PERIOD COVERED: ;1913;-;1955 RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), [197-?] SUMMARY: In a series of recorded reminiscences, Alfred E. Booth describes his travels on the B.C. coast, and in the Lower Mainland, Nicola and North Thompson regions; the Hope-Princeton Highway and the Boundary region; the Canadian Arctic (March 1955); coastal steamship travel; Kamloops to Calgary via the Big Bend highway; Alberta and N.W.T. oil and fields; Vancouver Island (especially its west coast and interior); the Lower Mainland; the Depression in the B.C. interior, and showing films in the relief camps. Throughout, Booth also discusses his experiences as an amateur and semi-professional filmmaker throughout the province. The second side of tape 5 discusses the senior's residence Booth was living in at the time of the recording, and includes some harmonica music performed by a friend of Booth's.

CALL NUMBER: T4397:0001 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1992-03-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Brief description of Holmes' family background, including clerical career of father, the Reverend George Hedley Holmes (later Archdeacon), who served in Alberta and northern Saskatchewan. Steps by which Arthur became a clergyman and his decision to move to BC. Condition of the "West Coast Mission" on west coast of Vancouver Island: vicarage a 2 room shack, no utilities; no minister previous 7 years. Account of founding of Anglican Church on west coast in 1913. Comments about ship, "Princess Maquinna", which provided means for clergy to get around. Description of Tofino church, St. Columba. Churchyard rhododendrons a major attraction for visitors. TRACK 2: Condition of the mission in 1949 when Reverend Arthur Holmes arrived. Holmes revives a travelling motion picture business to raise money for mission. Services held in Port Renfrew, nearby logging camps, Bamfield, Ucluelet, Sarita River, Kildonan, Ucluelet, Tofino, Tahsis, Zeballos. Bamfield an attractive stop. Comparison of Shantymen, Roman Catholic church and United Church on west coast. Holmes establishes a presence in more distant communities. Story of unusual funeral service for deceased Sikh. Religious background of parishioners. Anglican services sometimes informal. Today, United and Anglican churches alternate serving "the charge of Tofino and Ucluelet" every two years. Early travel between Ucluelet and Tofino. A rector's duties. In 1949 many baptisms due to absence of clergyman for 7 years. Some unusual funerals. CALL NUMBER: T4397:0002 RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1992-03-06 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Holmes recounts experiences as member of hospital board, including inadvertently getting caught up in Tofino-Ucluelet rivalry over a temporary replacement for burnt down Tofino hospital. Account of building new church at Ucluelet with donations from suppliers, parishioners, boat and ship owners. Origins of church name, "St. Aidan's-on-the-Hill". Services in other communities held in halls, private homes. Holmes' personal relations with Tofino and Ucluelet very good today; Holmes to donate his family library to churches in both towns. TRACK 2: Description of corner-stone laying for new Ucluelet church and of later consecration. Uses of church basement. Names of some loyal parishioners in Ucluelet. Core of ex-Newfoundlanders strong supporters. Dedicated parishioner, "Ted" E.A. Welland, superintends construction of Ucluelet church. Diocese head office seem not very interested in west coast. New Tofino rectory building. Good relations with Ucluelet RC priest, Father Carney. Description of eccentric Tofino parishioner, George Maltby. Comments about loyal Tofino parishioners Mrs. Alma Sloman and Mrs. Benny Arnet. Schedule of "Princess Maquinna" determined date of visits to other communities. Travel on the Maquinna. Maquinna was seaworthy. Comments on evacuation of Japanese. Holmes left mission due to marital difficulties. Discussion of Holmes' achievements. Visits to west coast in recent years. Method of reporting to Victoria. Types of church records prepared by minister. Origin of films shot by Holmes and used in mission work. Telephone service at Ucluelet in early 1950s.

The collection mainly consists of copies of several short films by Oscar and Dorothy Burritt. The Burritts were film enthusiasts and amateur filmmakers who lived in Vancouver until 1947. Oscar C. Burritt also worked as a professional cinematographer and director. In later years he worked for CBC Television in Toronto. Both the Burritts were active in the film society movement, including the Vancouver Branch of the National Film Society and the Toronto Film Society.

The collection includes footage of Vancouver events and places, as well the amateur or experimental works "And--", "Bats Out of Hell", "Residue 2", "Suite Two: A Memo to Oscar", and "Three There". The collection also includes Douglas Wilson's 1981 oral history interview with Leon C. Shelly, who discusses his career as a film producer in Vancouver and Toronto. It also includes a photograph of a portrait of Dorothy Burritt, painted in 1947 by Peter Bortkus.

RECORDED: [location unknown], [ca. 1961] SUMMARY: In an interview by Bjorn Bjornson, John E. Edwards, son of Ralph Edwards of Lonesome Lake, discusses his father's life and his films of homestead and the area's wildlife.

