Ackery and Hayward

As we know, the Orpheum Theatre was a big deal in show business and celebrities would show up in person from time to time. Ivan, with a few exceptions, never felt really comfortable around them. In his autobiography, Fifty Years on Theatre Row, he says he felt like an imposter, a little uneasy and unsure of why he was in the company of such celebrated people.  "Even through all my show business years there was always that kind of feeling of being alone in the world."

In 1942, the movie Forest Rangers with Fred MacMurray, Paulette Goddard and Susan Hayward was to premier at the Orpheum. It was an exciting time because Hayward was going to be there in person, not only to help sell the movie but also to promote the sale of war bonds. And Ivan was delegated to escorting Ms. Hayward to different places where the bonds and the movie could be promoted.

“The night of the opening was really something,” Ivan recalled. “Granville Street was closed to traffic, with bands playing and guards of honor from the Army, Navy and Air Force lining the streets.” A police escort brought Hayward to the theatre while searchlights played over the crowd. In Ivan's office, Lieutenant-Governor William Woodward, Vancouver mayor Jack Cornett and other VIPs were waiting for the movie star's arrival. She was beautiful and glamorous and courteous. Everything was going so well until...

“When Miss Hayward arrived in the theatre I escorted her to my office and, my gosh, if she didn’t trip on a step, lose her balance, fall and sprain her ankle. I couldn’t believe it! It was like a bad dream! A 30-piece orchestra was waiting on stage; a full house was anticipating the introduction of this famous lady; but she was now stretched out in my office with her foot on a chair, her complexion about the same shade as her dress, and pain written all over her face. What to do?

“I had the orchestra play another number while we decided, but soon Miss Hayward recovered enough for me to carry her on stage for the introduction, which was all the more appealing to the audience, I’m sure, and I can’t say that I minded it a bit.”

That wasn't the end of Hayward's trials in Vancouver though. Ivan took her to the train so she could go home to Los Angeles. As the train was pulling out of the station, Miss Hayward yelled “Oh! Ivan! My fur coat! I’ve forgotten my fur coat!”. Ivan yelled back not to worry, he would get her coat.

Ackery went to the hotel, found the coat in the closet then got into his car to drive to  Blaine, Washington with the hopes of meeting Miss Hayward's train there. However, he forgot about the delay at the border and arrived in Blaine “just in time to wave at Miss Hayward’s train, disappearing into the distance.”

He did eventually get the coat back to her.

As usual, I want to thank The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information. There is still a lot to say about Mr. Ackery so stay tuned.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Movie Going in the Depression

When I left off on Wednesday, Ivan Ackery had just been moved to manger of the Orpheum Theatre. Here's his recollection of the event:

“At the Strand,” Ivan recalled, “I’d had to fill 1,600 seats and deal with a staff of about 25. At the Orpheum I was looking at almost twice that number of seats and much more staff, and I had two important obstacles to overcome—the Depression and the Competition . . . How would I begin? Well, when in doubt, declare a New Policy. It’s sure to catch the interest of the press and the eye of the public. The Vancouver Sun headline read: ‘New Policy at Orpheum,’ and went on to say: "Ivan Ackery, manager of the Orpheum, today announces a new policy for his theatre, which will bring to the Orpheum screen this season some of the greatest films produced. ‘Our new policy,’ Ackery states, ‘brings to our screen this season a parade of the greatest of stars in their best efforts’.”

Ackery never went on to explain what his new policies were going to be - after all, it was head office that chose the films to be played - and this may just be another way that Ivan was able to get 'ink'.

This home is on 11th Avenue and is a heritage home that has been redone.

When Ackery moved to the Orpheum, he began overseeing a staff of 65. Two special engineers - one for electrical and one for technical maintenance - ten cleaners, four projectionists, four doormen, two permanent stagehands and a battalion of usherettes. If the theatre was hosting a big stage show then extra stagehands needed to be hired.

There were two box offices with four cashiers between them and two night watchmen. There were no fewer than 35 usherettes on staff at one time.

