Bracebridge's Norwood Theatre Achieves 65th Anniversary Status; Part Of Our Social/Cultural Upbringing

WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE FOR ENTERTAINMENT, WITHOUT THE NORWOOD THEATRE IN BRACEBRIDGE

THE GIASCHI FAMILY LEGACY; THE ICONIC THEATRE, REACHES ITS 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF OPERATION


     How important is a 65th anniversary. Well, not quite as important as a 75th, but fifteen years more impressive than a fiftieth! It might not be an anniversary recognized generally, as a major milestone, or landmark achievement, except of course, in the theatre business in rural Canada. As many of the old movie houses have been closed up after impressive runs, managing to survive for six and a half decades, in retrospect to all the financial obstacles, borders on the remarkable. For these same 65 years, to be in company of the same family, is quite impressive, and not so typical. If you are not familiar with the Norwood Theatre, of Bracebridge, Ontario, or even if you are, I believe that a 65th anniversary, is a big deal, and well worth celebrating. It is, of all things, a survivor of post Second World War economics. It is a sort of baby-boomer relic, and it is the children of the late forties, and fifties, who should have some truly great memories to share, of how their lives were improved by the silver screen in their rural, no traffic light, hometown.
     In the winter of 1974, on the return trip, from a Christmas season holiday, in Florida, my parents found a comfortable motel in a charming small town in Ohio, to spend the night, before the last leg of the journey back to Bracebridge. We had stayed in Findlay, Ohio on previous trips, but had always arrived too late in the night, to see much of the community. A family friend, and school-mate, Rod Baldwin, was with us on this trip, and we arrived early enough to have dinner out, and catch a show at the local theatre. Playing that night, was "American Graffiti," with Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, Suzanne Somers, Harrison Ford, and Wolfman Jack. Great movie, and I've seen it about a hundred times. Even at The Norwood. The theatre was close to being full that night, and when we came out the doors, at the end of the show, gosh, it was as if we had walked right into the movie set. There was a lot of traffic, cars and pedestrians, music from car radios, late into the evening; it was very bright and electric with the commercial signage, and with all the show-goers hitting the street, in a steady parade, it had a nostalgic magic, that made me think of our own Norwood Theatre, back in our hometown. This had been main street U.S.A., and The Norwood, at home, was an intregral part of main street Canada. Every main street had to have a theatre.
     The Norwood Theatre, on upper Manitoba Street, in Bracebridge, just north of the Uptown Esso, owned by Ted Smith, and then the public library and the post office. I don't know what it was, or still is exactly, but whenever I would pop out the swinging doors of the Norwood, after a two hour movie, the streetscape always appeared so surreal, whatever time of day, for those few moments of sensory adjustment. I suppose, as if it was, in itself, an extension of the movie, just then morphed into the real world, in which I happened to live. It was a sort of testament, to just how absorbed we got in those shows. I was a "Carry-On" Movie fan back then, featuring British actor, Sid James.
     There is a substantial advertisement, in the June 25th issue, of "What's Up Muskoka" under the heading, "Norwood Theatre 65 Years," as written by current owners, Gina Giaschi Mitchell, and her husband Brian. It is a brief and interesting history of the Norwood Theatre, and the Giaschi family's relationship with the entertainment business in Ontario, which began with her great grandfather's theatre enterprise, in Port Colborne, opened in 1926. According to the new century publication, "A Good Town Continues," published in 2000. "Andrew Giaschi, manager of the new theatre, (The Norwood) noted that the building would seat 615 people, and was equipped with a curved screen to permit a direct view from any angle." The historical notation, published in this week's magazine, is an important part of the chronicle of Bracebridge, because the theatre building has become iconic, in so many social / cultural ways, and an important landmark, of community well-being; known and adored by thousands of local residents, cottagers and frequent visitors to town.
     When you consider how many business transitions and overhauls have occurred on Manitoba Street, since 1949, the fact that the Norwood Theatre has survived the economic downturns, and the decentralization of the main street, with commercial pods changing the dynamic of the business landscape, it is a great credit then, to the Giaschi family, that the Norwood Theatre has reached this milestone anniversary. Much credit has to go to Gina and husband Brian, for upgrading the theatre, so respectful of its heritage, while, at the same time, making it a contemporary luxury, for those who love an evening out on the town. I know a lot of the history of the Norwood, but from a long-time patron's point of view. Honestly, I don't know what we would have done, as kids, and teens back in the 1960's, and 70's, without the Giaschi family's dedication, to keeping the theatre up and running. I'm sure they had a lot of slow times, and low turn-outs to contend with, and I suppose it got pretty discouraging having to run shows for a handful of patrons. This wasn't lost on us, I can tell you that, because most of us, at that time, knew it was tough to run a theatre and please everyone all the time. More than one of us, in tough and recessionary years, thought to ourselves, "Why is the Norwood still in business?" At the same time, some who asked that question, also felt a little bit guilty about not attending shows, even on a monthly basis. Not because of a boycott, but because we took it for granted, more than anything else. We assumed, come hell or high water, the Giaschi family knew how to make it all work. They were correct, although it was presumptuous to say the least.