The fonds consists of the Burritt's films, which include footage of Vancouver events and places, as well as a completed documentary film called "Stanley Park" (Coast Films, 1939).

Amateur film. Narration sound track for Mrs. R.W. Primmer's amateur films, most of which were shot on Vancouver Island. See F2005:04/008 - 011.

The item is a video copy of amateur/experimental films in the collection of Stanley Fox, including material shot by Fox and by other film enthusiasts.

1. "Early Vancouver, c.1946/47": Includes footage of downtown Vancouver, Granville Street, streetcars, old Granville Bridge, railroad yards, etc.
2. Fox family scenes (including Fox's maternal grandparents and his friend Allan King.
3. Logging at Franklin River: steam crane; logging railway with steam locomotive; spar tree and high-lead; yarding and loading logs.
4. Unfinished drama filmed by Vernon Van Sickle and Peter Varley (ca. 1946). The "fortune teller" is played by Nettie Gendall; the devilish figure is Van Sickle.
5. UBC Engineering students dunking freshman, 1947: an initiation ritual.
6. Pacific National Exhibition 1948: shots of rides, sideshows, etc., including views from moving Ferris wheel.
7. Canadian Pacific Airlines "Empress" promotional flight, 1948: shots of airplane and views from airplane window during flight.
8. "Domestic scenes": Fox and his future wife, Janet Cates.
9. Cates tugs: Cates tugboats at dock.
10. Fox's film Glub (1947): Members of the National Film Society of Canada (Vancouver Branch) parody the early experimental works of American avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren.
11. Fox's film Abelard before a mirror: unedited assembly of takes (some with slates) from Fox's unfinished film, intended as a symbolic rendition of the story of Abelard and Heloise. Uses masked actors, expressionistic lighting and movement, and visual metaphors suggestive of various emotions.
12. Second Hotel Vancouver during demolition, ca. 1949.
13. Anscocolor footage of Princess steamships passing under Lions Gate Bridge; Fox at beach with large camera.

CALL NUMBER: T4349:0001
PERIOD COVERED: 1936-1946
RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1988-06-20
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Family background. Fox grew up in Kitsilano area, studied English and history at UBC. Interest in photography began 1942; led to job with photographer R.H. Marlow, ca. 1945-48, and interest in film. Drove taxi 1951-53. Studies at UBC. Early movie-going; reaction to films of John Ford. Post-war interest in foreign films, especially Russian and German silents. Vernon Van Sickle. "Reverent" attitude to classics. TRACK 2: Influence of German and Russian silent films; earlier impressed with wartime dramas (especially Russian), British features, NFB documentaries. Films were screened regularly at Kitsilano High School when Fox was there. Silent comedians "resurrected" by critic James Agee. Other critics: Paul Rotha, Lewis Jacobs. Post-war revival of National Film Society's Vancouver Branch. The Film Survey Group of the Labour Arts Guild; screened silent films at John Goss Studio Theatre, starting May 1946. Vernon Van Sickle. John Goss's experimental theatre. Prior history of the film society since mid-1930s. Post-war revival led by Dorothy Burritt, Moira Armour, Jack Shadbolt and Van Sickle. Van Sickle and Peter Varley shot a film at Leon Shelly's film studio. Fox impressed by the studio and quality of 16mm film.

CALL NUMBER: T4349:0002
PERIOD COVERED: 1946-1953
RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1988-06-20
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Met Peter Varley latter part of 1946, when Varley shooting film with Vernon Van Sickle at Shelly studio. Film was an occult story featuring clairvoyant Nettie Gendall and Van Sickle. Fox shoots and processes his own first footage. Fox met Dorothy Burritt late 1946; she was supportive of Fox's filmmaking interest, and loaned him husband Oscar's movie camera. Her interest in the arts; her qualities, manner; interest in occult; voice; sensitivity. Dorothy and her friends as "early hippies". Fox met Oscar Burritt much later (June 1953) in Toronto. TRACK 2: Oscar Burritt: his interests, appearance, habits, voice. The Burritt's relationship; Dorothy difficult in her last few months. Dorothy brought American avant-garde filmmaker Maya Deren to Toronto [1951]. Oscar's creativity later stifled. The Burritts introduced Fox to modern art, modern music; had John Vanderpant's unusual record collection. Fox's photographic influences. Film society was "run into the ground". Dorothy's influence on Fox. With Merwyn "Binky" Marks, she revived film society in late 1940s with summer screenings at Boilermakers' Hall. Other venues: quonset hut on Burrard Street; Vancouver General Hospital Christmas Seal auditorium. Fox's problems with hospital bureaucracy over society's use of auditorium.

