor Avenue (after 1959-6521 Bonsor Ave.) 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, 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 midget 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 forty 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 Ernest Digney (also known as 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 Digney, his wife Alice, son 'Dig' and daughter in law 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 England in 1964 while on his world tour. His wife Alice died on June 3, 1982 and their son, Ernest ('Dig') died November 27, 2009.

Notes

Title based on contents of fonds

Subjects

Sports - Bowling

Sports - Badminton

Sports - Swimming

Construction

Names

Digney, Alice

Digney, Andy

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Dorothy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Paul

Digney, Joyce

Geographic Access

Burnaby

Burnaby - 6521 Bonsor Avenue

Burnaby - Kaymar Drive

Less detail

Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

[between 1937 and 1938]

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Item No.

562-003-6

Accession Number

2014-04

Storage Location

56-5-1-3

Physical Description

1 film clip (5 min., 21 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

May be restricted by third party rights

Scope and Content

Item is a silent digitized film segment identified as Reel 6. The film segment opens with colour footage of people lawn bowling at Burnaby's Central Park. Dot Digney, Sid and Connie Swan can be seen bowling. This footage is followed with Andy Digney and Charles E. Jones at the Bird's of Paradise bird sanctuary followed by footage of Stanley Park. The footage continues and interchanges between black and white and colour as the Digney's take a ferry ride to North Vancouver where they visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Fishermen's Cove. The reel closes with footage of skiers on Grouse Mountain and a fire at Pier D in 1938.

Notes

Title based on contents of film

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Animals - Birds

Sports - Lawn Bowling

Sports - Skiing

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Jones, Charles E.

Digney, Dorothy

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Kingsway

Vancouver

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Kingsway-Beresford Area

Less detail

Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

[between 1946 and 1947]

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Item No.

562-003-15

Accession Number

2014-04

Storage Location

56-5-1-3

Physical Description

1 film clip (13 min., 10 sec.) : digital,col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

May be restricted by third party rights

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.

Notes

Title based on contents of film

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Persons - Children

Animals - Elephants

Animals - Horses

Animals - Dogs

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Paul

Digney, Dorothy

Digney, Alice

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Bonsor Avenue

British Columbia - Victoria

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail