CALL NUMBER: T4215:0009
RECORDED: Surrey (B.C.), 1985-08-16
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Career summary: film training in RCAF film unit (1952-1955); photographic and film work at Artray Ltd. (1955-1960); film department at KVOS-TV, which became Canawest Film Productions (1960-1977); own company, Spooner Film Productions (1977-1979); BC Hydro film department (1979-1985). RCAF film unit based at Rockcliffe in Ottawa, making training films with the NFB. Artray, a photographic concern started by Art Jones and Ray Munro; coverage of investigation of Vancouver Police Department. Artray film work included CBC-TV news and filming BC Lions home games. Artray's film studio. Art Jones involved in starting CHAN-TV Burnaby (aka BCTV), which absorbed Artray Film Productions and still operates it (1985) as a film unit. Lew Parry operation on Broadway, 1955. Artray staff mainly Art Jones, Keith Cutler and Spooner. Film "Temptation" for B.C. Tree Fruits (1958), filmed in Kelowna, included footage of Regatta. Football game filming: Bob Elliott and Telefilm; Tacoma TV station (KTNT); films shot from roof of Empire Stadium (ca.1955). TRACK 2: Filmed first Grey Cup celebrations in Vancouver (1955) for film "Our Hit Parade". Also shot training films for BC Lions. Most of Artray's work was "record-keeping" -- footage only, not finished films. Film made to support Jones' application for CHAN license. Art Jones applied for the license; after license granted, he was "eased out". Canawest/KVOS made series "If These Walls Could Speak" (mid-1960s), narrated by Vincent Price and shot all over the world. Details of series and its legal entanglements. More on Artray: CHAN took over the company completely, including stills and film. Keith Cutler. Artray studio locations. Did still-photo work for Theatre Under the Stars. Bob Fortune and Keith Cutler started Fortune Films, started film on Stranraer flying boat. Trans-Canada Films under Wally Hamilton. In 1960, Spooner was invited by Jack Gettles (KVOS sales manager) to set up film unit to produce commercials; first located on Broadway.
CALL NUMBER: T4215:0010
RECORDED: Surrey (B.C.), 1985-08-16
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: KVOS-TV film unit (cont'd). Set up studio at 1345 Burrard; Keith Cutler and Bill Armstrong in sound dept.; Kelly Duncan photographer, Ken Jubenvill director. Made commercials at first; then began producing animated TV series for Hanna-Barbera. Animation operation occupied six houses on Pacific in Vancouver. Company name. Osmond Borradaile was D.O.P. on larger productions. Kelly Duncan. Andy Anderson. KVOS since sold twice, now (1985) operated by a New York company. Takeover of Master Films (Calgary); became Canawest-Master Films Ltd., now for sale. Canawest was dependent on TV commercial business; was shut down because of advertising stipulations of Bill C-58. Equipment sold; all film footage junked. Canawest also bought out Bill Roozeboom's Pageant Productions. Industrial titles: "The Way of Wood"; "The Constant Stream"; films for Alberta oil companies, Puget Power, Vancouver Water Board. Documentary and industrial films produced at Canawest under Ken Jubenvill with Kelly Duncan on camera, largely 1967-1970. Film shot at the Giant Mascot Mine at Hedley, ca.1970, for Atlas Copco. Spooner was production manager for animation work: "Abbott and Costello", "Moby Dick". Problems of animation production. Canawest relationship with Hanna-Barbera. H-B staff who worked in Vancouver. TRACK 2: "The Beatles" animated series. Minimal animation process used. Details of animation production. Live-action series, "The Canadians", for Global Network. "The X-Factor", series pilot on psychic phenomena, starred William Shatner. Spooner's own film company; produced TV commercials. At BC Hydro: purchased Lew Parry's equipment, hired Parry to run in-house film unit (ca. 1973-1978); Keith Cutler involvement; Spooner ran audio-visual department 1979-1985. Closing down the BC Hydro film unit. Hydro-related films. H.V. Hirst, another filmmaker who may have done work for Hydro. Frank Fleming. Associated Studios. Unsuccessful bid for "You Asked for It" series. Closing remarks. (End of interview)