CALL NUMBER: T4349:0003
RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1988-06-20
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: More about film society screenings, venues. Fox's impressions of people in Dorothy Burritt's circle: film librarian Moira Armour, film editor Maureen Balfe, painter Peter Bortkus. Novelist Malcolm Lowry and his wife Margerie attended film society screenings. Fox's impressions of Lowry; his behaviour, reputation, response to film, etc. The film society's membership; other filmmakers, etc., of Fox's age. The young Allan King. Norman Newton. Careers in film not considered feasible. Jack Shadbolt's influence on local creative life. The School of Art crowd. Homer Powell, a film editor who came to Vancouver from Hollywood. TRACK 2: Homer Powell's uncompleted film noir. Powell married a Citanovich girl, as did film director Spence Crilly, who later claimed to have made films in the Eastern Bloc. Frankie and Lena Citanovich. Other professional film people: sound man Shirley Wilson, art director Marguerite Roozeboom (nee Goulding). Wally Hamilton and Trans-Canada Films. Arla Saare. Jack Ammon. Fox's own filmmaking activities: the making of SUITE TWO (June 1947) with Dorothy Burritt. Film screenings at Burritt apartment; preparing "scores" for silent films. SUITE TWO as a historical record. Fox's film GLUB (1947), which satirized the works of Maya Deren; involvement of Tom Baird, Rolph Blakstad, Dorothy Burritt. Fox's unfinished ABELARD BEFORE A MIRROR (October 1948), which employed life masks made by Blakstad and a complex script by Norman Newton. The inspirations behind the film; its story. Derivative effect caused by viewing and re-viewing films.

CALL NUMBER: T4349:0004
RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1988-06-20
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continues discussion of ABELARD; the story of Abelard and Heloise. Film intended as symbolic statement; interest in expressive use of realistic masks. Genesis of IN THE DAYTIME (shot May-Sept;ember 1949), a documentary depicting "a day in the life of Vancouver". European influences; the "city symphony" films. Film society president Arthur Lourie convinced society to sponsor film; total cost, 60 dollars. Locations used. Norman Newton's poetic commentary, read by Roy Daniells; recording it. Good and bad points about the film; allusions. Premiere. Collaborating with Peter Varley. Details of shooting, film stock, etc. TRACK 2: Fox's last significant amateur film, THE SUETONIUS VERSION, made in 1953 with Gerald Newman. Film was a silent comedy-drama; Newman's story idea played off British film THE BROWNING VERSION. "Literary influence" on filmmaking ideas. Newman appeared in the film, as did Janet Cates, Fox's future wife; Fox lit and photographed it. 8 minutes, b&w. Musical knowledge from assembling "scores" for silent film screenings. Not much filmmaking activity by Fox 1950-53; people and money unavailable. Economics of amateur production. Knew no other serious amateurs in Vancouver area. (End of interview);

Item consists of an amateur film depicting Victoria, Ottawa and other locations, probably in Canada.

The item is a video copy of amateur films made by John L. Getgood, mainly under the company name "Unit-One Productions".

1. AQUAE SULIS: A film about the city of Bath, England, and its ancient Roman baths; narrated by Peter Haworth. [195-?]
2. TIME OF THE SINGING BIRDS: A film showing gardens and birds in the spring (in England?), with an original piano score by April Mitchell. [195-?]
3. WILLIAM AND THE NORMANS. Educational film (possibly about William the Conqueror). [195-?]
4. FLYING VISIT: Narrated film showing a ferry trip from Victoria to Vancouver. [196-?]
5. THE BOY NEXT DOOR: A children's film. English language version, [ca. 1962]. For film elements, see F2005:05/003.
6. THE BOY NEXT DOOR: German language version, 1977.
7. QUIET ISLAND: PENDER ISLAND, 1965: A silent documentary about island life. For film elements, see F2005:05/002
8. FAMILY ALBUM.

The item is a video copy of amateur films made by John L. Getgood, mainly under the company name "Unit-One Productions".

1. [SOUTHERN VANCOUVER ISLAND FOOTAGE]: Untitled; [early 1970s?]. Includes footage of Beacon Hill Park; the M.V. "Coho"; Victoria Airport; Pat Bay Highway; the waterfront; Mount Tolmie viewpoint; Goldstream Park; Brentwood ferry; Malahat summit; Duncan; the E&N Railway; Cowichan Bay?; Saanich Fair. These may be out-takes from ISLAND UNDER THE STARS, below.
2. ST. MALO. Presumably about the French seaside city.
3. ISLAND UNDER THE STARS: Travelogue about southern Vancouver Island; [early 1970s?]. For film elements, see AAAA6576.
4. BEEKMAN - BANKER OF JACKSONVILLE: A film about banker Cornelius C. Beekman, a prominent figure in the history of Jacksonville, Oregon. [196-?]
5. MAY ROBERTS: About May Roberts of Nanaimo. [197-?]