‘Wednesday, October 10, 1973 . : 7 ao | . ea [= . | a WET A ge Page7 That’s All, Folks’ - And The Gem By STEPHEN BREWER. Special To The Sidney Review burner — they also meant the end | Pope, then - president of . the That. was something which _ | of the Gem itself. Sidney and North Saanich | augered well for the Gem, which Big Jake was just another John | Only about 50 people turned out Chamber of Commerce. had been built by Mr. and Mrs. Wayne western, with the Duke | for the last picture show at the These two notables made brief | Rudolph Martman because their ‘spending 90 minutes subduing | Gem, which closed. Saturday | speeches at the opening, but both } old theatre — one of Sidney's first bad guy Richard Boone and | after 23 years, eight months and | kept their talks short — the | — wasn't able to handle the winning. the love of Maureen | three weeks of screening nothing | people, after all, had come to | crowds they had been getting. O’Hara. but family entertainment. watch a movie not to listen to The Gem. in fact. was. the There’s not: much else which It was a far ery from that night | them talk: product of a growing. theatre can be said for it — it followed the | in January, 23 years ago, when And watch a_movie..the | attendance which had started in classic John Wayne style which | the theatre first opened its door. | audience. did....they were '| Sidney. .in- 1916 ,. when Sam has become ‘a ‘landmark in A far cry. shown, that. first. night, -a-|° Roberts and Bill Sloan opened a western-movies over the tast 30 The Gem opened its doors to | Hollywood extravaganza titled | theatre on Beacon. Avenue. years. the public at 7:30 on the evening | The Inspector-General,. starring That entrprise lasted only a few But when Big Jake ended its | of Jan. 19, .1950.- : none other than Danny: Kaye: months, according to newspaper - run at Sidney’s Gem - Theatre The opening was acclaimed at For 50 cents a head, they were. | accounts of the day, because the Saturday. night, something else | the time as ‘‘the greatest post- | treated to what newspapers at | generous Mr. Roberts had a habit ended, too. war . contribution: to the com- | the time-called “Danny Kae at | of allowing children ‘to watch his When, just’ before i o’clock, | munity life of North Saanich.” | his-best.”. — movies free:..." -‘‘a’. practice the words “The End’’ were It drew a-standing-room only | The papers: must have been |. which meant the theatre often flashed on the Gem's screen, they | crowd, and included dignitaries | right: the Gem filled all of its 391 | had more non- paying customers meant something more than just | such as Arthur J.R. Ash, local’| seats for each night of the per- than paying patrons," the papers the. end of another Wayne oat- | MLA, and Air Commodore S.L.G: | formance. | - said. : 7 DESERTED LOBBY AND EMPTY “Coming Soon’” after the 9 p. m. show that night, ending n more than 23 -. display echo the death of: Sidney’s only theatre years. of ‘operation. : -, Saturday night. The Gem theatre: closed its. doors — The death-knell. for . that. first theatre was'sounded:in that: same year, when:a mysterious Jo“Mr. Berquist” opened. the Rex theatre on Fourth Street. : -| . Berquist’s: first. show was. a ‘| silent. film, titled. Ten» of : Diamonds, ‘which. newspapers of. 7 . “the. day * ‘said “depicted the | > Ground was turned. for the n new: “miserable consequences ‘of the. ‘theatre i in 1949; it was completed gambling. habit’’:...that's. all-}-and furnished i in time. for the late that’s known of it’. its. stars, . its January opening . “the ‘next: year. ; “producer and director, even-its |The.” Martmans_ “somehow: | What happened i in: the 23 years, {tt “playing time, are lost to: history. : managed to get the. first-run The 5c in the last:few. ears to‘drive “The Rex ‘closed down in’1932; a -Inspector-General for « their’ ‘the’ Gem linder? : victim: ‘of the: Great. ‘Depression : Opening; 23 years later, the. Gem}: of ‘which: ‘was forcing: the closure-of |. ing a “It was re-opened i in 1942. by S:V. ‘Henn, . then purchased from him, : ‘in 1946'by the Martmans....._- _.» Six. years: later, ‘they ..decided the Rex just wasn’t big enough: to handle: their audiences. - They began: making plans ‘to -build the Gem. away, it would he different; but “we're.not:.” : “CP ve been: getting movies: s that : -played.