The Regent Theatre: The War Years 1939-1945
Part 2
The Regent Theatre: The War Years 1939-1945
July 19, 1939
The Andre Theatre officially changes its name to the Regent Theatre.
That week they ran a full page announcement in The Sachem for the film Only Angels Have Wings (1939), directed by Howard Hawks Starring Cary Grant, Jean Arthur and Rita Hayworth, in her first major role. The announcement was surrounded by local business advertisements making wings-themed puns, some of which had been suppliers during the theatre renovations, like The Aldridge Company, or was a place to stop before or after your movie, like The Caledonia Restaurant. The grand opening of the Shell gas station offered a free adult movie ticket for every 10 gallons of gas.
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The Regent Theatre also runs an announcement in The Sachem about the renovations being made to the theater, and there is a new style of bulletin.
Plans are under way for an official opening when further alterations and improvements have been completed. A new stage will be added, a further increase in the size of pictures and illumination, a greater portion of the seats will be cushioned, and other features added. The acoustic properties of The Regent have been improved bringing it up to standard of all de luxe theatres, and furthermore The Regent will show all the latest pictures.
August 9, 1939
The feature of the week at the Regent Theatre is Frank Capra's It Happened One Night (1934), starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. An adorable, and still very funny film, many consider to be the first romantic-comedy. This is another film that inspired a Warner Brothers Cartoon character. Many of Bugs Bunny's mannerisms were influenced or taken directly from Clark Gables character. At the time, the way Bugs Bunny eats carrots would have been seen as a direct reference to this film.
July 26, 1939
The Theatre News section of The Sachem reports: It is a Banner Week at the Regent this week. Two Rita Hayworth films in one week and the biggest fight of the year with all important action in slow motion!
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) returns for another week because it is so good, and everyone wants to see Rita Hayworth again.
Something to Sing About (1939)Directed by Victor Schertzinger. Starring James Cagney. One of three films Cagney made where he sang and danced. It is a very fun and funny film, though it has a bizarre scene on a ship where sailors make two cats fight in a tiny boxing ring.
The Regent played the feature Tony Two Ton Gelento vs. Joe Black Panther Louis fight film (1939). The 1939 heavyweight title fight took place on June 28, 1939, at the Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, New York. Galento, an underdog built like a cinder block and known to eat 20 hotdogs before a boxing match; managed to knock down Louis in the third round. The next round Louis came back hard and dropped Gelento into the arms of the referee, ending the match in the 4th round.
The Regent Theatre plays the odd double feature Devils Squadron (1936) and 45 Fathers (1937).
The Regent brings back the musical Alexander's Ragtime Band (1938), starring Ethel Merman and featuring the hit song Heat Wave. Irving Berlin enjoyed working with Ethel so much he wrote two roles for her in the musicals Annie Get Your Gun (1946) & Call Me Madam (1950).
The Regent Theatre makes an announcement in The Sachem about the new renovations and upgrades to the theatre.
New poles and a separate transformer will supply a direct 550 volt line to the theatre. The new projection room equipment to run to this special line will replace the old equipment. The new 550 volt motor generator will supply the arcs with direct current which will give a larger and brighter picture. The exact increase of the picture will be two feet and the illumination increase will be 2600 watts on each machine.
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Two legendary westerns played that week.
The first was Jesse James (1939) directed by Henry King. The film starred Tyrone Power in his first colour film, Henry Fonda and Nancy Kelly.
There is a scene in the film where Jesse and his horse ride off a cliff into a river. It is obvious to anyone that the horse is pushed off the cliff, sliding backwards. The horse falls over 100 feet and lands on its back in the river. The fall kills the horse. Because of this stunt, the American Humane Association began actively monitoring film productions involving animals. This began the certification seen at the end of films that we are all now familiar with.
"No Animals Were Harmed During the Making of this Production."
According to an article in Variety on June 16, 1954, Jesse James (1939) was on continuous release in Canada and the United States for more than 15 years and played in theatres a total of 52,292 times.
The second was Stage Coach (1939), directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne. John Wayne wore his own hat in this film, and then continued to wear the same hat in every western he was in for the next 20 years.
The Regent Theatre begins to use bulletins as long as the page of the paper.
October 1939
The Spider Club members gathered on a Saturday for the final episode of The Spider. Chapter 15: The Pay Off. Sam Collis took to the stage, and announced the lucky winner of the CCM bicycle was
Richard Salt!
A free chocolate bar was passed out to every member of The Spiders Club as Sam thanked everyone for playing the game, and promised a new contest was coming near Christmas.
The Regent Theatre plays Golden Boy (1939), starring Barbara Stanwyck and William Holden in his first starring role. The film was an adaptation Clifford Odets play, which was starring Francis Farmer, while on her break from film in 1937. Barbara Stanwyck helped Holden get the role and keep it by mentoring him, coaching him and rehearsing with him daily. She was constantly reassuring him and the producers that he was right for the part. William Holden was so grateful to Barbara Stanwyck for her help that he sent her a single yellow rose every year on the anniversary of the first day of filming.
In 1978, as they both stood on the stage to present the Oscar for best sound and special effects, William Holden turned to Barbara Stanwyck and thanked her for everything she did for him. It was an incredibly touching moment between friends. Sadly, William Holden passed away the following year.
Four years later, in 1982 Barbara Stanwyck received an honorary Oscar for a lifetime in film. As she stood on stage, she dedicated it to William Holden, who had always wanted her to win an Oscar. She looked up and said "My golden boy, you got your wish."
Margaret's funeral was on September 16, 1939, and thousands of Hamiltonians lined the streets to pay their respect. There was a public service at St. Andrews Church. She was laid to rest on a hill in Woodlawn Cemetery.
November 1939
The Regent Theatre shows the Howard Hughes epic Hells Angels (1930), starring Jean Harlow. This rerelease is the heavily edited version. (no peekaboo at Gene Harlow's side boob.)
The theatre also shows Wuthering Heights (1937), directed by William Wyler. Starring Merl Oberon and Laurence Oliver. The theatre promises that all the proceeds from the showings on November 13, 14 and 15 will be donated to the Caledonia Red Cross.
Interestingly, this version of Wuthering Heights was banned in Quebec at this time. On April 5, 1939, the Film Daily reported:
Montreal North American premiere of "Wuthering Heights," which was to be given at the Orpheum Theater here Friday has been banned by the Quebec board of censors who condemn it as immoral because it portrays infidelity in marriage. The censors said they could not countenance the triangular situation.
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That night the theatre played the double feature Million Dollar Legs (1939) starring Bettie Grable and The Sunset Trail (1939), A Hop along Cassidy Western. Mrs. Percy Young and Mrs. James Phillips each won a free turkey. Mrs. Jack Stroud won a basket of groceries.
The theatre promised to give away two prizes every night all week. The prizes were small appliances like an electric iron, a toaster, a lamp, a coffee silex and a stand ashtray.
December 20, 1939
The Regent Theatre promises a week of free prizes and the eighth wonder of the world, Kong Kong (1933). This is most likely the heavily censored version rereleased in 1938. The scenes cut were Kong removing Fay Wray's clothing, dinosaurs eating humans, and Kong dropping a woman on the sidewalk.
The Christmas day feature film was Bachelor Mother (1939), starring Ginger Rogers and David Niven. As soon as the film was done shooting, David Niven returned to England to serve in the British Army during World War II.
December 27, 1939
The Regent Theatre takes out a half page advertisement in the The Sachem. The advertisement announces that at the beginning of the new year, every show from Mon-Wed ladies will receive one piece of Wm A Rogers Celebrity Wild Rose Silverware, free with the purchase of a regular admission ticket. There was 52 pieces in the set to collect, one for every week of the year. This promotion was the theatre's longest running prize promotion starting on January 1, 1940 until January 1, 1942.
New Years Eve 1939
The Regent Theatre was decorated with balloons and streamers for New Years Eve. Everyone who bought a ticket received a party hat, balloons and noise makers. Every lady got the first piece of the Wm A Rogers Celebrity Wild Rose Silverware set for free. The feature was You Can't Cheat an Honest Man (1939), written by and starring W.C Fields, Charlie McCarthy and Rochester. The film was built around their banter on Charlie McCarthys popular radio show. WC Fields turned down a role in The Wizard of Oz to make this film.
1940
There are no surviving copies of The Grand River Sachem for January 1940.
February 1940
The Regent Theatre starts the year with The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938), directed by Michael Curtiz and William Keighley and starring Erroll Flynn and Olivia Dehavilland.
The theatre also shows The Girl From Mexico (1939), starring Lupe Velez. A surprise hit for Lupe, it would be the first of eight films that would come to be known as The Mexican Spitfire series.
...and of course, silverware for the ladies.
Vice Consul of Finland, Mr. Sven Stadius from Toronto, is on a tour to rally support and raise funds for Finland, who are being invaded by Russian in what came to be known as The Winter War. His lecture, titled Finland - Our Christian Civilizations Defender in the North, illustrated with a coloured slide show, was to follow the news reel The March of Time (1940) Episode 6, The Republic of Finland 1919–1940. This episode showcased Finland, its culture and its contributions to Europe. After the lecture, Mr. Stadius sold copies of the book Sketches of Finland for .75 cents. All proceeds from the evening went to the Finland Red Cross. The remaining copies of the book were donated to local schools and to the library. The theatre advertised it all month in the local and personal section of The Sachem.
The opening shot of the film, before the title appears, shows the Eiffel Tower at dusk, just as lights come on to spell out the word "CITROEN" in huge letters. This was an advertisement for the French car company Citroen. It was made of 250,000 lights and was on the Eiffel Tower from 1925 -1935.
March - April 1940
The Regent Theatre used different bulletin styles each week in The Sachem. Sam Collis writes a column called Theatre Chatter. It has Canadian film trivia, showtimes and asks for people to write letters asking questions. The best letter wins two free tickets.
The theatre plays Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, Jean Arthur and Claude Rains.
The theatre also shows Heart of the North (1938), a Mounty melodrama.
They also played Of Human Bondage (1934), starring Bettie Davis and Leslie Howard. This is the film that made the whole world take notice of Bette Davis with her incredible performance.
April 17, 1940
The Regent Theatre management announces Gone With The Wind is coming to the theatre on Monday, May 20 and Tuesday May 21.
April 17, 1940
Sunday, April 14, at 5:00 pm, Samuel Collis marries Anne Krem of Caledonia. Anne wore a white lace gown and a long veil. Her bridesmaid was Eva Collis, Sam's sister, who wore black lace over pink taffeta. Sam's older brother Murray Collis was his best man. A reception for 300 guests was held in the Eclair Ballroom in Toronto. Among the guests were Mr. & Mrs. J. S. Rieder, who is the sister of Louis B. Mayer, president of (and one of the M's) in MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) studios. Mr. Rieder is Sam's brother in law.
Sam and Anne left on an extended honeymoon to New York, Boston and then to Montreal. Afterwards, they returned to Caledonia and rented a home from Mrs. Aldridge on the corner of Shetland Street and Orkney Street.
Cubs Bobby Price, Douglas Renshaw and Tommy Venner use their cub points for free movies.
April 24, 1940
May 1, 1940
The Sachem reports the department of highways will install a stop sign at the corner of Argyle Street and Caithness Street and the provincial police will be in town to enforce the traffic act. The Regent Theatre's sign asking customers not park in front of the theatre will also now be enforced by provincial police.
The Regent Theatre plays the first Powell and Pressberger film, U-Boat 29 aka The Spy in Black (1939). Together Powell and Pressburger wrote and directed over 20 original films during the course of their partnership. Some absolute masterpieces such as The Red Shoes, The Tales of Hoffman and The Life and Death of Colonel Blimpy.
The Regent Theatre proudly announces it will be showing Gone With The Wind (1940) for two days only, on May 20 and 21 with 2 shows daily. All seats are available to be reserved and admission is at the advanced price of $1 for the 8:00 pm show and .75 cents for 2:00 pm matinee. Tickets are sold at the theatre box office, Wilsons Drug store, or by mail order. There are no free passes honored for this film.
The advance (higher) prices was one of the many conditions MGM had for showing Gone With the Wind. It could only be shown at first run theatres capable of showing technicolor films. The evening was to be an exclusive event and all seats had to be reserved. The high ticket prices kept it exclusive and priced out the riff raff. It also helped the theatres because MGM demanded 75% of the profits. The film reels came with two pages of instructions for projectionists.
Reserved tickets available by phone and mail order for Gone With the Wind. Reserved seats are $1.00. One Canadian dollar in 1940 is worth approximately $20.74 in 2026. The matinee reserved price of .75 cent is equivalent to $15.55 in 2026.
May 15, 1940
March 1942
The hype machine for Gone With the Wind is in full gear now. The Regent Theatre places two advertisements in The Sachem. One is Frequently Asked Questions like how to buy reserve seats, or will there be an intermission for all showings? Yes, for 10 minutes - and drinks. The other boldly, and correctly, states that people will be telling their grand children in 1990 that they saw Gone With the Wind in the theatre when it came out.
May 20, 1940
January 22, 1941
May 20, 1940
The Regent Theatre plays Gone With the Wind (1939), directed by starring Clark Gable, Vivian Lee, Leslie Howard, Olivia Dehavilland and Hatti McDaniel.
