MOVIES & DRAMATICS

Then: The Halton Players put on many entertaining plays at the Oakville Club. Mrs. Noel Eaton (Judy) was the principal producer. Marnie Brummell was the choreographer. Stage props were handled by Bill Dowding and the lighting by Bill Stone.

The earliest theatre that I recollect was the Preston House, which stood in what is now Wallace Park and where the present Curling Club is situated. This was a large frame building, with box seats down each side of the main floor. The projection booth was a large "box" on the rear wall. It was quite a sight to see Mr. Preston, in his usual white and gray checked suit, climb up to the projection "booth". The movies were, of course, silent, but with word captions and were preceded by slides advertising local merchants.

The Gregory Theatre was located on the southeast corner of Lakeshore and Trafalgar Rd. Mrs. Gregory sold the tickets, Mr. Gregory took the tickets, and Jim Croll was the projectionist. The films were silent, but music was provided by son Leslie Gregory with Violin and Inez Dorland on piano. Youngsters took great delight in buying "pop" and then letting the empty bottles roll down under the seats, banging off each row!

Minstrel shows were also held here with the "End Men" taking pokes at local citizens. One I remember was about my father going to Toronto by train. On his arrival, as he was walking along the platform, the hotel bus drivers would call out the name of their hotel. "Prince George?" called one; "King Edward?" called the next - then father answered "No - W.S. Davis of Oakville."

Now: The Center for the Performing Arts and Cineplex

William Davis, 1993