Research

Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

[between 1939 and 1959]

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Item No.

562-003-12

Accession Number

2014-04

Storage Location

56-5-1-3

Physical Description

1 film clip (5 min., 17sec.) : 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 film colour segment identified as Reel 12. The film is a compilation of Digney family events. The film opens with children Paul and Bruce Digney running around the Digney family yard at their home on Bonsor Avenue with Andy and Ernest (Dig) Digney looking on. This is followed by interspersed footage of the family's pet dog Nero and puppies along with some brief glimpses of the Royal visit (King George VI and Queen Elizabeth) and cavilicade in 1939 along Kingsway. The film then switches to footage of Digney family Christmas festivities, a cat playing with a fish in a bowl and summer time at Pelican Lake in the 1940s and ends with a dog playing with a ball.

Notes

Title based on contents of film

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Events - Parades

Animals - Dogs

Holidays - Christmas

Animals - Cats

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Paul

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Bonsor Avenue

Burnaby - Kingsway

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[1964] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.2

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video file (1 min., 28 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Film segment of a party in recognition of Paul Digney's high school graduation. The party takes place in the basement of the Digney family home at 6521 Bonsor Avenue. Several young people are seated on the outside of the room while people dance in the centre. People identified include; Paul Digney, Bruce Digney, Marjorie Sager (nee Peterson) and John Sager.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.2)

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Recreational Activities - Dancing

Names

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Paul

Sager, John

Sager, Marjorie

Geographic Access

Burnaby - 6521 Bonsor Avenue

Less detail

Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

[between 1948 and 1949]

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Item No.

562-003-13

Accession Number

2014-04

Storage Location

56-5-1-3

Physical Description

1 film clip (10 min., 21 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 13. Film provides footage of Paul Digney as a young child as he interacts with family members and pet dogs at the Digney family home on Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby. The film contains views of the Digney family home, yard and neighborhood in summer and winter time. Some of the footage shows some wear.

Notes

Title based on contents of film

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Animals - Dogs

Natural Phenomena - Snow

Persons - Children

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Paul

Digney, Alice

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Bonsor Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[1960] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.2

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video file (53 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Film segment taken from the front yard of Digney home at 6521 Bonsor Street. Joyce Digney is in the front yard playing badminton with her son Bruce while son Paul Digney is holding a hose and filling a pool in the driveway. Bonsor Park can be seen across the road along with houses.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.2)

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Sports - Badminton

Names

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Paul

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Geographic Access

Burnaby - 6521 Bonsor Avenue

Burnaby - Bonsor Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail

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 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

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

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[between 1955 and 197_] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.4

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video (20 min., 30 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Item consists of a film compliation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. Film compilation documents the construction, opening and a tournament of the Digney Bowling Alley located at 6521 Bonsor Avenue in Burnaby along with family outings at Stanley Park and vacations at Birch Bay and Okanagan Lake.

Notes

Title based on contents of film compilation

Three Film segments from this compilation are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby: BV019.18.4.1; BV019.18.4.2; BV019.4.3

Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Buildings - Recreational - Bowling Alleys

Sports - Bowling

Names

Digney, Andy

Swan, Sydney

Digney Bowling Alley

Digney, Drew

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Paul

Geographic Access

Burnaby - 6521 Bonsor Avenue

British Columbia - Okanagan

United States of America - Washington State

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[196_] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.6

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video (54 min., 1 sec.) : digital, 16 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Item consists of a film compliation created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film footage is a combination of sixteen short segments taken at different times in various locations. The Film segments document the Digney family at their cottage on Okanagan Lake; a visit to Mattick's Farm and minature railway in Victoria and parts of Andy Digney's ocean voyage on a passenger freighter where he travels to parts of Asia.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film

Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view content

Creator

Andy Digney

Ernest "Dig" Digney

Subjects

Geographic Features - Lakes and Ponds

Transportation - Ships

Names

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Paul

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Drew

Digney, Andy

Geographic Access

British Columbia - Okanagan

Southeast Asia

East Asia

British Columbia - Victoria

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[1955] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.2

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video file (41 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Film segment of Digney family gathered in the basement of Andy and Alice Digney's home on Kaymar Drive for Christmas dinner. Family members are identified as: Andy Digney, Alice Digney, Joyce Digney, Sydney Swan, Connie Swan, Bruce Digney, Paul Digney, Mel and June Arthur.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.2)