The Film Daily Magazine of February 7, 1941, reported the Ritz Cinema in Leicester Square, London had been showing Gone With the Wind for 52 weeks straight. It had an underground location that continued to show Gone With the Wind during air raids and the Blitz.
According to an article in the Motion Picture Daily, dated May 23, 1944, the film played everyday for five years at the Ritz Theatre in London.
GWTW in 5th Year – MGM´s Gone With the Wind continuing its record-breaking run in London, recently entered its fifth consecutive year at the "Ritz Theatre" (on Leicester Square) according to the home office.
May 29, 1940
The Regent Theatre throws a farewell supper party for former projectionist Leslie Keefer and five other army recruits who are on their way to fight overseas in World War II. Leslie is given an engraved shaving brush that will fit in his soldier's kit.
August 7, 1940
Leslie's parents share in the Sachems Local and Personal column that he has arrived in England.
Les sends a thank you letter from Aldershot, England to the Caledonia Women's Institute.
Les is one of 5000 Canadians taking part in Operation Jubilee, The Dieppe Raid in France. What began as an allied forces night raid to storm the beach and attack raised German positions on the hills above the beach; quickly turned into a massacre as the first attack fleet encounter a German patrol. The patrol boat battle alerted German positions above the beach. As the sun came up, the German machine guns fired on the Canadians as they were barely 10 meters from the beach. The Canadians suffered massive casualties, many were taken prisoner for the duration of the war. It was a miracle anyone survived.
According to Pte Keefers action report, while enroute to his mortar position, Les comes across a soldier with a head wound. While applying first aid, Les was shot in the right arm and the hand. Unable to operated his mortar, he digs into his position and returns fire until a smoke screen is laid. He then crawled to a destroyed tank and waited for back up to arrive.
After Action Report (August 19, 1942) - Dieppe Raid - Leslie Valentine Keefer:
B37531 Pte KEEFER, L.V. "D" Coy
I was the 2" Mortar man for 16 Pl and had Pte Richards as No. 2 man. "D" Coy objective was high ground to our right and about a mile and a half inland. 16 Pl was supposed to land to the right of the Casino and both 17 and 18 were to land on our left. We were the outside Pl of the Bn and protecting our right was supposed to be a gunboat. Zero hour¡/ was at 0520, when we landed on the beach. After landing we were to go to the left of the Casino and left of the Castle and follow the road and bearing right, attack gun possns on the diff. After this we were to bear left and attack heavy gun possns and then keep going and consolidate at the Barracks and along the railway on high ground. After landing we moved along the beach to our right and I fired a number of smoke and H.K. Sgt Cruick- shank was with me at the time and I don't remember seeing Lieut Wright after leaving our ALC. We moved back a little after receiving enemy fire. At this time about 0545, I saw Cpl Sample with a head wound and while applying a first aid dressing I was hit in the right arm and left hand, and being unable to operate the 2" Mortar I picked up a rifle and after digging in continued to fire. I noticed that most of 16 Pl were hit and that the R.A.P. man that was attached to us was making his rounds and patching the wounded, although hit himself. I stayed where I was until a smoke screen was laid around 11 o'clock, then got behind a burned-out TLC until the ALCs came in.
August 20, 1942
Photo of an injured Pte. Les Keefer
August, 26, 1942
Les Keefer writes home to say that he is not seriously injured.
Les writes a thank you letter dated September 17, 1942, to the Caledonia Victory Club. In the letter, he says that he is recuperating from Dieppe, at the No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station.
July 26, 1944
Les is wounded in Normandy during Operation Overlord.
Les' injuries in Normandy allow him to come home for a three month leave after five years over seas.
December 1944
Les answers a few questions for The Sachem. He thanks everyone for all the parcels and letters. He stressed the need for a constant supply of cigarettes and remarked "You can not send too many cigarettes, especially to the lads who are in the hospital where the issue is only 20 cigarettes a week."
Thank you, Les.
May 29 1940
The Regent Theatre announces it will begin showing Canada Carries On! A new moral boosting propaganda film and newsreels series produced by the National Film Board of Canada that had just began in April 1940.
June 1940
The Regent Theatre shows the 1936 re-release of Imitations of Life (1934) and the first film from National Film Board of Canada documentary series Canada Carries On. Letter from Aldershot (1940)
about the first Canadian forces landing in England.
https://blog.nfb.ca/blog/2014/05/14/canada-carries-on-postwar-years/
June 12, 1940
Super earth's finest arrive in Caledonia. The Regent Theatre shows Hell Divers (1932), starring Clark Gable.
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June 19, 1940
The Regent Theatre plays Margaret Sullivans' first film, Only Yesterday (1933).
The Regent also shows The Oklahoma Kid (1939), starring James Cagney and Humphry Bogart.
The theatre announces the coming of Pinocchio (1940). It is the first animated film to win an Academy Award in a competitive category. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937) had won a Special Academy Award two years earlier. Pinocchio was the first animated film to use celebrity voices. Jiminy Cricket was voiced by Vaudeville, headliner and Broadway star Cliff Edwards, who also sang the theme song from Pinocchio "When You Wish upon a Star"; which went on to become the official theme song and anthem of Disney.
The news reel was the Canada Carries On Episode: A Letter from Aldershot. It was about the first division of Canadian soldiers arriving in England.
Some things never change.
June 26, 1940
The Regent Theatre presents Destry Rides Again (1939), starring Jimmy Stewart and Marlena Dietrich. This is Jimmy Stewart's first western.
July 3, 1940
The Regent Theatre and the Caledonia Woman's Institute begin selling war stamps and savings certificates. The Regent Theatre, along with 1200 other motion picture theatres in Canada start a war time promotion; their goal was to raise 1 million dollars for the Red Cross. An entire evening is advertised, promised to be filled with patriotic performances and a special film on July 15, 1940 at 8:30 pm. In order to get a ticket, the rules were you must prove you are a loyal Canadian and buy a minimum of two .25 cent war saving stamps from the theatre, or its special representatives. When you buy two, you get a free ticket to attend the gala patriotic performance.
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Monday was the big show. Advertised as Free to all Loyal Citizens.
Wednesday and Thursday Silverware Nites feature was the Mounty musical Rose Marie (1936). The main feature was My Little Chickadee (1940), starring Mae West and WC Fields. The prize to be won that week was a chest for your silverware.
July 16, 1940
The Hamilton Spectator reports the sum of $2,500 was raised for war stamps at the "Stamp Out Hitler" theatre party in the Regent Theatre last night, organized by J. Edward Stubbs and Sam Collis. There were violins, baritones, sing-a-longs and speeches. Sam Collis, the manager was the lively auctioneer for items donated by local businesses. The music program included numbers by an orchestra directed by Mrs. A. E Roszeli and solos by Lloyd Cain and Shirley Jackson. Harry Marshall led community singing.
The Hamilton Spectator article included a group photo of 11 Caledonia Soldiers who have enlisted and were on their way to Britain.
CALEDONIA SOLDIERS- Eleven Caledonia men have enlisted with the 11th Battery,
C.A.S.F., of Hamilton. In the group shown above are three brothers from the family of
Mr, and Mrs. Charles Sabo, also two Samuel brothers, sons of Mrs, J. Samuel, Front row,
from left, are: Gunners Norman Schofieid, A, H, Samuel, Cpl, E, J, Beckett, Gunners G, A,
Moffat, James Samuel, Zuli (?) Sabo, Back row: Gunners Delbert Young, Ernest Sabo, Joseph
Sabo, William Morrison, jun, and John Mellish, Corporal Beskett and Gunner Moffatt are
veterans of the first Great War.
July 17, 1940
The Regent Theatre plays the classic, The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1939), starring Charles Laughton and Maureen O'Hara in her first American film.
This was the only film shown at the first Cannes Film Festival.
The Venice Film Festival began in 1932 and was the very first annual international film festival. But by 1938, the Venice Film Festival had been completely taken over by Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler who only permitted right wing Nazi propaganda films to be shown; like the Nazi propaganda film Heimkehr (1941) and the antisemitic Jud Süß (1940), alongside Italian films like Bengasi and La nave bianca. The 1940 chosen winners of the Mussolini Cup were: Best Foreign Film: Der Postmeister by Gustav Ucicky. Best Italian Film: The Siege of the Alcazar by Augusto Genina. Golden Crown: Jud Süß by Veit Harlan.
In response, France organized a new film festival.
In June 1939, the establishment of a new International film festival, to be held from September 1 to 20, was announced in Paris. The resort town of Cannes agreed to host the event. On the morning of September 1, the day the festival was to begin, Hitler invaded Poland.
In Paris, the French government ordered a general mobilization, and the Cannes festival was called off after the screening of just one film: German American director William Dieterle’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame.(1939)
Two days later, France and Britain declared war on Germany.
The Regent Theatre announces it will be playing Of Mice and Men (1940), starring Burgess Meredith, Betty Fields and Lon Chaney Jr. Beginning. with a midnight show at 12:05 am.
September 4, 1940
The Regent Theatre does a major renovation by breaking down the back wall to set the screen back six feet. The screen is to be increased and lowered so you no longer have to look up, if you are sitting in the front row. The last seven rows are to be elevated by 12 inches, enabling every seat to be a perfect seat to see from.
September 11, 1940
The Regent Theatre plays the Three Stooges short, You Nazty Spy (1940). This is the first Hollywood film to make fun of Hitler; and Moe to be the first to impersonate Hitler. Though filmed around the same time, the stooges short was released months before Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator (1941).
The theatre also shows the first episode of the 15 part serial The Shadow. Episode 1 is The Doomed City.
The Red Cross asks Caledonia to Give Till it Hurts... Hitler.
The Regent Theatre runs a promotion for Free Shadow suits to the lucky boys who attended that week's chapter of The Shadow.
The theatre shows Canada Carries On: Squadron 992. This British propaganda film was distributed by the National Film Board of Canada about the training and use of Barrage Balloons to defend British cities from low flying German planes.
Sam Collis volunteers to lead the Red Cross scrap drive for the war effort. You can call the Regent Theatre for a special pick up. A variation of this advertisement will run every week in The Sachem for the next four years.
October 30, 1940
Members of The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) stationed in Mount Hope are invited for a free evening at the Regent Theatre on November 4. At 6:30 pm they were picked up in Mount Hope by eight cars driven by local businessmen and were brought to the edge of town on the north side. They were met by the Dufferin Haldimand Bugle Band and they marched in formation into Caledonia, down Argyle Street. They took a left at Caithness Street and marched to the cenotaph where they saluted, paraded around Edinburgh Square, then marched back down to the Regent Theatre, where a crowd had formed to welcome them. There they were met by applause that followed them all the way into the theater where they sat in their reserved seats. The first film was Wings of Youth (1940), a National Film Board produced film about young fliers in the RCAF.
The narration of these National Film Board war films was the first film work of Lorne Green. The feature was Beau Geste (1939), directed by William A. Wellman and starring Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Robert Preston and Susan Hayward.
After the film, the men filed out of the theatre and marched down the street to Wilsons Drug Store where they were treated to sandwiches, apple pie with ice cream and coffee. Sam Collis made a speech thanking everyone involved and told the young airmen to think of Caledonia as their home. Afterwards, the men were driven back to the Mount Hope Airport where they were stationed.
The Regent Theatre publishes a half page Monthly Guide in The Sachem.
If you have missed a week in your silverware collection, individual pieces are available for sale at the Regent Theatre. You can now order a chest to store your silverware.
November 1940
As predicted in 1939, The Regent Theatre begins its "Avon Cottage" Dinnerware collection promotion. It promised 44 Lovely Pieces, Finished in the newest colouring, Mulberry-Tint. The set was manufactured by Thomas Hughes & Sons, a pottery manufacturer based in Staffordshire, England.
The Regent Theatre began the year with Lupe Velez and ended the year with Lupe's The Mexican Spitfire (1940).
Sam Collis and the Boy Scouts: Thomas McDonald, Gordon Fedorko, Robert Armstrong, Donald McDonald and William Winegard are featured in the Hamilton Spectator for their Saving Scrap to Scrap Hitler drive.
Their truck appears to have a variation of this Red Cross poster from 1940 on the side of it.
The Regent Theatre's Monthly Guide for December:
December 21, 1940
The doors of the Regent Theatre opened at 10:00 am to welcome all the children of Caledonia to a morning of free cartoons, short films and comedies. As usual, the Boy Scouts were there to lend a hand and lead everyone in singing songs and playing games. After the show, the Boy Scouts gathered the children in formation and they all marched down the block to Reef Wilsons Drug store where each child was treated to an ice cream cone. At 2:00 pm Santa arrived, and and was greeted by 500 children who were lined up down the block to meet him. Santa had a small gift for every child. Afterwards, they sang Christmas carols.
At 3:00 pm, the theatre played the Popeye cartoon Never Sock a Baby (1939). They also showed the 15th and final chapter of The Shadow: The Shadow's Final Vow and Edgar Kenndy's new short Kennedy the Great. The feature was Typhoon (1940).
December 24, 1940:
The Regent Theatre plays The Great Victor Herbert (1939).
The theatre also shows the Pony Express Days (1940), a short film about Bill Cody, starring a young George Reeves, who in 10 years will go on to star as Superman in the television series Adventures of Superman from 1952 to 1958. He first played the character in the 1951 film Superman and the Mole Men, which launched the TV series.