“These girls,” Ivan recalled, “were very carefully selected and trained to meet and handle the public graciously.” One of them, Gerri Cameron, recalls  “It may sound egotistical, but if you were pretty you pretty much got the job.” Another attribute: you had to learn how to graciously glide down the aisles while showing patrons to their seats. “We were natural blondes, brunettes and redheads,” another of them remembered, “and our hair was worn shoulder length, held back from our faces by little white bows. If a girl didn’t have naturally curly hair, she’d have a permanent wave. We all wore white gloves and had to have clean white collars twice weekly.”

Movie going during the Great Depression was an event. Ivan and his assistant managers wore tuxedos in the evening. The surroundings of the Orpheum were opulent and costumes were elaborate - all contributing the mystique designed to distract the movie goers from the drudgery and despair of their everyday lives.


“It was an escape from the humdrum and horrible things that were happening in real life [in the Depression],” said a former usherette, “and Ivan was the heart of it all. He was so warm and gracious that you’d just feel good when you saw him . . . He brought sunshine into the hearts of people in a very sad, very dreary period in their lives.”

Seeing how big and successful the Orpheum Theatre was, Ackery had the opportunity to mix with celebrities of the time. But more on that next week.

Once again, I would like to thank The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information. I do copy and paste anything that is a direct quote so I won't get it wrong.

I hope you find the beauty  around you.

Ivan Gets Promoted

I took a couple of days off from writing this blog. I decided to get some extra rest since this is a big week for me. I am starting personal workshops to help people reach their goals. Look into it and tell others please.

So the last I told you of Ivan Ackery was continuing with his promotional stunts even though the country was in the midst of a depression and he - as well as other Famous Players staff - had been forced to take a cut in pay.

In 1932, Ackery was transferred to Victoria to manage the Capitol Theatre. He did well but something suggests he was anxious to return to Vancouver. The mainland city had more than doubled in size and population. On January 1, 1929, the municipalities of Point Grey and South Vancouver amalgamated, making Vancouver the third largest city in Canada.

 In 1934, Ivan returned to Vancouver. He was to manage the newly reopened Strand Theatre. The Strand was located on the south side of Granville Street, at Seymour and had been closed due to the Depression. The fine vaudeville acts that had once performed there were moved to the Orpheum. Ackery was pleased, to say the least, to be managing this theatre.

“It was a grand theatre, the third largest in the city, and I was extremely proud . . .”

Originally, the Strand was opened as the Allen theatre by Mayor R.H. Gale on August 16, 1920. The Allens - Jules and Jay J. - had been in a race with Famous Players to build Canada's first deluxe movie house and the Allens had won by almost a year. The Allen Theatre was billed as ‘The Theatre Beautiful—Canada’s Finest and most Modern.’

It had taken six months to build and cost $300,000. Howard C. Crane was the architect and Charles Marega was the sculptor.  The Allens may have opened first, and it sounds like it was a beautiful theatre, but Famous Players had the last laugh. “Within a year the theatre was bankrupt and Dewees and Schuberg bought it for five cents on the dollar. Famous Players later bought a half share in it, then took it over entirely in 1944.”

The Strand Theatre in 1948. Compliments of The City of Vancouver Archives

Ivan wasted no time in making his presence known as manager of the Strand. The first thing he did was to get Scott's Bakery to bake a giant cake that stood as tall as a man. It was the theatre's 14th birthday and all week every patron was given a piece of cake.

Ivan Ackery was edging into the big time - The Fanchon and Marco shows returned and Vancouver impresario Lily Laverock booked the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo into the theatre. But his destiny was sealed in 1935 when Ackery was informed he was to become the manager of the Orpheum Theatre, the largest theatre in Canada.

"

It was such a thrill for me, and I can remember how excited my mother got.” 

“I recall how tickled I was because I’d be getting a $10 a week raise!”

And Famous Players got a lot for those ten dollars.

Thanks to The History of Metropolitan Vancouver website for the above information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.