      It was an expensive proposition, to run a theatre, and bring in the best of the best movies, to satisfy all members of the community. Everybody is a critic, as they say, and yet, those who were critical of the new shows, were those who never attended anyway; no matter what was playing. Truth is, and of this there is no doubt, we would have been devastated, if the theatre had closed. But I'm not at all sure if the Giaschi's, at the time, really knew how important the entertainment venue was, in the social / cultural life, of the younger generation particularly. Well, this is where I have a little extra history to add, to the chronicle Gina put together, in recognition of the 65th anniversary.
     The Norwood Theatre was where our mothers sent us on Saturday afternoons, with folded money in our pants and a few coins for snackbar treats; after it was decided by parental authority, on that day, we were getting up to mischief in the neighborhood. No kidding. The Giaschis became our guardians on those Saturday afternoons, over the four seasons, when it was either a movie, or being plunked into the back of a police cruiser, by Constable Rod White or Bob Spence, say, for breaking a window in a neighbor's house. The Hunt's Hill gang was really not a bad bunch to get along with, and outside of tossing green apples at passing cars, or playing "Nicky-Nicky-Nine-Doors," (daytime and in the evening) we were at the most "annoying," more so than actual hard core troublemakers. But we were still a wild but conservative force to be reckoned with; being charter members, Rick and Al Hillman, Jim Niven, Larry Tougas, Mark Parlett, Don Clement and Randy Carswell. And it was, at that time, owner Larry Giaschi, who would make sure our bad behavior was curtailed in his theatre. Actually, we had enough respect for this theatre family, that we wanted to conform to his rules; the greatest and most hurtful penalty that could be bestowed upon us, back then, was being asked to leave the theatre, and not come back. I don't know if this happened frequently, or if any one of our mates received a lifetime ban, but I'm willing to bet, if there was any, it would have had to be the result of something far more serious than wet suckers in a girl's hair, or a licorice slap in the chops, from the patron behind. I think the owners, and staff at the Norwood, had us all figured out, and knew how to keep us from tearing the place up, with a firm but gentle approach; letting us know they were watching us constantly, and fact is, the owners knew our mothers and fathers, and we suspected they might call home directly, if there was any real trouble to report.
     I probably attended five hundred or more shows at the theatre, up to and including the mid 1980's, including the period after I had become editor of The Herald-Gazette, and a newlywed with a very small entertainment budget. My bride Suzanne and I, used to attend on Friday nights, as a minor tradition in our married life, which eventually would come to involve my young sons, Andrew and Robert. I can remember when the boys came out of theatre, after watching the "Ninja Turtles," and then demanding that mom and pop, take them, to investigate all the sewer grates in and around Memorial Park, and the theatre building, just in case there were any Ninjas about to break out of hiding. I remember being with my fellow newspaper staffers, at the time of the first Star Wars movie, at the Norwood. I was with Allison Griffith, Brant Scott, John Black and Scott McClellan, and it was, if memory serves, a Sunday matinee, but I stand to be corrected. We were escaping, the best way we could, from the newspaper week that could get pretty hectic for a smaller than required staff. We found the Norwood a convenient respite from pressing realities.
     It was the romantic role the Norwood Theatre served, by circumstance and convenience, that most of us hometowners recall most vividly. It was where us young and interested lads, went to meet with our female classmates, which for the Hunts Hill gang, were from Bracebridge Public School, initially, and then of course, Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School. We went to the Friday night shows, and would purposely sit in the row directly behind the girls, we were trying to impress; and get their attention initially by kicking the back of the seats. Or pushing on them with our knees. Our need, was to get their attention. And yes, we acted beneath our ages. Sub-juvenile. We were first class goofs, but apparently, some of the girls, we were chasing after, thought our childish pranks and conversation were somewhat and strangely endearing. Pretty soon, we would find ourselves, if all worked according to Hoyle, imbedded between them, although there was no hand holding, or arms around the shoulders, at least at this point in the relationship adventure. We were on our way, thanks to the opportunities afforded by the creature comforts, of the Norwood Theatre.