At 11:30 pm, the theatre plays the swashbuckler epic Sea Hawk (1939), starring Errol Flynn. It was replayed on Christmas day and Boxing Day for a special 11:30 am matinee.
December, 31, 1940
The Regent Theatre has a New Years Eve showing of Buck Benny Rides Again (1940), starring Jack Benny. The film starts at 11:30 pm, there will be balloons, confetti and party hats.
The Regent Theatre begins the year with nightly draws for a complete 44 piece English Avon Cottage dinnerware set. There is a guaranteed winner every night of the week. To participate, you must buy a ticket and be at the theatre. Sam Collis will take to the stage and draw a number from a box. If the number matches your seat number, you win.
The Regent Theatre and the Caledonia Legion present the film Convoy (1940), to raise money for the Buckshee fund. (Buckshee was solider slang for something free.) The idea was to raise money for the little pleasures and small comforts that make life bearable for a soldier; like well known Canadian cigarette brands and chocolate bars from home. Major Hugh M. Bell placed Buckshee boxes in businesses around Caledonia, including at the Regent Theatre; asking for a penny, nickel or dime. Your throw away small change; they called it chicken feed appeal. Lt Col. D. E Macintyre who was in Britain on behalf of the Legion sent a cable urging every Canadian to donate 1 cent a week. Your one cent would give a soldier 4 free cigarettes or 15 cigarettes for a nickel. By the end of 1941, the Buckshee fund sent over 4 million cigarettes to Canadian soldiers serving over seas.
Brantford Expositor February 23 1941
Brantford Expositor April 19 1941
Kingston Whig-Standard August 2, 1941
February 5, 1941
The Regent Theatre plays the film Pastor Hall (1940). It is a fictionalized story of a real person, Pastor Martin Neimuller, who lived in a small German town as the Nazi party was beginning to take over Germany. When a platoon of stormtroopers are stationed in town in 1937, Pastor Hall is sent to the concentration camp Dachau for speaking out against them. He is imprisoned for the duration of the war. The real Pastor Martin Neimuller is most remembered for his post war sermon "First they came for..."
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And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me
The reason the Regent Theatre's advertisement says it is not a propaganda picture is because it was released one year before America got involved in World War II, and the Production Code Administration (Hays Code) officials considered the film British propaganda. This film was ahead of its time even when it was first written in 1939. The British censors did not want the film made because it might interfere with Churchill's negotiations with Hitler. Once England got involved in World War II, the film was put into production immediately.
The Regent Theatre shows Flowing Gold (1940), starring Francis Farmer.
The Regent Theatre plays the North West Mounted Police (1940), starring Gary Cooper.
April 16, 1941
November 5, 1941
The Red Cross Victory Salvage campaign updates their advertisement. The Sachem reports Sam Collis, Roy Poth and Murray Clark collected three tons of paper in one day.
April 16, 1941
The Regent Theatre provides the stage for a taping of the Alka Seltzer radio program Did I Say That? The program was hosted by Harvey Dobbs and Don Wright on CFRB Toronto. Contestants for the quiz show are picked randomly from the audience. The show is played the next night on the radio.
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April 16, 1941
The February 1943 issue of Broadcaster Magazine gives an idea of what the show was like. To the left in grey are the hosts Harvey Dobbs and Dan Wright.
The Regent Theatre hires Nellie "Babe" Muriel Griffey, age 25 to wrangle and look after the groups of children that frequent the theatre. They announce it in The Sachem.
Mrs. Horace Griffey has been appointed matron of the Regent. She wears a white uniform similar to a nurse with the word Matron. She is there for the convenience and safety of the children.
April 23, 1941
Gone With the Wind returns to the Regent Theatre, now showing at normal theatre prices. Bottled pop and Polar pies are donated at cost by local shop owners Reef Wilson, Osbourne Boose and John Dong to be sold during the 10 minute intermission.
In total, they raised $10 for the Red Cross.
The Regent Theatre plays They Drive by Night (1940), directed by Raul Walsh and starring George Raft, Anne Sheridan, Humphry Bogart and Ida Lupino.
Actor Alan Hale plays a small but important part in the film. In his scenes you can see he is wearing a ring on his pinky finger. After his death in 1950, his son Alan Hale Jr. would wear that same gold pinky ring for the rest of his life. You can see him wearing it in 1964 when he plays the Skipper on Gilligan's Island.
Actor Alan Hale plays a small but important part in the film. In his scenes you can see he is wearing a ring on his pinky finger. After his death in 1950, his son Alan Hale Jr. would wear that same gold pinky ring for the rest of his life. You can see him wearing it in 1964 when he plays the Skipper on Gilligan's Island.
June 11, 1941
On June 6, in support of the Navy League Tag Day, the Regent Theatre plays Canada Carries On! The theatre also shows Mastery of the Sea (1940). Former Boy Scout, now Petty Officer William Winegard, who is on a 13 day leave, took to the stage to thank everyone in Caledonia for all the gifts, knitted scarves and sweaters they have sent to the young sailors overseas. He remarked how impressed he was to see so many former seas cadets now serving in the navy.
Mastery of the Sea:
https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060019965
The Avon Cottage Dinnerware is canceled due to difficulty with imports. The last day will be June 24.
July 1941
This was an incredible month of films for the Regent Theatre. The theatre showed The return of Alfred Hitchcock's Rebecca (1940), and Back in the Saddle Again (1941), starring Gene Autry, which was the debut of the now classic song Back in the Saddle Again (a song you will never get out of your head). The queen of cinema, Barbara Stanwyck returns to the Regent Theatre with her first comedy hit, The Lady Eve (1941), directed by Preston Sturges, who wrote the film specifically for Barbara Stanwyck. Her costar was Henry Fonda.
The Regent Bullet now includes at the bottom: Every taxed ticket purchased at our theatre is a sock to Hitler.
There is a brand new game for the kids to play at the weekend matinee called Thumbs Up Game. The prizes are war stamps that can be redeemed for cash after the war.
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The Regent Theatre plays I wanted Wings (1941), directed by Mitchell Leisen and starring Ray Milland, William Holden and Veronica Lake, in her first major role.
July 23, 1941
The Regent Theatre shows its first 3D film, The 3rd Dimensional Murder (1941), directed by George Sidney and narrated by Pete Smith. This was the 3rd in a series of early 3D films by Pete Smith. The first was Audioscopiks (1935) and New Audioscopiks (1938). They were little more than basic camera tests for 3D of people and objects going towards the camera. Each film begins with Pete Smiths narration explaining how 3D films work. The 3rd Dimensional Murder was the first to have a story.
On November 20, 1935, the Kansas City Times gives a positive review of Audioscopiks (1935), but hilariously is quick to point out that it is nothing new.
It is a novelty and very funny one. But it's 100 miles from being practical for feature pictures. The trick is the old stereoscopic idea of looking at two images through glasses. Your eyes superimpose the two images and give a trick depth to the flat picture. It has been done on the stage many times. Ten years ago it was done on the Shubert stage. Silhouettes seemed to fall in your lap.
I saw it in Paris twelve years ago. (1923) Then, as in Pete Smith's short, the first effect was a ladder, which slowly falls. You are sure it will land on your head. On the stage the trick was done by lighting the actors with two lights. one red and one green, which made two shadows. Again with the use of the little red and green spectacles, the audience sees trick depth.
Free 3D glasses are available at Wilsons Drug Store.
July 25, 1941
Silverware is free to all ladies who are accompanied by a gentleman.
The Regent Theatre plays the short film More about Nostradamus (1941), by David Miller. This one asserts Nostradamus predicted World War II.
Michel de Nostredame was a 16th century physician who wrote a series of four stanza (quatrains) rhyming poems in a three volume book called Les Prophéties, published in 1555 -1568. The poems were organized in ten sets of verses ("Centuries") of 100 quatrains each written in a combination of French, Greek, Latin and Occitan. The poems were mostly about disasters. Which over time have been framed by some as predictions.
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The Regent Theatre Bulletins begin using the slang like: Two Swell Pictures, Two Smart Pictures, Two Ace Pictures.
The theatre shows Tarzan Gets a Son (1940), starring Jonny Weismuller.
The theatre also plays Good-bye Mr. Chips (1939), starring Greer Garson and Robert Donat. This is Greer Garson's first American film. Her entrance is so sweet and her character is so lovely, the entire world fell in love with her after this film.
Also this month, the theatre shows John Wayne's first technicolor film, The Shepherd of the Hills (1941).
War stamps now have pictures on them representing the services and the weapons they use. The first of the eight was a Spitfire aircraft.
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The Regent Theatre plays the Ziegfeld Girl (1941), starring Judy Garland, Lana Turner, Hedy Lamar and Jimmy Stewart in last performance before serving military service in World War II. He would return to the screen five years later in It's a Wonderful Life (1946).
October 29, 1941
The Regent Theatre announces a Spider Club contest for CCM skates and boots if you go see Puddin Head (1941), starring Judy Cadova.
She sings the title song three times in the film to make absolutely sure you will have the song Puddin Head stuck in your head for the rest of your life.
November 1941
The Regent Theatre plays The Great Dictator (1940), written, directed, produced and starring Charlie Chaplin. This was Chaplin's first talking film and was financed entirely by Chaplin himself. The script was written and the film well into production before England and American were at war with Germany.
Chaplin plays the two main characters in the film. The first is a WW1 soldier with PTSD who spent the last decade in an asylum. He finally comes back to his home town to reopen his barber shop. But his plans of returning to the normal life he once had are shattered almost immediately by the Nazi thugs who occupy his village. The barber is played from the very start as Chaplin's signature silent character The Tramp. The second character is Chaplin's first speaking role, Adenoid Hynkel, the fascist dictator of Tomania; Leader of the Nami Party of the Double Cross.
Of coarse, the inevitable misunderstanding finally happens, the two switch places and the barber gives an incredible anti-war speech that speaks to the hearts of everyone who hears it, even to this day.
It was the invasion of France that inspired Chaplin to change the original ending of his film to include the now famous speech. By the time of its release, England were at war with Germany, but America has still not joined the Allies. The film was banned in all German occupied countries upon its release.
Canada Carries On! Churchills Island (1941) is the first film to win the Academy Award for Best Documentary in the newly created category. It is also the first Canadian film to win an Oscar.
The Regent plays Buck Privates (1941), starring Abbot & Costello and the Andrew sisters, in the first of three films they would star in together. This film was the debut of the Andrew sisters iconic song The boogie-Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B.
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https://youtu.be/sfeLyI9gnxk?si=zcBmu5Cu0Hgp6sng
December 17, 1940
The Regent Theatre announces to the ladies of Caledonia that the final piece of the Rogers Genuine Silverware set will be given away on the 17 and 18. It is also announced that if you need a piece for your set, you have until January 1, 1942, to apply at the Regent Box Office.
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That week the Regent plays: That Hamilton Woman (1941), directed by Alexander Korda and starring real-life couple Vivien Leigh and Laurence Olivier, The Parson of Panamint (1941), Wings of the Navy (1939), Gulliver's Travels (1939), which was Fleischer Studio's first animated feature film and Santa's Workshop (1932), the first of Disney's silly symphonies.
At 1:45 pm, Santa arrived in downtown Caledonia waving to all the children from the back of a flat bed truck, decorated for Christmas and loaded with bags of candy and oranges. It parked beside the community Christmas tree by the post office. From there Santa took to the stage and greeted the crowd of children, many of them by name. Every child got to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Afterwards, they were given a bag of candy and an orange and asked to join the parade line. After the last bag of candy was handed out, Santa led the parade to the Regent Theatre, where they were met by Sam Collis. They were welcomed inside for an afternoon of short films, cartoons, fun games and sing-a-longs, with the help of the Boy Scouts.
December 29, 1941
The Regent Theatre ends the year with the Andrew sisters. The theater plays Argentine Nights (1940), starring the Andrew Sisters (LaVerne, Patty, and Maxene) in their first of 17 films.
The Andrew sisters were one of the most successful woman singing groups of all time. They recorded over 600 songs, and had 113 billboard hits, with 46 top ten songs.
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New Years Eve 1941
The Regent Theatre hosts a Gala New Years Jamboree!! The theater was decorated with streamers and balloons. They gave out party hats and noise makers. At 11:00 pm, they played In the Navy (1941), starring Abbot & Costello and The Andrew Sisters, featuring Shemp Howard.
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1942
The Regent Theatre starts the year with a new game, Foto Nite. The rules were simple, you had three ways to enter: One, put your name on the piece of paper that came with your ticket. Two, print your name on the form attached to the theatre's advertisement in The Sachem and bring it to the theatre. Three, phone the theatre to add your name for that week's draw. Every Thursday on Foto Nite, Sam Collis takes to the stage and announces the winner's name. If you are in the theatre that night, you have seven days to bring in an 8 x10 photo of yourself. When you do, Sam Collis will offer to buy the photo from you in cash and will display the photo in the theater. If you are not present that night, tough luck. Ten dollars is added to the prize money for the next Foto Nite. Reef Wilsons Drug Store offered to take the photo of the first winner for free. Miss Eleanor Roszell offered to colourize your photo with oil paints. The contest seems to have been in cooperation with them because their advertisements are all grouped together in The Sachem for the rest of the year.