-in Victoria. two, three weeks before. . » “By the time: J got them, they'd been seen by: anyone, who wanted: “to 'see them. 80 os. Tt: wasn ts, always’ that’ way when: the: « em opened, a iy ‘to. “have well have been filmed | in 1950 as. its last movies... In between the:two movies, ‘the: Gem — screened in’ the: neigh: berhood of 1,250 different films: a new . one: each week, 52. weeks. each’ year. : ‘In between, “control “of “the ‘theatre: “passed from : the - older -Martmans to: their, ‘son, Bob, and. ‘his: wife; Dot. What happened? s Hobbies sale Crafts is Road, Skdney, B. c. "Friday, Oct. 2 » Dancing 9:30p. m. to 0am. x : _ Organaires: : ; way e Eee | "NOVEMBER: 2—5: 30- 8: :00p m. a mols ‘ADMISSION - ie oe op at Main Outlet: §80¢c EACH -YM-YWCA Building, 880 Courtney St., Victoria : “Opening date: October 9. Closing Date, Dec. 19. : tA future for every, Child" one. ~ Margaret Vaughan: Bireh Hall. 9657 F ourth Sty Sidney. ye “Adults $1.50, under 14 $1.25 ~ feo cme and Enjoy the Feed ofthe Year ae «Tiekets may be. obtained frommembers of men ‘selub na oor Phone 656-2 143 Bo ~ Saturday, October. ee ‘Sheep: Dog. Trials: Seestone es 1 200°PAM. os ale of 40 Lambs Following. “Noveinber 3 & 4 Hobby Show | . ~ Does the | [Agacultaval Land Reserve Affect YOU?» ; “The Capital Reglonal Board has’ scheduled five qe “public. information: meetings to’ explain. the proposed. Agricultural Land Reserve Plan. which. “Mas” been. prepared - for “the Provincial ‘Land “Commission, as” required’ by the Land) Com: » mission: Act, and to hear preliminary: objections: “| > - witha view. to: expediting the formal. Meat . heel which will begin’ on: ‘October a, Bue “ ~ ANNOUNCEMENT. ~The Sidney ne > Formerly owned by Drop. W, Gaunt Ww rH be renamed ANIMAL MEDICAL CENTRE “This camilll animal” volevinaky hospital now ‘owned hy Dr, ams Muherts has f ull hospital gaeiiiien and I located at’ - 9838 Fifth St., Sidney, B c . “Hour: ‘Monday to F riday 9 a, m, “4 p. mete Saturdays 0am. to V2 noon © “ a Sara and Holidays Emergencies Only Fo or Appointment cate G50 II on ; We have been appointed. lusur rance Agents | for. ; ee rer ance Corpor ation of British: Columbia, : 2481 Beacon Ave. Mog Sidney ae Regional: District: ‘divectors’ and. staff: will ab Heat tend thee: meetings, whiely: are. open. {9 everyone. : and whieh will he held alr am rexponise ‘w many ronginti dew we ‘are, ploawed to annonnes ae pe tal we have: been anpointed, Ler ee AGENTS, OF THE NEW INSURANCE CORPORATION OF B ce (B.C, GOVERNMENT INSURANCE) for me transaction of Gener a Tisurance.. = - Salt Spring. Island aed - Saturday, | Oct. ns 10:30 “am. to noon, and 1:30. p.m. to conclusion, High : School Auditorium, Ganges, — i. “We are 1 pleased to aidylse our. many "iniurainee llenta of: onr me i Appointment, ns. an Authort med Avent { for” oe “THE INSURANCE CORPORATION OF t Ce res fee eee ; ° ’ ! 7 ks (Goverument Insurange) met twee os ee to oe ” Sooke ~ Tp. m, Monday, ; Oct, 1 15,, Sooke Com. : oe ros - : munity Hall dining room, “Its time. ‘to order: your “personalized Christmas |” : ~-cards while xeloction is st > vat its best, Choose: yours. trom such) well-known .. makers. as. “International | oSilver Pine Studios: and -* Ganddian Groulings Or ee Youll tind’ beautiful 0 A “modern. ‘and: traditional: 00. desina ine a food pelea range cee , : siqiatelon ure invited on your. ¥ ire, Momieowaer's x, Tenants’ 4 an Pe a lability. r water, Marine, Commercial, Multi- Perit, ele; 4 os Saanich Peninsula — 7:30 p. mn. “Friday, Get, 19, ~ North and South Saanich Agte ulture: Halt, at 7910. Last Saanich, Road... Thal ‘includes personal: Vis nis “ih J adwetingns ~ howrehotd | CONTEND SS ethan, _bnaits . “aad As of March 1, 1979 your Government. Auta Insurance may * leo he arranged: through our offi¢es In he meantime, we are. Be OSTILE, writhing. new Mitemobile Insurance andy of course. BE he. men vdcUug AL NUT present auluuiobie policies as thes! coune: mp _ for Tenewal, : an. wat Sy CAR, D. Board Room —7: “40 yen. Tuesday. Oct. oo 28 and 7:0 p.m, Mhuraday, et. 2h. 0 atic Vates of pees My ae wig Ey commer chal lines, — iPS, Mrs, Phyllis orehard: ‘took. on the tirst Be, 2. Government, dwelling policy. through thik agency, ‘and ~-reévived the Sidney Realty customer of the day wyard for. an idl sspears paid. trip tn Ihe, Cae ¥ nna ae ee vente » Sidney Realty Limited _Phone 656- 3928 ie Gon Hulme Ltd ee Insurance Mi ents ATeullars of g ms iteacon Ave, ee Sidney: eth iseiindis - Capital Regional Board In formation Servic ce aa Blore: information: WIT favicnviers i iota Tee wat : : AT A AT i , fonietne snare en an