Collection search - Walter Pidgeon at Saint John, New Brunswick

Record information – Brief

1

Walter Pidgeon at Saint John, New Brunswick

Item number (ISN):

370742

Hierarchical level:

Item (Accession level)

Date:

1942-10-24

Item number (ISN):

370742

Type of material:

Sound recordings

Found in:

Archives / Film, Video and Sound

Link to this record

Add to My Research

Link to this record

This link identifies the web page describing this particular record. Unlike the temporary link in your browser, this link will allow you to access, and reference, this page in the future. To link to this descriptive record, copy and paste the URL where ever needed (wiki, blog, document).

Sign in

Sign in to start saving records using My Research

Sign in
Record information – Details

Fonds/collection:

UNIVERSITY OF NEW BRUNSWICK

Accession:

2006-0014

Media:

Sound

Part:

4 of 4

Production date:

1942-10-24

Production company:

CHSJ

Description:

Show detail Hide detail

Recording of talk by movie actor Walter Pidgeon at Saint John High School to help raise money for Canada's Third Victory Loan. Pidgeon was born in Saint John, New Brunswick and this marks his first visit to the city in 21 years. He is introduced by the Deputy Mayor of Saint John, Walter Golding, who talks about the importance of the Victory Loan in the war effort and Walter Pidgeon's role through such inspirational films as MRS. MINIVER. Pidgeon talks about: the last time he was in a high school audition, on Empire Day, May 24, when he was in high school and was asked to recite a patriotic poem; recollections of his teacher Dr. Bridges; his nervousness during his Empire Day recitation and his nervousness today; activities he has participated in since his arrival in Saint John by train this morning; his greeting crowds of school children, familiar faces and other well-wishers; meeting the chief of police; visiting his old home for the first time since 1917; meeting his aunt; meeting an old friend; visiting the Alexandra School; doing a radio broadcast in the morning; meeting his former 7th Grade teacher, Jean Scott; people giving him apples, strawberry preserves and maple sugar; the generosity of movie magnate Louis B. Mayer, a fellow former resident of Saint John, in giving Pidgeon time off to participate in the Third Victory Loan fundraising tour; Pidgeon's Victory Loan itinerary in Canada; his desire to promote the sale of Victory Bonds; his background in the investment field before he got into acting; details of the bonds, which he describes as a "first mortgage on the Dominion of Canada" and a way to take care of loved ones and keep soldiers, sailors and airmen equipped; his visiting wounded servicemen in hospitals; the importance of buying bonds in order to raise the money necessary to provide medical care and hospitalization for wounded servicemen; and a patriotic quote from the Vicar in the film MRS. MINIVER. At the conclusion of his talk, a band playsGod Save the Queen, there is some dead air and then an announcer introduces an interlude of transcribed music. The rest of the recording consists of a narrative by F. Gordon Spencer, who states that he made the recording on his own disc recording equipment from a broadcast by Saint John radio station CHSJ, lists the speakers and gives highlights of the visit by Walter Pidgeon to Saint John. Spencer mentions that he and his brother Gerald met Pidgeon. <28mn>

Language:

English

Notes:

Show detail Hide detail

1. Title is from label of disc 1.~2. Recorded by F. Gordon Spencer on four 10-inch Audiodisc recording blanks at 78 RPM.~3. Centre of disc 1 is separating from the disc, disc 3 is cracked and side 8 of disc 4 skips severely, particularly during the comments recorded by F. Gordon Spencer.~4. Disc 1, sides 1 and 2, and Disc 2, partway through side 3 contains the introduction by the Mayor, followed on side 3 by Pidgeon.~5. F. Gordon Spencer, a theatre owner in Saint John, New Brunswick and an avid music collector, donated a collection of recordings to the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick.~6. For related material, see IDC ISN 85104, CBC Radio Main Catalogue collection, accession 1984-0164, Victory Loan Broadcast, 1942-10-21, including Walter Pidgeon giving the vicar's speech from the film MRS. MINIVER.
Ordering and viewing options

Conditions of access:

Open

Consultation copy number:

A1 2006-02-0024

Reproduction access:

with written permission of copyright owner : no donor restriction

You can order materials in advance to be ready for you when you visit. You will need a user card to do this.

Cannot visit us on site? You can purchase a copy to be sent to you. Some restrictions may apply.

Report a problem on this page

Date modified:: 2024-07-04