The theatre plays Kitty Foyle (1941), directed by Sam Wood and starring Gingers Rogers in her Academy Award winning performance as an average working girl. During its peak, the film popularized the style of dress Ginger wore; a dark shirtwaist with light contrasting collars. For a while, the style of dress was called a Kitty Foyle.
Target for Tonight ( 1941)
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Still no winner. Photo Nite is expanded to Wednesdays and Thursdays.
February 1942
This month, the Regent Theatre presents High Sierra (1941), directed by Raul Walsh and starring Humphry Bogart and Ida Lupino.
The theatre also plays Time Out for Rhythm (1941), starring Ann Miller and The Three Stooges.
March 2-3 1943 The Regent shows Now it can be shown (1941) The film was recently declassified footage of the Attack on Pearl Harbor shot by Fox Movietone News cameraman Al Brick the morning of the attack. The film is narrated by Lowell Thomas.
The prize money for the Foto Nite game reached $55, until it was finally won by Mrs. Charles Montgomery. Adjusted for inflation, that is the equivalent of $1,093.66 in 2026.
March 11, 1942
The Regent Theatre plays the Bela Lugosi film The Human Monster.(1939) Since children mostly go to weekend matinee, the theatre instead plays the cartoon Superman (1941). This is the first of nine Superman cartoons created by Fleisher studios between 1941 to 1942. (An additional eight more were produced in 1942-43 by Famous Studios, which was the new name for Fleisher Studios after it was taken over by Paramount due to outstanding debts.)
Fleisher studios founded in 1919 by brothers Max and Dave Fleischer. It was a pioneering animation studio from New York with a very distinctive style, responsible for the incredibly popular Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons. They had just finished their first feature film Gulliver's Travels (1939) when they were approached by their distributor Paramount, who had just acquired the rights to Superman, to produce a series of cartoons in the Fleisher invented rotoscope animation. The Fleisher's declined the offer. They were already in the planning stages for their next film, an original story and characters to be called Mr. Bug Goes to Town. In a effort to discourage Paramount, the Fleisher's said they would do it for $100,000. Paramount countered their offer with $50,000 for the first episode, and $30,000 for the next eight. The Fleisher's accepted and the results are nine of the best looking cartoons of the golden era of animation. Superman was voiced by Bud Collyer who was also the voice of Superman for the very popular radio program The Adventures of Superman (1940 -1951), which began every episode with:
" Look! Up in the sky! Its a Bird! Its a plane! No! Its Superman!
The Fleisher's animations began with a similar voice over:
"Faster than a speeding bullet!
More powerful than a locomotive!
Able to leap buildings in a single bound!
Its SUPERMAN!
Together, the radio program and the Fleisher's animation added to the Superman mythos and in turn, those ideas were incorporated back into the comics, like flying and Kryptonite; as well as the characters Jimmy Olson and Perry White.
To celebrate their three year anniversary, the Regent Theatre takes out a full page ad, in The Sachem to thank Caledonia with a personal thank-you written by Sam Collis.
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The Regent Theatre plays Down Argentine Way (1940), starring Don Ameche, Betty Grable and Carmen Maranda in her first colour, and American film. Even though Betty Grable had already starred in 31 movies, it was starring in her first big technicolor musical that made her a household name. Unlike Rita Hayworth and other female stars of the time, Betty Grable was allowed to use her own beautiful singing voice. Betty would go on to star in 22 technicolor musicals with parts written just for her from 1941 to 1952.
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May 11, 1942
The Regent also presents There Too, Go I (1941), starring Anna Neagle.
The Regent also plays Little Foxes (1940), directed by William Wyler and starring Bette Davis.
In an effort to make back its money after the box office failure of Citizen Kane (1941), RKO distributed Citizen Kane as a double feature with The Little Foxes.
May 6, 1942
Citizen Kane (1941) is shown at the Regent Theatre to raise funds for the Legion. The film was written by Orson Welles and Herman Mankiewicz. It was produced, directed and starred 25 year old Orson Welles; a once child prodigy who had grown into a ground breaking theatre director in his 20's. By the age of 23, he was director of the 1938 radio program Radio Mercury Theatre on the Air. It featured the Mercury Theatre repertory company of actors, including Welles, Agnes Moorehead, Ray Collins, and Joseph Cotten. They mostly performed hour long adaptions of books like Treasure Island, The 39 Steps, A tale of Two cities and The count of Monte Cristo. Their first episode was Dracula on July 11, 1938.
On October 30, 1938 their Halloween episode was a performance of HG Welles War of the Worlds. Orson Welles' direction of the timing of the interrupting news reporter-style narration was so convincing, that it had led to a mass hysteria in towns and cities all across north America. The Hamilton Spectator dated October 31, 1938, reported people called the Spectator switch board for three hours asking if it was real. Even though the program stopped four times to remind people it was a radio play, people who had missed the introduction of the program, as well as people who were dial surfing believed it was real and legitimately panicked. This panic was even mentioned by Adolf Hitler in Munich on November 8, 1938. Hitler cited the reaction to the broadcast as evidence of the "decadent state of affairs in democracy" and the "corrupt condition" of democratic nations.
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It is difficult to truly appreciate Citizen Kane without knowing it is based on a real person; the publishing tycoon William Randolph Hearst. Hearst owned the largest media empire in the united states from 1887 to 1948; owning and controlling 28 major daily newspapers, radio stations, news reels and 13 major magazines, including Cosmopolitan and Good Housekeeping. His twice daily newspapers were sold in every major city in America. Hearst papers were mostly tabloids that had large sensational headlines with big pictures, stories focusing on crime, scandals, sports and violence. Hearst would control the editorials of all his papers, inserting his own politics and ( mostly racist) beliefs into every newspaper and magazine he owned. Hearst used his family's immense wealth to built an obscene mansion on a hill off the coast of San Simeon California, known as Hearst Castle; which can still be seen today as a museum and park. In the 1920s and 30s Hearst and his mistress Marion Davies hosted legendary, massive weekend long parties. He invited politicians and the Hollywood elite like Chaplin, Clarke Gable, Joan Crawford, Cary Grant, Gloria Swanson, Jean Harlow. He would have elaborate theme parties and hire professional costumers and makeup artists for the guests. His guests were free to do as they pleased on the estate. Swim in the pools, play tennis, watch films in his personal screening room, visit his private zoo. The only rule was 2 drinks, maximum per guest and you had to attend the nightly dinner in the main house.
There is artistry in every frame of Citizen Kane, and that is thanks to the cinematography of the great Gregg Toland; who personally approached Welles to be his cinematographer when he heard that Welles was making a film. When Welles asked his why, Toland said "Because you've never made a picture, and you don't know what cannot be done." Toland was eager to collaborate with a first-time film director like Welles who would allow him the freedom to try experimental techniques, such as deep focus and innovative lighting. Toland and Welles worked closely together on every aspect of the film including camera placement.
What makes Citizen Kane truly stand out amongst other films; is it is an incredible, jaw dropping personal attack only a 25 year old would have the nerve to make. Welles takes some huge swings at Hearst's public and very personal life; but it was Ben Mankowitz, who was Marion Davies close friend and drinking partner, who provided the direct hits. The parallels between the main character Charles Foster Kane and William Randolph Hearst were obvious and undeniable to everyone. Both had a media empire, Kane built Xanadu, Hearst built his Castle in San Simeon. Kane's obsession with turning his untalented second wife, Susan Alexander, into an opera star directly parallels Hearst's intense efforts to make his mistress, actress Marion Davies, into a serious film star. It was said that Hearst was particularly furious at how Welles had portrayed his wife Marion Davies as so crudely untalented.
Though Hearst had mostly retired from publishing by the time Citizen Kane was released, he still had immense power and influence and used it to ensure Citizen Kane received as few showings as possible; no advertisements or reviews of it appeared in any of his papers. To an extent, this worked, Citizen Kane was not profitable. The film lost an estimated $150,000 during its first run, which is equivalent to more than $3 million in 2026. Nonetheless, that year Orson Welles and Ben Mankowitz each received the Oscar for best screenwriting. It was not until Citizen Kane's re-release in 1956, that the film began to be recognized as a masterpiece.
The Regent Theatre shows Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941), directed by Victor Fleming and starring Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman and Lana Turner.
The Regent also plays Blossoms in the Dust (1941), starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. This was the first of eight films that Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon were paired together.
The Regent also presents There Too, Go I (1941), starring Anna Neagle.
A melodramatic short film about the massive volunteer effort carried out by The Red Cross during World War II.
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June 24, 1942
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Regent Manager Sam Collis is among the first in Caledonia to donate blood to the Red Cross.
He was on this list every week for a year and received a pin for multiple donations.
Superman is now treated as a feature.
The theatre also shows Man Hunt (1941), directed by Fritz Lang and starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders and Roddy McDowell. Fritz Lang had fled Germany in 1933 and this was to be the first of four of his anti Nazi films.
July 13, 1942
Girls Under 21 (1940)
July 29 1942 The Regent plays the Powell and Pressburger film The 49th Parallel (1941) Starring Laurence Olivier as Johnnie, a French Canadian hero who foils a Nazi plot to save his friends~!
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Aug 19 1942 The Regent offers free tickets to children who bring in 3 old phonograph records. Phonograph records were made out of Shellac, which was now strictly rationed by the war dept for military use. Shellac is created from a resin secreted by the lac bug (Kerria lacca) on trees in India and Thailand; an area controlled by Japan during the war, cutting off supply lines. Before the Second World War, India produced approximately 90 per
cent of the world’s supply of lac, the remaining 10 per cent coming from
Siam, Indo-China and Burma. Refining of the raw lac into shellac and
seedlac was confined to India, as the other countries sent their
raw product to India for processing.
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Wednesday, September 02, 1942 The Regent plays Mr. Bug goes to town. (1941) produced by Fleischer Studios. Their second, and final feature film. Sadly, by 1939 Dave and Max Fleischer had completely stopped speaking with each other. Max had a very public affair, but mostly is stemmed from moving the studio from New York to Miami and who was to provide the musical score for Mr. Bug goes to town. Dave wanted to write the score, which Max and Paramount refused, insisting on Leigh Harline who had previously won Academy awards for Disney's, Pinocchio, Snow White and The Old Mill. By 1941, despite working in the same building they were only communicating through memos. The film was released 3 days before Pearl Harbor, which most people now see as the reason the film did not make a profit. Fleisher studios did not survive the massive financial loss despite the steady revenue still generated by their Popeye cartoons. The Fleisher bothers went their separate ways and never spoke to each other again.
Wednesday, September 23, 1942
Wednesday, September 30, 1942 The Regent has a new style of bulletin. Mrs. Ted Sabourin won the $85.00 Photo Nite!
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October 21, 1942
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New Years Eve. The Regent ends/begins the year with the 12:05 showing of the ice skating musical Lady Lets Dance (1944) Starring ice skater Belita as herself, James Ellison, and Walter Catlett.
February 1945 The Regent plays Return of the Vampire. (1943) Starring Bela Lugosi as the vampire Armand Tesla, who is awaken during the blitz in London. The reason for the bizarre name is because this was a Columbia pictures vampire movie; who weren't allowed to use names or characters from Dracula which were owned by Universal Pictures.
The Sachem prints a 2 part report from Canadian war reporter Charles Clay about Nazi Death Camps. 
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March 1945
Marriage is a Private affair.(1944) Starring Lana Turner. The first Hollywood film to have a world premiere specifically for US combat forces overseas. Lana Turner made a personal appearance at the event, which took place at a theater in Naples, Italy, on September 23, 1944.
Kismet(1944) Starring Marlena Dietrich, Ronald Colman.
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May 09 1945 Germany unconditionally surrenders to the Allies in Berlin at 10:43 pm May 8, 1945.
May 21 1945 The Regent plays Mrs. Parkington (1944) Starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon appearing together as husband and wife for the fourth time.
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That day the Sachem reports on the town of Burgsteinfurt in Germany, which had been dubbed The Village of Hate from an article written in the 5th issue of the British Army magazine Soldier. It had become glaringly obvious to Allied soldiers that the villagers of Burgsteinfurt hated them and resenented their presence in the village. On May 29th, the Allies arranged to have the film: Atrocities- The Evidence shown at the towns movie theatre. It was 7 minutes of footage shot by soldiers liberating the Nazi death camps Buchenwald and Belsen. This film was meant to show the German people the horrific crimes against humanity that were being committed by their own soldiers. Almost no one showed up. On May 30,1945 the British ordered all 4000 people in the village, adults and children to march down to the cinema, stand in line and watch the film. Anyone seen laughing in the theatre or while leaving, were ordered back into the theatre to watch the films again.
The same footage was later used as evidence at the Nuremburg trials.
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The Regent Theatre plays A Yank in the R.A.F. (1941), directed by Henry King and starring Tyrone Power, Betty Grable and John Sutton. The scenes with the Spitfires were filmed in the UK. The Spitfires were from the 602 Squadron under the command of Squadron Leader Sandy Johnstone. The unit was resting in early 1941 in Scotland after fighting in the Battle of Britain.