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Holidays - Christmas

Names

Digney, Alice

Digney, Andy

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Paul

Arthur, Malcolm "Mel"

Arthur, June

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[between 1961 and 1962] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.2

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video file (54 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Film segment of members of the Digney family sitting in lawn chairs outside in Alice and Andy Digney's backyard on Kaymar Drive. Joyce Digney and sons Paul and Drew are seated along with Sydney Swan, Connie Swan, Alice Digney and Andy Digney. There is a black dog which belonged to Alice and Andy Digney.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.2)

Creator

Andy Digney

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Paul

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Alice

Swan, Sydney

Swan, Constance "Connie"

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Kaymar Drive

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[between 1962 and 1967] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.5

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video (27 min., 15 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Item consists of a film compliation created by Ernest "Dig" Digney. The film footage is a combination of eight short segments taken at different times in various locations. The film footage documents Joyce, Ernest "Dig", Paul and Bruce Digney's visit to the Seattle World Fair in 1962 as well as lawn bowling at Stanley Park and Central Park in Burnaby and a visit to the Stanley Park zoo.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.5)

Two Film segments from this compilation are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby: BV019.18.5.4 and BV019.18.5.7

Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view entire content

Creator

Ernest "Dig" Digney

Subjects

Sports - Lawn Bowling

Exhibitions - Fairs

Menageries - Zoos

Names

Digney, Paul

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Bruce

Central Park Lawn Bowling Club

Swan, Sydney

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Central Park

Burnaby - Boundary Road

Burnaby - Kingsway

British Columbia - Vancouver - Stanley Park

Historic Neighbourhood

Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Maywood Area

Less detail

Repository

Burnaby Village Museum

Date

[1964] (date of original), copied 2019

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Accession Code

BV019.18.2

Storage Location

Digital only

Physical Description

1 mp4 video file (1 min., 26 sec.) : digital, 24 fps, col., si.

Media Type

Moving Images

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

No known restrictions

Scope and Content

Film segment of the Digney family, friends and relations on board a passenger freighter.They are gathered to toast and send off Andy Digney who is heading off on his world wide trip. Family members are identified as: Andy Digney, Andy's wife Alice Digney (nee Swan), their son Ernest Digney (Dig), Dig's wife, Joyce Digney (in pink), Dig and Joyce's sons Paul and Bruce Digney and Sydney "Sid" Swan. Friends are identified as; Malcolm "Mel" and June Arthur with their two young daughters.

Notes

Title based on contents of film segment

Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.2)

Creator

Andy Digney

Subjects

Transportation - Ships

Names

Digney, Andy

Digney, Joyce

Digney, Paul

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Alice

Swan, Sydney

Arthur, Malcolm "Mel"

Arthur, June

Less detail

Repository

City of Burnaby Archives

Date

[1958 or 1959]

Collection/Fonds

Digney Family fonds

Description Level

Item

Item No.

562-001

Accession Number

2014-09

Storage Location

M10-C-1

Physical Description

1 photograph : b&w ; 40.5 x 104 cm

Media Type

Photograph

Access Restriction

No restrictions

Reproduction Restriction

May be restricted by third party rights

Scope and Content

Panorama photograph of the Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League. Some members are identified as; Ernest Frank "Dig" Digney (back row- far left); Natasha Wiebe (back row-2nd from left); Carol Loew; Cathy Strang; Susan Dunham; Lynne Pemble; Leah Pemble; Karen Proby and Bruce Digney (front row-6th from the left). Andy Digney opened the Digney Bowl on August 19, 1955 and passed the business onto his son Ernest who ran it until his son Bruce Digney took over in 1980. The Digney Bowl was located at 6521 Bonsor Avenue. The bowling league met every Saturday morning at the Digney bowling alley where there were a total of 32 teams (5 children per team) who bowled in shifts since there wasn't enough room for everyone to bowl at once. Paul Digney (the son of Dig Digney) helped out by emptying ashtrays.

Subjects

Sports - Bowling

Names

Digney Bowling Alley

Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"

Wiebe, Natasha

Loew, Carol

Strang, Cathy

Dunham, Susan

Pemble, Lynne

Proby, Karen

Digney, Bruce

Digney, Paul

Notes

Transcribed title

Geographic Access

Burnaby - Bonsor Avenue

Historic Neighbourhood

Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)

Planning Study Area

Sussex-Nelson Area

Less detail