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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
- 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
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
![Digney family in Burnaby, [between 1939 and 1959] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-12.jpg?width=280)
Digney family in Burnaby
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85249
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1939 and 1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip (5 min., 17sec.) : digital, col., si.
- 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…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1939 and 1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip (5 min., 17sec.) : digital, col., si.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 562-003-12
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Accession Number
- 2014-04
- 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.
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Andy
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
- Geographic Access
- Bonsor Avenue
- Kingsway
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
Images
![Digney family in Burnaby, [between 1939 and 1959] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-12.jpg)
Video
Digney family in Burnaby, [between 1939 and 1959]
Digney family in Burnaby, [between 1939 and 1959]
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-12.m4v![Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League, [1958 or 1959] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/559/562-001.jpg?width=280)
Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85072
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1958 or 1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 40.5 x 104 cm
- 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 …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1958 or 1959]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 40.5 x 104 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 562-001
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2014-09
- 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
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Notes
- Transcribed title
- Geographic Access
- Bonsor Avenue
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Alta-Vista (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Sussex-Nelson Area
Images
![Digney Pee-Wee Bowling League, [1958 or 1959] thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Images/_Unrestricted/559/562-001.jpg)
![San Francisco Trip, [between 1935 and 1952] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-18.jpg?width=280)
San Francisco Trip
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/archivedescription85312
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1952]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip ( 9 min., 43 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Item is a digitized silent film segment identified as Reel 18 and contains footage interchanging between colour and black and white, showing the Digney family trip to San Francisco and California. The footage starts off rather poor. It provides views of; the islands surrounding San Francisco; cactu…
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1935 and 1952]
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Physical Description
- 1 film clip ( 9 min., 43 sec.) : digital, b&w, col., si.
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 562-003-18
- 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 18 and contains footage interchanging between colour and black and white, showing the Digney family trip to San Francisco and California. The footage starts off rather poor. It provides views of; the islands surrounding San Francisco; cactus gardens; the Pismo Beach zoo; a Circus; the Aurora Speedway in Seattle; a beach; garden sculptures; views from Telegraph Hill; clearing a California hwy and closes with Paul, Joyce and Dot Digney.
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Photographer
- Digney, Andy
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film
Images
![San Francisco Trip, [between 1935 and 1952] thumbnail](/media/Hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-18.jpg)
Video
San Francisco Trip, [between 1935 and 1952]
San Francisco Trip, [between 1935 and 1952]
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_Archives_Moving_Images/_Unrestricted/562-003-18.m4v