The theatre also shows Man Hunt (1941), directed by Fritz Lang and starring Walter Pidgeon, Joan Bennett, George Sanders and Roddy McDowell. Fritz Lang had fled Germany in 1933 and this was to be the first of four of his anti Nazi films.
The theatre also presents Mexican Spitfire out West (1940), starring Lupe Velez. It was the sequel to Mexican Spitfire (1940) which had been released just nine months earlier in January 1940. The studio were so happy with the filming of Out West that Lupe was offered a contract for four more Mexican Spitfire films before Out West had finished production. When it was released, critics considered Mexican Spitfire out West, the funniest film of the year.
July 13, 1942
The Regent Theatre plays Hellzapoppin' (1941). It was a film doing its best to capture the madness of a very popular, chaotic 1938 Broadway show that ran for an incredible 1404 performances. The show was a funny screw ball collection of musical acts, wild dance routines like the lindy hop, with absurd comedy bits that would happened randomly throughout the show and with actors hidden in the audience. The lindy hop couple in the film is the same one from the Broadway show.
The theatre shows You'll Never Get Rich (1941), starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth, in her first starring role. This was the first of two films they shot back to back, the other was You Never Looked Lovelier (1941).
A month before the film was released, Rita was featured on the cover of the August 1941 issue of Life Magazine. It featured a photo of Rita kneeling on her bed in a long night gown, and others of her at the beach. These photos would become some of the most popular pinup girl photos of the 1940's.
Girls Under 21 (1940)
July 29 1942 The Regent plays the Powell and Pressburger film The 49th Parallel (1941) Starring Laurence Olivier as Johnnie, a French Canadian hero who foils a Nazi plot to save his friends~!
Meet Boston Blackie ( 1941) The first of 14 Boston Blackie films
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The Regent plays Sergeant York (1941) Directed by Howard Hawks. Starring Gary Cooper
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Beside the bulletin in the personal column it is mentioned that the President and the manager of the Canadian Weekly Newspapers Association, C.V Charters and Walter Legge leave for England to report on the Canadian forces experiences in Europe.
Sept 09 1942 The Regent plays the age restricted No greater sin (1941) Directed by William Nigh. Another Health League of Canada sponsored film about how syphilis will ruin your life, the lives of everyone you know and the whole town you live in.
Superman: Volcano (1942) by Fleisher Studios. This is the 8th of 9 Superman cartoons by Fleisher studios.
The Regent Plays Sullivan Travels (1941) Directed by Preston Sturges. Starring Veronica Lake, Joel McCrea.
The NFB short film Ferry Pilots https://www.nfb.ca/film/ferry_pilot/
About pilots who fly new bombers built in Canada to Europe
The man who came dinner (1941) Starring Bette Davis. Ann Sheridan, Monty Woolley
Underneath this film in the Regent advert, it says
Here is a picture that will make you forget about your new income tax.
In order to pay for the war, Canada lowered the income tax bracket so now millions of lower income people across Canada began paying income tax for the first time. Until the war, only the wealthy paid income tax. The Sachem ran several full page ads from 1941-42 from the Government explaining it.
Miss Canada girls Merilyn Reid, Jean Murdoch, Evelyn Garret, Elizabeth Sabo and Doreen Jillard sold $76.00 in war stamps downtown Caledonia.
All across Canada, teen girls wearing a bright red apron that had a white maple leaf printed on the breast, underneath it said Miss Canada, would be standing out front of stores, or going door to door selling war stamps. The apron had 3 large pockets at the front to hold stamps, stamp books, and the money they collected. The idea was, after you collected $4.00 in stamps, you could then trade them in for a $5.00 savings bond that can be cashed in at the end of the war. 
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October 21, 1942
The Sachem reports Orson Welles comes to Canada to star in an episode of the CBC radio play Nazi Eyes on Canada. It was a 5 part radio play that imagined what life would be like if the Nazis win the war for 5 different families, from different 5 provinces in Canada. Each episode featured a celebrity like Orson Welles, Vincent Price, Helen Hayes, Judith Evelyn, Lorne Green.. Orson Welles episode was for the Province of Saskatchewan, Chapter 5: Alameda
https://archive.org/details/nazi-eyes-on-canada/420920+01+Premier+Show.mp3
Monday, October 26, 1942
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No. 429 (Bison) RCAF Squadron as part of Bomber Command.
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Wednesday, November 18, 1942
Wednesday, November 25, 1942 The month Bulletin for the Regent.
"...We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
Wednesday, December 23, 1942 It was one of the coldest winters in memory that year. That Saturday it was -12 and lightly snowing. Despite the cold, an estimated 500 children amassed downtown at 2 pm to meet Santa Claus. There was no Christmas tree for the children to gather around downtown Caledonia this year. The men's club had decided to donate the $25.00 Christmas tree money to British War Victims. Every child still got to meet Santa and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Afterwards Santa helpers would hand them an orange and asked to stand in a procession line which was organized by the Boy scouts. After the last orange was handed out, Santa walked to the front of the line, put his hands up and led the children in a parade down Argyle street to the Regent theatre on Caithness. They were met by Sam Collis at the front doors and treated to an afternoon of free movies, cartoons and games.
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Wednesday, December 30, 1942
The Caledonia Woman's Institute have a celebration at The Regent to honor the 35 young girls who had sold $500 in war stamps that year.
December 31 1942 The Regent was decorated with balloons and streamers. The New Years Eve feature film was This Way Please (1937) Starring Fibber McGee & Molly and Betty Grable. They also showed Vaudeville days (1942) and the latest cartoons. As usual, your ticket came with a party hat and noise maker.
The first film of 1943 at the Regent theatre will be Reap the Wild Wind. (1942) Directed by Cecil B DeMille. Starring John Wayne,
The first double feature was
Remember Pearl Harbor (1942) Directed by Joseph Santley
This Gun for Hire.(1942) Starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
February 1943 The Regent plays Nazi Agent. (1942) Directed by Jules Dassin. Starring Conrad Veidt as twins. One a loyal American, the other...a Nazi spy.
March 1943 The Regent begins selling magazine subscriptions for Country Gentleman, Ladies Home Journal and The Saturday Evening Post.
Wednesday, March 17, 1943 The Sachem prints one of Walter R Legge article from London. Legge was one of 12 Canadian editors stationed with the Canadian forces in Great Britain, August 20th to October 2, 1943. They would write detailed first hand accounts of what day to day life was like in Europe. When he returned, he published a book on their experiences called The Bomber Press in England. (1942)
In his report from London, he writes about a fascinating detail of the war that's been forgotten.
Gas bag vehicles. The gas used was coal gas. You could buy it from filling stations, or have your vehicle tow a coal burner to fill your bag as you need it. Many buses towed their own gas burners.
The gas storage bags were made of silk or other fabrics, soaked in rubber (Zodiac was one of the manufacturers). These bags were (and are) much cheaper and easier to build than metal tanks. They could also be repaired in a similar way to bicycle tires. The bag was anchored to the roof using rings and straps. Some gas bag vehicles could operate alternatively on gas or gasoline. Switching between the two options could be controlled from inside the vehicle.
Wednesday, April 07, 1943 The Regent offers a 10 year subscription to Country Gentleman.
April 25 1943
May 13 1943 Gathered on the south side at Walter Richardson's Gore park ( what is now The Oasis.) are D Company, Dufferin Haldimand Rifles, with members of the Argyle and Southerland Regiment of Hamilton; under the command of Lieutenant Harrison Martindale. At 8:15 pm, led by the company band they march in formation across the Bridge, up Argyle street to the train station. They then turn around, march back down to Caithness Street, turn left and march to the Regent Theatre where they are met by Sam Collis. Inside the theatre they have a rousing 4th Victory loan rally, with presentations and honors, urging everyone to subscribe because Cayuga and Hagersville have already met their quotas. Outside the theatre are loudspeakers so everyone outside can hear the speeches.
May 26 1943 A young lad named Donald Ball finds a $1.00 bill on the floor of the theatre and turns it in to lost and found. Sam Collis is so impressed with his honesty his gives Donald 3 free theatre tickets.
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One of my favourite parts of The Catcher in the Rye (1951) by J.D Salinger, is when Holden Caulfield goes to see Random Harvest at Radio City Music Hall, and gives a both spoiler filled and completely inaccurate review of the film.
"After the Christmas thing was over, the goddam picture started. It was so putrid I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was about this English guy, Alec something, that was in the war and loses his memory in the hospital and all. He comes out of the hospital carrying a cane and limping all over the place, all over London, not knowing who the hell he is. He’s really a duke, but he doesn’t know it. Then he meets this nice, homey, sincere girl getting on a bus. . . .But then, one day, some kids are playing cricket ball. Then right away he gets his goddam memory back. . . and he forgets all about the homey babe that has the publishing business. . . .Anyway, it ends up with Alec and the homey babe getting married, and the brother that’s a drunkard gets his nerves back and operates on Alex’s mother so she can see again, and then the drunken brother and old Marcia go for each other....All I can say is, don’t see it if you don’t want to puke all over yourself."
After their combat service, the Memphis Belle and her crew toured north America on a 30-stop war bond tour.
Wednesday, July 07, 1943 Now Voyager (1942) Directed by Irving Rapper. Starring Bette Davis. Its an incredible film about how a toxic parents mental and emotional abuse will wear you down and crush your self esteem.
Wednesday, August 04, 1943. Journey for Margaret (1942) The final film of director W.S. Van Dyke. Starring Margaret O'Brien in her first credited role. This is an absolute heartbreaking story of children lives torn apart by war. Margaret O'Brien gives an incredible performance. Margaret O'Brien (born Angela O'Brien) so identified with the character she played in this film that she change her name to Margaret.
August 06, 1943 The first Canadian made Lancaster Bomber, named the "Ruhr Express" is completed at Victory Aircraft Limited, Malton Ontario. Ruhr, (located roughly 200–300 km from the French border) is Germany's largest urban area and was the main center of German heavy industry with coke plants, steelworks, armaments factories and ten synthetic oil plants.
The National Film Board of Canada created a propaganda film of its production called
Target: Berlin (1944)
Wednesday, August 11, 1943 The Regent plays Casablanca (1942) Directed by Michael Curtiz. Starring Humphry Bogart, Ingrid Bergman
Sept 29 1943 The Regent shows Footlight Serenade (1942) Starring Betty Grable, John Payne and Victor Mature.
Due to nickel being rationed for war production, the 1943-1944 nickels were made of Tombac (a bronze alloy, which is yellow in color) and some in 1944 & 1945 were made of chrome-plated steel.
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The Regent plays In Which We Serve. (1943) Directed by Noël Coward and David Lean. Starring Noël Coward,
December 15 1943 The Regent has a new promotion. At 6pm they will call a random phone number in Caledonia and ask What is playing at the Regent Theatre tonight? If you answer correctly you win free tickets to the Regent.
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The Regent shows Canadian Army Newsreel No. 7 1943.
Thursday December 02 1943 Three Lancaster bombers flying in formation circle Parliament hill in Ottawa several times. They are on their way to Ferry Command field in Dorval Quebec. They are then flown by ferry pilots to Gander, Newfoundland then across the pond to England.
December 24th 1943 It was just cold that December. It had only snowed once all month, and none of it stuck to ground. That afternoon 280 children gathered at the four corners downtown Caledonia and kept themselves warm singing Christmas carols until Santa showed up at 2 pm. Every child got to meet Santa, and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Santas helper handed them orange and asked them to wait in the parade line. When the last orange was handed out, Santa HO HO HO'd his way to the front and led a parade of children to the Regent Theatre. Sam Collis was there to greet all the children and treated them all to an afternoon of cartoons, funny short films and sing a longs.
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Wednesday, March 01, 1944
Interestingly, they also play the silent film Seeing Nellie Home (1924) Directed by Leo McCarey Starring Charlie Chase, Katherine Grant, Martha Sleeper.
Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Directed by Starring Ann Sothern, James Craig Jean Rogers. It is the seventh in a series of 10 films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie.
The Shining Future (1944) A star filled short film aimed at Canadians to buy war bonds.
The Shining Future:
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July 26 1944 The Regent plays Lifeboat (1943) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak and Canada Lee.
The Regent shows Rosie the Riveter (1944) directed by Joseph Santley. Starring Jane Frazee, Frank Albertson, and Barbara Jo Allen. The film was a fictional story of the cultural icon that had arisen from woman working in factories during the war. In 1942 there was a popular song called Rosie the Riveter written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb. In 1943 Norman Rockwell paints Rosie the riveter for the cover of the May 29, 1943 issue of The Saturday Evening post. Its shows a young muscular woman sitting on a stool with one hand on the rivet gun laying in her lap; the other hand holding a sandwich. Under her elbow is her lunch box with the name ROSIE on it; under her foot is a copy of Hitlers book Mein Kompf. The model is mimicking the pose Michael Angelo's Isaiah in the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
Tomorrow, John Jones! (1944) directed by Harry Beaumont. Starring Spencer Tracy, Fay Holden, Phyllis Thaxter. It was a 15 minute film released on October 23, 1944 produced by the National Film Board of Canada in support of the Seventh Victory Loan for Canada. Spencer Tracy plays a Canadian university professor who provides the commentary accompanying the otherwise silent short film about an average Canadian family. At the end of the film, Spencer Tracy, in battle dress, speaks directly to the audience:
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December 22 1944
Members of the Dufferin - Haldimand D Company rifles and Mount Hope airport gather at the train station to welcome home member of the Mississauga's of the New Credit, Cpl. Robert Hope of the RHLI who had just returned from Dieppe. With him was Mrs. Hope, Pte Pynton and Pte Walter Osbourne. Headed by the Six Nations Indian band, the troops marched in formation down Argyle street. As they turned left onto Caithness they could already hear the cheering from the large crowd out front of the Regent Theatre who had gathered to welcome Robert Hope home.
