Narrow Results By
Digney Family fonds
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10597
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964] (date of originals), copied in 2016 and 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 video recordings (mp4) (approx. 3hr., 18 min.) : digital, 23 fps
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of compilation of six films (including film clips) created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. 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 Alle…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Fonds
- Physical Description
- 6 video recordings (mp4) (approx. 3hr., 18 min.) : digital, 23 fps
- Material Details
- Films were digitized in 2019 from original 8 mm format
- Scope and Content
- Fonds consists of compilation of six films (including film clips) created by Andy Digney and his son Ernest "Dig" Digney. 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.
- History
- 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 Simpsons-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.
- Accession Code
- BV019.18
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [between 1954 and 1964] (date of originals), copied in 2016 and 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Related Material
- See also City of Burnaby Archives Digney Family fonds Photo/MI catalogue 562
- Arrangement
- Films are arranged and described at item level along with film clip segments. Master film footage numbered BV019.18.3 through BV019.18.8 were described in original order at item level. Digitized film content within the master film footage was also broken down into shorter film clips according to natural breaks within the original content and described separately as film clips (accession parts) in their original order: BV019.8.3.1 to BV019.8.3.28; BV019.8.4.1 to BV019.8.4.16; BV019.18.5.1 to BV019.8.5.7; BV019.18.6.1 to BV019.18.6.8; BV019.18.7.1 to BV019.18.7.15; BV019.18.8.1 to BV019.18.8.20
- Notes
- Title based on contents of fonds
![Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_004.jpg?width=280)
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10658
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (2 min., 9 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film segment of unidentified women and men lawn bowling at Central Park in Burnaby. Buildings along Kingsway and Boundary Road are visible in the background.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (2 min., 9 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film segment of unidentified women and men lawn bowling at Central Park in Burnaby. Buildings along Kingsway and Boundary Road are visible in the background.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Subjects
- Sports - Lawn Bowling
- Geographic Access
- Central Park
- Boundary Road
- Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.6.4
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Photographer
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film segment
- Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.6)
Images
![Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_004.jpg)
Video
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_004.mp4![Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_007.jpg?width=280)
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10659
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 22 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film segment of women and men lawn bowling at Central Park in Burnaby. Buildings along Kingsway and Boundary Road are visible in the background. Sydney Swan (wearing glasses and vest) is identified as one of the bowlers.
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (3 min., 22 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- Scope and Content
- Film segment of women and men lawn bowling at Central Park in Burnaby. Buildings along Kingsway and Boundary Road are visible in the background. Sydney Swan (wearing glasses and vest) is identified as one of the bowlers.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Subjects
- Sports - Lawn Bowling
- Names
- Swan, Sydney
- Geographic Access
- Central Park
- Boundary Road
- Kingsway
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.6.7
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Photographer
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film segment
- Film segment originates from digitized version of original 8 mm film (See BV019.18.6)
- Similar footage of lawn bowling - see BV019.18.6.8
Images
![Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_007.jpg)
Video
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
Digney Film 4 - Lawn bowling at Central Park, [196-] (date of original), copied 2019
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0006_007.mp4Digney Film 4 - Seattle World Fair, Lawn Bowling and visit to Stanley Park Zoo
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10679
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1962 and 1969] (date of original), copied 2019
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (27 min., 15 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- 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 law…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Digney Family fonds
- Description Level
- File
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (27 min., 15 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., si.
- 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 Vancouver Zoo at Stanley Park.
- Creator
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Names
- Digney, Paul
- Digney, Joyce
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Digney, Bruce
- Central Park Lawn Bowling Club
- Swan, Sydney
- Geographic Access
- Central Park
- Vancouver
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.6
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1962 and 1969] (date of original), copied 2019
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Historic Neighbourhood
- Central Park (Historic Neighbourhood)
- Planning Study Area
- Maywood Area
- Photographer
- Digney, Ernest Frank "Dig"
- Notes
- Title based on contents of film segment
- A selection of film segments from this compilation are described at item level and available for viewing on Heritage Burnaby. Contact Burnaby Village Museum to view full content.
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG?width=280)
Through the Lens of Andy Digney
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/link/museumdescription10099
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the constru…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 video recording (mp4) (12 min., 17 sec.) : digital, 23 fps, col., sd., stereo
- Material Details
- Research and Narration: Lisa Codd
- Editing and Audio Recording: Matthew Ball
- Special thanks to Paul Digney
- Scope and Content
- Item consists of a short film featuring a compilation of film footage created by Andy Digney that was edited and narrated by the Burnaby Village Museum. Burnaby resident Andy Digney captured footage of Burnaby and beyond from 1934 to 1964. Highlights within this film compilaton include the construction and events held at the Oak Theatre; Royal visit motorcade of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth; Sports Day at Central Park; Gymcana event at Burnaby Lake Riding Stables; lawn bowling at Central Park; a Depression-era May Day workers’ parade in 1936; May Day celebrations in Burnaby; visits to locations throughout the Lower Mainland, including Stanley Park, Capilano Suspension Bridge, Grouse Mountain and boat trip up Burrard Inlet; the Digney Speedway; the Digney family at their home on Bonsor Avenue and the Digney Bowling Alley.
- Creator
- Digney, Andy
- Names
- Digney, Andy
- Digney Bowling Alley
- Digney Speedway
- Codd, Lisa
- Oak Theatre
- Burnaby Lawn Bowling Club
- Geographic Access
- Kingsway
- Central Park
- Street Address
- 6521 Bonsor Avenue
- Accession Code
- BV019.18.1
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Date
- [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
- Media Type
- Moving Images
- Related Material
- See also the City of Burnaby Archives "Digney Family fonds" MI catalogue 562.003 for film masters
- Notes
- Title based on contents
- City of Burnaby Archives holds the original Digney film masters (562.003) that this narrated segment was disseminated from. See Digney family fonds
Images
![Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016 thumbnail](/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.JPG)
Video
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
Through the Lens of Andy Digney, [between 1934 and 1964] (date of original film), edited and narrated in 2016
https://search.heritageburnaby.ca/media/hpo/_Data/_BVM_Moving_Images/2019_0018_0001_001.mp4