As everyone sat down in their seats, the lights dimmed, the curtain opened and the Vicars speech scene from Mrs. Miniver began to play on the screen.
The lights went up and Mr. Harrison Arrell stepped onto the stage and made a speech about Haldimand's contribution to the 3rd Victory loan. He then introduced Cpl. Robert Hope who took to the stage, thanked Mr. Arrell, saying his son Captain Hugh Arrell was very popular among the troops.
Robert then spoke briefly of his pride in being full blooded Ojibwe (Anishinaabe). He thanked everyone for all they've sent to the troops. Before he left, he said Canadian's are all anxious to get another crack at Gerry! Support your boys in this Victory loan, send more cigarettes. He then introduced Pte. Poynton who took to the stage. Poynton, suffered many injuries in Dieppe, including losing his left eye. He thanked everyone for their support, and also asked for more cigarettes to be sent. Pte Obsourne took to the stage, smiled and made a V for victory sign with his fingers and said he couldn't wait to get back to the war.
Reeve of Caledonia C.N Aldridge local chairman of the Victory Loan Committee is presented with a Commando dagger from Mr. AG Skinner vice chairman of the county committee. The Commando Dagger was the symbol of the 3rd Victory Loan. With the goal of putting a new Commando Knife into to the hand of every soldier after all 722 Canadian communities had achieved their loan objectives. Their slogan is "Pointing the Dagger at the heart of Berlin!"
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The speaker of the evening was veteran of WW1 Rev. Captain Norman Rawson who spoke passionately about the importance of the Victory loan in a Speech titled The War and Its Conquered Peoples. Later he spoke of his own son, Byron Rawson who was currently with the 429 Squadron flying bomber missions over Germany.
Byron Rawson was the kind of pilot they make movies about. He was a legend in his own time. Everyone from Hamilton and Canada should know his name and tell his story.
LANCASTER MK II Bomber
In 1940, while in his first year of studying law at McMaster University, an 18 year old Byron Rawson joins the RCAF. He was assigned to pilot LANCASTER MK II Bombers with No. 429 (Bison) RCAF Squadron, as part of Bomber Command. By the time he was 20 years old, Byron had flown an incredible 30 bombing missions over Germany, and had been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. At 21 he was promoted to Wing Commander of the newly formed Pathfinder Force, comprised of elite pilots whose mission was to fly low over Germany to drop flares on targets in an effort to increase the accuracy of Bomber command. He flew 23 missions with the PFF, his final mission was on April 10, 1945 targeting German boats and submarines in the port of Kiel. After this mission he was awarded a second Distinguished Flying Cross pinned on him by King George VI himself. By the time Byron Rawson returned home to Hamilton Ontario on December 2, 1945 at the age of 23, he had flown 53 missions over Germany, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross twice. Tragically, he was unable to cope with the unimaginable PTSD that he was suffering alone. He took his own life with his service revolver in his parents basement December 23 1945.
Please read Byron Rawson's full story here :
https://www.veterans.gc.ca/en/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/679367
https://alumni.mcmaster.ca/s/1439/22/alumni/interior.aspx?sid=1439&gid=1&pgid=684
https://www.bombercommandmuseumarchives.ca/commandlosses.html
The lights dimmed and a news reel of the London Blitz was shown.
The evening ended with Noble Allen of Dunnville saying once Caledonia was over the top ( with its Victory load contributions) the dagger would suitably be engraved. He finished his speech by repeating the new Victory loan slogan...Will then go on its way to be pointed at the heart of Berlin.
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The Regent plays the Canadian produced Educational film, The Birth of a Baby (1938) It was made to promote births in Hospitals. Statistics Canada reported that in 1940–1942, approximately 50.5% of births in Canada occurred in hospitals, meaning roughly 49.5% of women still had their babies at home.
Dec 14, 1942 The Regent plays Mrs. Miniver (1942) directed by William Wyler. Starring Greer Garson and Walter Pigeon. Probably the greatest propaganda film of all time. A beautifully told story of a typical English housewife and her family living in a small town outside London. Day by day we see how the war changes every part their lives. Then in an instant it reaches their front door and tears their lives apart.
Mrs. Miniver is played to perfection by the ever so charming Greer Garson; who instantly reminds you of the kindest woman you know. She is kind and thoughtful and everyone loves her for it. She keeps calm and carry's on during an air raid, protecting her family as they hide in their Anderson bomb shelter buried in the backyard. We worry with her every time she hears the sound of planes in the sky and inspired by her strength and kindness to each days new horror. At the finale of the film, in a bombed out church, the towns Vicar makes an incredible speech that defined the war. It spoke a truth that touched everyone who saw the film, and it was exactly what everyone needed to hear.
Mrs. Miniver was released on June 4th, 1942 on the 2nd anniversary of Winston Churchills We shall fight on the beaches speech and just six months after the US officially entered the war.
Churchill believed the film was a significant morale booster for all of Britain, and vital for influencing the American publics opinion about fighting a foreign war over seas. Mrs. Miniver made it personal. He said Mrs. Miniver was "propaganda worth a hundred battleships" & "more powerful to the war effort than the combined work of six military divisions".
Director William Wyler and actor Henry Wilcoxon worked together for hours to write and rewrite the Vicars powerful speech. Wilcoxon's brother had died in the Dunkirk evacuation, later he said he had used the feelings of those memories in his performance and it shows. After a private screening at the White House, Franklin Roosevelt asked that the speech be translated into French, German, and Italian. He then ordered it be broadcast throughout Europe on the Voice of America, and air-dropped in millions of leaflets into German-occupied territories; it was also reprinted in Time and Look magazines.
"The homes of many of us have been destroyed, and the lives of young and old have been taken. There's scarcely a household that hasn't been struck to the heart.
And why? Surely you must have asked yourselves this question. Why, in all conscience, should these be the ones to suffer? Children, old people, a young girl at the height of her loveliness. Why these? Are these our soldiers? Are these our fighters? Why should they be sacrificed?
I shall tell you why.
Because this is not only a war of soldiers in uniform. It is a war of the people, of all the people, and it must be fought not only on the battlefield but in the cities and in the villages, in the factories and on the farms, in the home, and in the heart of every man, woman, and child who loves freedom.
Well, we have buried our dead, but we shall not forget them.
Instead they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves and those who come after us from the tyranny and terror that threaten to strike us down.
This is the people's war!
It is our war!
We are the fighters! Fight it, then! Fight it with all that is in us!?
And why? Surely you must have asked yourselves this question. Why, in all conscience, should these be the ones to suffer? Children, old people, a young girl at the height of her loveliness. Why these? Are these our soldiers? Are these our fighters? Why should they be sacrificed?
I shall tell you why.
Because this is not only a war of soldiers in uniform. It is a war of the people, of all the people, and it must be fought not only on the battlefield but in the cities and in the villages, in the factories and on the farms, in the home, and in the heart of every man, woman, and child who loves freedom.
Well, we have buried our dead, but we shall not forget them.
Instead they will inspire us with an unbreakable determination to free ourselves and those who come after us from the tyranny and terror that threaten to strike us down.
This is the people's war!
It is our war!
We are the fighters! Fight it, then! Fight it with all that is in us!?
The Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels wrote that Mrs. Miniver
“shows the destiny of a family during the current war, and its refined powerful propagandistic tendency has up to now only been dreamed of. There is not a single angry word spoken against Germany; nevertheless the anti-German tendency is perfectly accomplished.”
The following year, Mrs. Miniver won 6 Oscars at 15th Academy Awards. Winning for Best Picture, Best Director (William Wyler), Best Actress (Greer Garson), Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright), Best Cinematography (Joseph Ruttenberg), and Best Screenplay (George Froeschel, James Hilton, Claudine West, and Arthur Wimperis.)
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Wednesday, December 30, 1942
The Caledonia Woman's Institute have a celebration at The Regent to honor the 35 young girls who had sold $500 in war stamps that year. A special presentation is made by the Women's Institute to the four top sellers: Helen Mackie, Marilyn Reed, Shirley Jackson and Doreen Jillard. They also presented thanks and handkerchiefs to the rest of the girls.
The first film of 1943 at the Regent theatre will be Reap the Wild Wind. (1942) Directed by Cecil B DeMille. Starring John Wayne,
The first double feature was
Remember Pearl Harbor (1942) Directed by Joseph Santley
Private Buckaroo.(1942) Starring the Andrew Sisters.
Cavalcade of Aviation (1942) Directed by Thomas Mead, Joseph O'Brien. A fascinating 2 reel documentary with archival footage of the first 40 years of flight.
1943
Jan 1943 As is tradition, The Regent starts the year with a new chapter in the Mexican Spitfire series.
Mexican Spitfire at Sea. (1942) starring Lupe Velez.
This Gun for Hire.(1942) Starring Alan Ladd and Veronica Lake.
Beside the Regents Bulletin that day, is an article about the results of the Red Cross Salvage Committee and the Victory Club salvage drive for the past year and a half. Its reported that since March 1941 the two committees have sold a total of 250,660 lbs. of salvaged paper, iron, rags, glass, cooking fats, rubber and other items. The town truck was donated by council for weekly pickups, driven by Regent theatre manager Sam Collis with help from the Boy Scouts. The Red cross salvage was kept in the dining hall of the Arena and all the work was done by volunteers. With no overhead, they raised a total of $1,119.00, which in 2026 would be roughly $21,000. For the duration of the war, The Grand River Sachem placed large government war propaganda posters for salvaging, war bonds, rationing, and enlistment in every issue urging the town to do their part.
Jan 20 1943 The Regent plays a horror double feature The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and the comedy Horror Island. (1941)
Blood and Sand ( 1941) Starring Tyrone Power and Rita Hayworth in her first Technicolor film.
The Regent runs this advert on the same page as their movie bulletin for the next year.
The Regent is now advertising Superman cartoons by their episode title.
Juke Girl (1942) Starring Ann Sheridan and Ronald Regan.
Sergeant Madden (1939) Director Josef von Sternberg. Starring Wallace Beery.
For me and My Gal (1938) Directed by Busby Berkley, Starring Judy Garland and Gene Kelly in his first film. Judy Garland got Kelly the job after seeing him in the Broadway musical "Pal Joey" and fought for him to keep it. This would be the first of 3 films they would do together over their careers. Years later, Gene Kelly returned the favour by insisting on Judy being cast in Summer Stock (1950)
Listen Darling (1938) Starring Judy Garland and Mary Astor. This would be the first of 2 two films Mary Astor played Judy's mother. The second being Meet me in St. Louis.(1944)
A 15 year old Judy Garland sings "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", a slower version of the song which she originally sang for her MGM audition. Judy's next film after this would be The Wizard of Oz.(1939)
Gas bag vehicles. The gas used was coal gas. You could buy it from filling stations, or have your vehicle tow a coal burner to fill your bag as you need it. Many buses towed their own gas burners.
Although only automobiles for military or authorized purposes are used, there are many on the streets. Some of them are driven by gas which is carried in huge fabric bags which cover the roof of the car, and are about four feet high when inflated. We are told that one filling of gas will drive the car about a hundred miles and costs about six dollars.
The gas storage bags were made of silk or other fabrics, soaked in rubber (Zodiac was one of the manufacturers). These bags were (and are) much cheaper and easier to build than metal tanks. They could also be repaired in a similar way to bicycle tires. The bag was anchored to the roof using rings and straps. Some gas bag vehicles could operate alternatively on gas or gasoline. Switching between the two options could be controlled from inside the vehicle.
https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2011/11/gas-bag-vehicles
The Regent Bulletin is capped end to end with adds to buy Victory bonds. You can now get your change in War savings stamps. The Regent advertises in the Personal section of the Sachem that a $100 Victory Bond is the prize for your photo on Photo Nite that week.
May 13 1943 Gathered on the south side at Walter Richardson's Gore park ( what is now The Oasis.) are D Company, Dufferin Haldimand Rifles, with members of the Argyle and Southerland Regiment of Hamilton; under the command of Lieutenant Harrison Martindale. At 8:15 pm, led by the company band they march in formation across the Bridge, up Argyle street to the train station. They then turn around, march back down to Caithness Street, turn left and march to the Regent Theatre where they are met by Sam Collis. Inside the theatre they have a rousing 4th Victory loan rally, with presentations and honors, urging everyone to subscribe because Cayuga and Hagersville have already met their quotas. Outside the theatre are loudspeakers so everyone outside can hear the speeches.
May 12, 1943 The Sachem reports Caledonia library finally gets the book Random Harvest by James Hilton; first published in 1941. A wonderful, heartbreaking love story of a soldier with PTSD.
May 26 1943 to June 30 1943 The Sachem prints the film adapted version of Random Harvest in 6 chapters. The Regent Bulletin reveals they will be showing Random Harvest at the end of June.
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June 28 - July 1, 1943 The Regent plays Random Harvest (1942) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy. Starring Greer Garson and Ronald Coleman. Ronald Colman plays Charles Rainier, a British soldier who returns from World War I shell-shocked and suffering from total amnesia. He is institutionalized in the Melbridge County Asylum, where he is known only as "Smithy". He manages to wander off the hospital grounds on Armistice Day during all the excitement as news of the war ending spreads. In the nearest town, he meets a music hall star named Paula Ridgeway played by Greer Garson. As always, she plays the sweetest, kindest and most caring woman in the world; so she instantly decides to help him and hides him at the theatre she's performing. After she sings her incredible song, they escape to the countryside by train to live happily ever after. James Hilton, the author of the book was shown a preview of the film and loved it so much he offered to do the opening narration, which the MGM gladly accepted. It opened at New York's Radio City Music Hall on Christmas week 1942, and ran a for a record twelve weeks. Coincidentally, James Hilton wrote the screenplay for Mrs. Miniver (1942) also starring Greer Garson. Random Harvest and Mrs. Miniver competed in several of the same categories, such as Best Picture, Director, Best Actor that year at the 15th Academy Awards. Mrs. Miniver won all of them, including best Actress for Greer Garson.
Greer Garson came up with the idea to perform the Scottish song She's my Daisy, and chose to do it in that short kilt. Something that was so completely out of character for her, Louis B Mayer was afraid it would damage her reputation as the sweet and lovely housewife that she had made for herself from Good bye Mr. Chips and Mrs. Miniver. It did the complete opposite and just makes you love her even more knowing she has it in her.
"After the Christmas thing was over, the goddam picture started. It was so putrid I couldn’t take my eyes off it. It was about this English guy, Alec something, that was in the war and loses his memory in the hospital and all. He comes out of the hospital carrying a cane and limping all over the place, all over London, not knowing who the hell he is. He’s really a duke, but he doesn’t know it. Then he meets this nice, homey, sincere girl getting on a bus. . . .But then, one day, some kids are playing cricket ball. Then right away he gets his goddam memory back. . . and he forgets all about the homey babe that has the publishing business. . . .Anyway, it ends up with Alec and the homey babe getting married, and the brother that’s a drunkard gets his nerves back and operates on Alex’s mother so she can see again, and then the drunken brother and old Marcia go for each other....All I can say is, don’t see it if you don’t want to puke all over yourself."
Joan Blondell plays Jenny Blake, owner of the River boat casino named The Memphis Belle.
Bomber Pilot Captain Robert K. Morgan and his co-pilot, Jim Verinis, saw this movie and decided that was a perfect name for their Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress. Morgan was going to name the plane The little one because that's what he called his girlfriend back home, who was from Memphis Tennessee. The crew all agreed Memphis Belle was the perfect name so it was painted on the nose of the plane. The Memphis Belle went on to be one of the first bombers to complete 25 combat missions with the same crew and return to the US.
Their final mission on May 17, 1943 was documented by director William Wyler and later released in 1944 as the documentary The Memphis Belle: A Story of a Flying Fortress.
Mrs. John O'Rourke (The daughter in law to Barney O'Rourke who owned Caledonia's first silent movie theatre The Cosey) went to see Now Voyager and won $70.00 on Photo Nite.
Wednesday, August 04, 1943. Journey for Margaret (1942) The final film of director W.S. Van Dyke. Starring Margaret O'Brien in her first credited role. This is an absolute heartbreaking story of children lives torn apart by war. Margaret O'Brien gives an incredible performance. Margaret O'Brien (born Angela O'Brien) so identified with the character she played in this film that she change her name to Margaret.
Formerly a National Steel Car plane factory already producing Westland Lysander II aircraft. The factory was taken over by the Government soon after they were granted the contract to build Lancaster's and renamed Victory Aircraft Limited. The government stream lined production to the point where they were producing one Lancaster per day. A total of 430 Lancaster Mk. X’s were built in Ontario.
Target: Berlin (1944)
Sept. 1943 The Regent plays Walt Disney's Bambi (1942) The last full-length animated feature made by Walt Disney until Cinderella (1950). The gap was due to the lack of production crew (who were in active military service) and rationing of cellulose acetate. It was heavily restricted and rationed for industrial and military use only. It was primarily needed for gas mask lenses and windshields in military aircraft.
Hitlers Children (1943) Directed by Edward Dmytryk & Irving Reis. Starring Tim Holt, Bonita Granville, Kent Smith. This was RKO biggest picture of the year.
The personal section next to the Regent Bulletin mentions that the new Canadian nickel that year has a V for victory on it, and on the edges in morse code it says:
"We win when we work willingly"
Oct 20 1943 The Regent begins showing Associated British Newsreels every Wednesday and Thursday. These new British newsreels are flown from England to Canada every week and are now shown in theatres across Canada.
The war amps you tube page has a playlist with all of them.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL04CC43B7CD63C686&si=cN5IR8Tc-Gzic0Q4
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The Regent Plays You Were Never Lovelier (1941) Starring Fred Astaire, Rita Hayworth with Xavier Cugat and his Orchestra.
November 3 1943 The Reserve Army and the Public Highschool Cadets have all agreed to meet in the little park out front of Haldimand house by 8:30pm. At 8:45, led by the Hagersville band, they all march in formation across the bridge to the Regent Theatre where they are met by a crowd making their way into the Regent for a Victory Loan Rally hosted by Sam Collis.
The speaker of the evening was RCAF Warrant Officer (Lucky) Golden . A fighter pilot who was touring the country telling stories of his many dog fights with enemy fighter pilots over Western Europe and how he narrowly escaped with his life in a battle over the English channel. Everyone who attended had a chance of wining a $100 Victory Loan Bond. The evening ended with everyone singing the National Anthem.
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November 24 1943 The Regent runs a Red Cross Scrap drive promotion for the next 3 weeks.
Bring these items of scrap to the fairgrounds dining hall between 1:30-2:30 on Saturday to trade them for a free ticket to the Regent Theatre:
Sat. Nov 27. 5lbs of rags.
Sat. Dec 4. 1 Car tire or tube.
Sat Dec 11. 1lb of cooking fat (in a can.)
The Regent plays In Which We Serve. (1943) Directed by Noël Coward and David Lean. Starring Noël Coward,
Dec 1943 Children who bring one pound of cooking fat are admitted for free this Saturday at the Regent. The previous Saturdays promotion produced 250 pounds of rags for free admission to the afternoon matinee. Paper is now on the urgent list for salvage. All newspapers and corrugated cardboard needs to be bundled and tied with string. Paper is needed for shell casings, fuses, flares and rations. The waste fat is being used to manufacture explosives.
The Regent plays Stage Door Canteen ( 1943) A fictional story (with a list of cameos) of the real Stage Door canteen in New York on Broadway. Created in 1942 by the American Theatre wing, it was a place where soldiers on leave could be served food and entertained by stars for free. Bette Davis volunteered there often and soon opened one in Hollywood.
The Desperadoes (1943) directed by Charles Vidor. Starring Randolph Scott, Claire Trevor, Glenn Ford, Evelyn Keyes. This was Columbia Pictures first technicolor film.
December 15 1943 The Regent has a new promotion. At 6pm they will call a random phone number in Caledonia and ask What is playing at the Regent Theatre tonight? If you answer correctly you win free tickets to the Regent.
The winners this month were: Bessie Ince, Mary Grinyer, Doris Daniels, Mrs. H K Marshall, Mr. C O Hand and Mrs. Grinyer.
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The Regent shows Canadian Army Newsreel No. 7 1943.
At 7:50 in the portion titled Khaki Close Ups. The Canadian Women's Corps can be seen briefly on review. Marking their first year of service in England.
Thursday December 02 1943 Three Lancaster bombers flying in formation circle Parliament hill in Ottawa several times. They are on their way to Ferry Command field in Dorval Quebec. They are then flown by ferry pilots to Gander, Newfoundland then across the pond to England.
The low turnout this year could be because many elderly and Caledonia children were infected with the mumps and whooping cough that winter.
Charlie Webber reports that the Allies are making a master list of the heads of the Gestapo as well as Germans in charge of prison camps. So they can be tried as war criminals after Germany is defeated.
1944
We start the year learning Sam Collis birthday is Jan 1. Happy Birthday Sam.
The Regent starts the year with 2 great films:
Alfred Hitchcock's 39 Steps (1935) starring Robert Donat and Madeleine Carroll.
The Human Quality (1943) Starring Andy Rooney.
Jan 19 1944 The Regent now offers free admission to soldiers on leave. The new promotion for the year is Cigarette Nite. Beginning Jan 22, The Regent will send 1500 cigarettes to men overseas every week. Every Friday before the show begins, Sam Collis will take the stage where he will draw 5 tickets from a box . If you are sitting in the seat with the matching number on the ticket, you can have 300 cigarettes sent to anyone you wish serving in the armed forces overseas.
Mounty Melodrama
Jan 26 1943 The first Cigarette Nite was a huge success. The winners for last Friday were: Mrs. Robert Dyette who instructed to have 300 cigarettes sent to Walter Wadsworth, Jack Winegard to Stoker W. Yaxley Mrs. Daniels to Gnr. Doug. Daniels. Agnes Mudie to Spr. J. W. Mudie. Jake Hill to Pte. George Hill. The winners are asked to leave the complete address to whom the cigarettes are to be sent at Charlie at Maniex's Barber Shop as soon as possible.
The following Friday winners were: Bill Moffat, Clarence Mehlenbacher. Driver Geo. Bertram, Ivan Callahan and Sgt. C. T. Black.
The features that week were Margin for Error. (1943) directed by Otto Preminger. Mutiny in the big house(1943) DuBarry was a Lady (1943) directed by Roy Del Ruth, starring Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly and Virginia O'Brien in the most gorgeous green blouse ever made.
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February 1943
Feb 9 1943 The Sachem writes an editorial addressing whether there is animal cruelty in the film Lassie comes home, which will be showing at the Regent next month. They assure everyone that Lassie has a very, very good life. He is one of the best trained dogs in Hollywood. He was just acting when he looked tired and probably makes more money than you and I do. ($400 a week, which today would be over $7000. )
The winners of Cigarette Nite were: Mr. Tony Munn, who sent to them to Lorne Marr, Mr. Smith to Ronald Smith, Mr. B. Moyer to Alfred Pettigrew, Master Leckie to Harold Clegg, Mr. Ken Baird to Douglas Daniels.
Feb 21 1944 The Caledonia Men's club Sponsors an evening with McMaster Professor Edward Togo Salmon to speak about Italy at The Regent Theatre. E.T. Salmon was a professor of history for 43 years at McMaster University in Hamilton Ontario from 1930 - 1973. The author of 6 books about ancient Rome and he was a news radio commentator for CKOC in Hamilton from 1939 to 1955. The Sachem spells his name wrong in every advertisement for two weeks.
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The Sachem reprints letters home from local enlisted man Sapper Kenneth Douglas because he is stationed in Italy and his letters ( some how) coincide with what E.T. Salmon spoke of at The Regent the week before.
March 8 1944 The Regent plays the first chapter of the 15 part Canadian Mounty serial Perils of the Royal Mounted.(1942) Directed by James Horne, who also directed The Spiders Web serial.
The March of Time, Vol. 10, No. 3: Youth in Crisis.(1943)
This episode of The March of Time is about the rise in crime among teens and young adults. With their fathers away fighting in the war and their mothers working, teens are alone after school. With a general lack of guidance, many teens are getting into trouble with fighting and petty theft. Those teens with a job and making an adult wage, now feel that they have the right to act and be treated as adults.
March 27 1944 The Regent plays Lassie Come Home (1943) Directed by Fred M. Wilcox. Starring Roddy McDowell, Elizabeth Taylor and Pal; a one year old Collie who played Lassie.
Interestingly, they also play the silent film Seeing Nellie Home (1924) Directed by Leo McCarey Starring Charlie Chase, Katherine Grant, Martha Sleeper.
Only half of the film still exists.
April 4 1944 The Regent plays Heaven can wait (1943) Directed by Ernst Lubitsch. Starring Gene Tierney, Don Ameche, and Charles Coburn.
Swing Shift Maisie (1943) Directed by Starring Ann Sothern, James Craig Jean Rogers. It is the seventh in a series of 10 films starring Ann Sothern as Maisie.
May 1 1944 The Regent plays Girl Crazy (1943) Starring Andy Rooney and Judy Garland in their 9th and final film together.
The Shining Future:
June 14 1944
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Madame Curie (1943) Directed by Mervyn LeRoy & Albert Lewin. Starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon
July 31 1944 The Regent raises money for the Navy League by sponsoring Destination Tokyo (1941) Cary grants only war movie.
The Scouts and Cubs have been enlisted to sell tickets. The boy who sells the most tickets wins free admission to the Regent theatre for a year.
July 26 1944 The Regent plays Lifeboat (1943) directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Tallulah Bankhead, John Hodiak, Walter Slezak and Canada Lee.
Last of the Mohicans (1936) directed by George B. Seitz and starring Randolph Scott, Binnie Barnes and Henry Wilcoxon.
Destination Tokyo. (1943) directed by Delmer Daves in his directorial debut. Starring Cary Grant ,John Garfield and features Dane Clark, Robert Hutton, and Alan Hale Sr.
Gord Downie is referring to Lifeboat in Tragically Hip song Dire Wolf. On their 8th album In Violet Light. (2002) A tier 1 Tragically Hip song that should have been the first single off the album.
August 1944 Broadway Rhythm (1943) starring George Murphy, Ginny Simms and featuring The Ross sisters performing Solid Potato salad.
If you haven't seen the Ross sister perform Solid Potato Salad, your life is incomplete.
The Regent shows Rosie the Riveter (1944) directed by Joseph Santley. Starring Jane Frazee, Frank Albertson, and Barbara Jo Allen. The film was a fictional story of the cultural icon that had arisen from woman working in factories during the war. In 1942 there was a popular song called Rosie the Riveter written by Redd Evans and John Jacob Loeb. In 1943 Norman Rockwell paints Rosie the riveter for the cover of the May 29, 1943 issue of The Saturday Evening post. Its shows a young muscular woman sitting on a stool with one hand on the rivet gun laying in her lap; the other hand holding a sandwich. Under her elbow is her lunch box with the name ROSIE on it; under her foot is a copy of Hitlers book Mein Kompf. The model is mimicking the pose Michael Angelo's Isaiah in the fresco on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.
In Feb 1943 graphic artist J. Howard Miller painted the poster WE CAN DO IT! for Westinghouse Electric. It was posted only for the month of February 1943 as an inspirational image to boost female worker morale inside Westing house factories and was unknown to the general public. It was rediscovered in the 1980s and has since usurped the title of Rosie the riveter.
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Sept. 20 1944 Regent manager Sam Collis goes on a 3 week vacation to Hollywood to celebrate his twenty years in show business. He will be the guest of his uncle, Louis B. Mayer, President of MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios) while there.
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Oct 1944 Snow white returns to Caledonia 6 years after its debut in 1938. This was part of the February 1944 official rerelease of Snow White by Disney, the first time they had released one of their films.
"The men of Canada who have died on the battlefronts of sea and land and sky bought Victory Bonds for a future they can never know, a future that is yours, not theirs. They wanted to finish the task in which they died. For their sake for the sake of their comrades who fight on for your sake and the destiny of Canada-it is up to you!"
This only known copy of this film is the Maurice Bilodeau Collection in Library and Archives Canada (LAC) in reel format.
It has not been digitized or viewed since 1944. It is not listed on the imdb of anyone involved in the film.
The Lady and The Monster (1944) Directed by George Sherman. Starring Erich Von Stroheim. Based on Curt Siodmak's novel Donovan's Brain.
November 1944 The Regent plays Gaslight.(1944) directed by George Cukor. Starring Charles Boyer, Ingrid Bergman, Joseph Cotten; and a 17 year old Angela Lansbury in her first film. Gaslight is the story of a husband who tries to drive his wife insane by making her question her own reality and sanity so he can cover up his crimes. It's where the term Gaslighting comes from. It was based on a popular play written by Patrick Hamilton in 1938. In 1940 it was adapted for the screen by British director Thorold Dickinson. In 1944 MGM bought the rights to the film, but a condition of the sale was to destroy all existing copies of the original film; which they did. Director Thorold Dickinson retained the only negative copy of the 1940 film and was forbidden to show it.
On May 4th 1944 the remake of Gaslight was released and was a massive success. Ingrid Bergman gives an incredible performance of a woman trying desperately not to lose her mind in an abusive relationship. The following year Ingrid Bergman won Best Actress at 17th Academy Awards.
The Regent plays The White Cliffs of Dover (1944) Directed by Clarence Brown. Starring Irene Dunne, Roddy McDowell, Elizabeth Taylor. Based on the famous verse novel of the same name, about an American woman who moves to Britain and falls in love with an Englishman who goes off to war.
At the base of the Regents bulletin, people are urged not to burn their newspaper but to donate it. Paper has become a major priority. New propaganda adverts in the Sachem urge everyone to donate. The expectation is 50lbs of paper from every citizen for the 20, 000 pound monthly quota.
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Friday afternoon at 2 pm. A large group of children had already gathered downtown Caledonia to wait for Santa Claus. A long procession of children and teachers, led by the kindergarteners marched from the Caledonia public school to join them. When Santa arrived people honked horns, laughed and smiled. Santa said hello to every child, calling many of them by name. He listened closely to what they wanted for Christmas, then handed them an orange and asked the little ones to form a line for the parade. After the last orange was handed out, Santa led the children in a parade to the Regent Theatre where they were met by Sam Collis. Once inside, Santa took to the stage of the Regent and started the whole crowd singing Christmas carols. Then the lights went down for the start of an afternoon of cartoons, games and prizes.
December 25, 1944 Christmas Day
the Regent shows a special holiday Matinee Cover Girl (1944) Directed by Charles Vidor. Starring Rita Hayworth, Gene Kelly
Rita Hayworth twirling in technicolor was a wonderful Christmas present.
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1945
The Regent begins the the year with 2 Claudette Colbert films.
So Proudly we hail (1943) directed by Starring Claudette Colbert, Veronica Lake,
This film and its promotional material featured Veronica Lake changing her famous peekaboo hairstyle to one that was pinned up into Victory curls like woman were wearing in factories and in the war service.
Since you went away (1944) directed by John Cromwell, Edward F. Cline, Tay Garnett. Starring Claudette Colbert, Joseph Cotten, Hattie McDaniel. Jenifer Jones, and a 16 year old Shirly Temple This film was made to appeal to towns like Caledonia. It was an sentimental film about a woman raising her two daughters in a small town while her husband was fighting in WW2.
...and an incredible $225 dollar FOTO NITE. ( adjusted for inflation, that would be $4,068 in 2026) When the prize money was this high, the money would be split into 3 prizes. Two $100 winners and a $25.
Canadians are encouraged to join The 25 Club.
Its easy to join. Just buy a 25 cent stamp every Friday.
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I wish I knew more about his film.
March 1945
Marlena Dietrichs legs were painted gold, because she couldn't move in the tights they had made out of gold chains for her.
The Slave Leia costume definitely took some inspiration from Dietrich' costume.
April 1945 All the clergy in Caledonia are invited to come see None Shall Escape (1944) Directed by Andre DeToth. Starring Marsha Hunt, Alexander Knox, Henry Travers.
Filmed during the war, the films story takes place after the war, about a Nazi being tried in a international court for his war crimes. It came out almost two years before the Nuremburg trials.
The Regent begins the 15 part serial Jungle Girl (1941) Directed by John English. Who by 1944 was directing Captain America serials. The boys and girls of Caledonia receive a membership card when they see the first chapter of Jungle Girl at the Saturday matinee.
The features that week are:
The Mask of Dimitrios (1943) Starring Sidney Greenstreet, Peter Lorre, Faye Emerson.
30 Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) Starring Spencer Tracy.
April 1945 The Regent plays Arsenic and Old Lace(1944) Directed by Frank Capra. Starring Cary Grant
The 300th Lancaster Bomber leaves the assembly line of The Victory Aircraft factory in Malton, Ontario (now part of Mississauga)
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April 25 1945 The Regent plays Laura (1944) Directed by Otto Preminger. Starring Gene Tierney, Dana Andrew, Vincent Price. This is the 2nd of 4 films Gene and Vincent would make together.
The All Star Bond Rally (1945) A 15 min review for the 8th War Bond hosted by Bob Hope
American Romance (1944) Directed by King Vidor. Starring Brian Donlevy and Ann Richards and is narrated by Horace McNally. It is the all American fable of a man who emigrates to America, works his way from the bottom in iron mines and steel mills to the top when he is the owner of a factory at the beginning of WW2. The director King Vidor spent the first year of production filming inside factories across America to get authentic looking, documentary style B footage.
The bulletin claims background scenes were filmed at the Hamilton Steel Foundries.
That day, the Regent played: Janie (1944) Directed by Michael Kurtiz. Starring Joyce Reynolds
The propaganda posters in the Sachem are quick to point out the war is not over,
we are still at war with Japan.
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May 23 1945 The house on Orkney Street that Sam Collis called home for 5 years has been sold. He decides to move his family to Hamilton.
June 1945
For whom the Bell Tolls (1943) direct by Sam Wood. Starring Gary Cooper, Ingrid Bergman
Going my Way (1944) directed by Leo McCarey. Starring Bing Crosby, Barry Fitzgerald.
Bing Crosby singing Swinging on a Star won the Academy Award for best song.
June 13 1945 In full uniform, The Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts and Girl Guides parade down to the Regent theatre to see the film Henry Aldridge, Boy Scout. (1944)
The Regent plays the absolutely bonkers propaganda film The Devil with Hitler.(1944)
Hitler is about to take over hell, so the devil tries to trick him into doing a good deed.
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June 20 1945 The Regent plays Meet Me in St. Louis (1944) Directed by Vincent Minelli. Starring Judy Garland, Mary Astor and Margaret O'Brien. This would be the second time Mary Astor played Judy Garlands mother.
According to the Judy Garland biography Get Happy: The Life of Judy Garland (2000) by Gerald Clarke, Judy did not want to make this film. She was tired of playing teenagers and she wasn't looking forward to all her scenes stolen by Margaret O Brian. For the first few weeks, Judy arrived late, left early and avoided rehearsals every chance she could. Two moments changed Judy's mood completely. The first was Judy witnessing Margaret O'briens mother telling Margaret " You know, dear, June's getting ahead of you and people think she's the better actress. Maybe we should have the make-up man put on the false tears?". Hearing that June Allyson was better actress than her, from her own mother would immediately cause O'Brien to cry uncontrollably, resulting in a one-take scene.
Witnessing this immediately brough back a flood of horrible memories Judy had with her own mother growing up in show business. It was Judy's own mother who had gotten her addicted to amphetamines and sleeping pills by the time she was a teenager. From that moment on Judy became a protective older sister to Margaret until the end of the film. The next, and most important moment was when director Vincent Minelli brought Judy into the screening room to watch what they'd been shooting. Judy was absolutely amazed.. She had never seen herself so beautiful or felt more like a woman in her life. After that, she was 100% on board and ready to take all of Vincent Minelli's direction; including rehearsal. The results can be seen in her performance of the Trolly Song, which was done in one take. It was legendary make up artist Dorothy "Dottie" Ponedel who was responsible for Judy's new look. Ponedel was the MGM makeup artist for legendary actresses like Marlene Dietrich, Mae West, Joan Blondell, Adrienne Ames, Carole Lombard and Paulette Goddard. Dottie transformed Judy into the beautiful young woman Judy always wanted to be. She brought out Judy's natural beauty by throwing away the dental caps and "nose discs" (used to alter her profile) that the studio had forced Judy to wear. She defining her eyebrows, applying subtle blush, and using a bright red lip color.
After Meet me in St. Louis, Dottie was Judys personal makeup artist at MGM for the next 25 years.
By the end of production, Judy and Vincent were already in a relationship. They were married the following year in 1945. Judy gave birth to their daughter Liza Minelli March 12, 1946
The same footage was later used as evidence at the Nuremburg trials.
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https://collections.ushmm.org/search/catalog/irn1001294
June 06 1945 An end of an era.
Sam Collis sells his interest in The Regent theatre to Mr. Andrew (Andy) Koss of Simcoe effective July 1 1945. The Collis family are now living in Hamilton where Sam is supervising and booking films for other theatres. The Sachem reports Sam will stay on as supervisor, and buyer & booker of films for the Regent as well; same staff, same rules apply.
The day Sam Collis stepped foot in Caledonia, he became part of our family. He helped, he lead, he organized, he spoke up, he rallied, he drove the truck, he gave blood. After his first year in Caledonia, every man, woman and child in Caledonia knew who Sam Collis was. Caledonia went to his place for Christmas, we left our children with him for the day, because he was a good man... and he was a personal friend of Santa Claus. (They even have the same initials. ) The Regent theatre was Sam Collis home, and we were always welcome in his living room to, relax, laugh, cry, sing songs, play games, have parties, and or just park your children. A place to watch the news from around the world and sometimes see a bit of home again. Somewhere to sit in a comfy red velvet chair and watch the world unfold in Technicolor, or just enjoy the air-conditioning on a hot summer night with your sweetheart, sharing popcorn and holding hands in the dark. Sam loved films and it showed. He did everything he could to bring quality, important films to Caledonia; and he always made sure to write a little something about it in the Sachem to let everyone knew this was a film to see. He was on your side. He was a good friend. He brought fun and games to the theatre experience. A night at the Regent theatre always meant someone was going home with a prize, handed to them personally by one of Santa's best friends. There are Regent theatre prizes scattered all over Caledonia, forgotten in attics, shoved to the back of cupboards or donated to thrift shops.
Lets see if we can find them.
Thank you so much for reading this far.
I hope you enjoyed reading it as I did compiling it.
If you have any memories to share of the Regent Theatre or Sam Collis.
Please contact me at:
caledoniaontario@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/caledoniashistory
This is the end of Chapter 2 of the history of the Regent Theatre.
Stay tuned for:
Part 3
The Regent Theatre 1945 -197?
The end of the small town theatre.
Thank you.
Please change the batteries in your smoke detector.
This is a work in progress, I will update it as I get new information, as well as correct errors.