     I took my girlfriend, Linda Dawson, to quite a few movies at the Norwood, and may have managed to hold hands at the very least, except when we had popcorn and beverages to contend with. Later, in that halcycon decade, Gail Smith, another of my gal pals, and I, would attend almost weekly, and she would bring her sisters June and Glenna. These were great, and memorable moments, of considerable intimacy, and I am confident, the Norwood Theatre history could be broadened, to a manuscript of a thousand pages, if we all wrote-up our relationship moments, sparked in the darkened rows of this very important social haven. I wonder how many marriages, truth be known, were rooted in the subtle nostalgia, and aura of romanticism, generated by Norwood movies; and one of the friendliest, most obliging buildings in the whole town. I suppose a few break-ups might have occurred here too, and undoubtedly, a few lost in love, found solace in the company of other singles, who also, had either just been dumped, or were there to relive some of the finer, happier moments of past relationships. Even today, I get a flood of memories, just pushing through doors of the theatre. Suzanne says it's probably the popcorn smell, with hot butter topping. It's a family bylaw that I must have a large container of hot buttered popcorn, and a cold pop, before I sit down for a movie. I never go treat-free at the Norwood. When I was a kid, I'd get one of those Blackpool rock candy sticks, that took about four days to consume. It was the one piece of candy my mother Merle, ordered me not to eat, because I would then have to visit Dr. Savijarvi, the next day, so he could repair what, of my teeth, had just been broken-off.
      Of course, the former show has now been expanded into three separate theatres, from the old days, of having just one large screen for six hundred plus patrons. The main entrance today, was the former North Villa Restaurant, where Brant Scott, John Black and I, used to have our lunch, back in the early eighties. The Giaschi family home was where the neighboring bank is today, next to the post office.
     My most vivid memory of the Norwood Theatre, as oddly as this may read, is not as a patron at all. In the years I lived in the former three story brick home, built in the early nineteen hundreds, by Dr. Peter McGibbon, (which was acquired by the Giaschi family), located across Manitoba Street, from both the theatre and Memorial Park, I could view the activities in and around the Norwood Theatre; and some times that was well into the night, and in fact, early morning. When I worked for The Herald-Gazette, we would always have a news photographer in attendance, at the Midnight run, of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," and what made it neat, was, that at least half the patrons would be dressed-up. There may have been a ticket discount if you dressed up. I did go to two of the midnight shows, with my girlfriend Gail, and then some of my mates, and it was all "fantastic"  fun. I had a second story balcony connected to my park-facing apartment, and I could sit up there with my tele-photo lens, and take photographs of the costumed show-goers, and some of the curious scenes, that developed as a direct result, of the warm summer nights; and the festive time-of-our-lives atmosphere, that was so profound and memorable. I would even get up to catch a few images of the crowd dispersing after the show, which was generally pretty unremarkable, at least as far as vandalism and general bad behaviour.  The police would be keeping an eye on the main street, for any civil disobedience that could be directly attributed to the late night, early morning showings. If there were inebriated patrons, they were not allowed into the show in the first place, which kept the nonsense during and afterwards to a minimum. The Norwood staff has always been consciencious in this regard, and it has made going to a show a pleasure; not having to worry about the actions of bad actors tossing popcorn and spraying pop. Show-goers have respect for this Bracebridge family, and that goes back sixty-five years.
     I remember sitting on my balcony, one hot summer night, just after the show had let-out at around eleven. The lights on the marquee had just been turned off, and I saw a staff person checking outside, before leaving for the night. I was about to head indoors myself, and had just folded up my chair, when I heard an awful crash of glass below. A late-years teenager, I had seen loitering in the park shadows, had undoubtedly, on a dare, decided to vandalize the front glass, that slides across the posters on the right (north) side of the building. He had run by, and somehow got his fingers between the glass panels, in only a second or two, and yanked so hard, it broke the glass into huge shards, which smashed down onto the sidewalk. I believe the young man was cut himself, when the glass hit the ground and exploded, but he never stopped running until he was out of sight. What was interesting to me, was that he had done this, even as two men approached from the south, heading north to the park. I heard the father, say to his adult son, as they walked by the front of the show, that they shouldn't stick around for the cops, in case they were blamed for the damage. The father made this comment, after the son had tried to secure some of the large, leaning glass shards, that were dangerous to any one walking by. They did not see me out on the balcony, but they did beat a hasty retreat, and even though they could have given the police an excellent description of the vandal, they chose to let the owners handle it on their own. It was somewhat ironic, the next evening, to see this same father and son, lining up at the Norwood, to buy tickets for the evening movie. The woman they would have purchased the ticket from, was one of the theatre owners, and the gentleman inside the door, who ripped those tickets, for their entry to the movie, was also an owner; the broken glass from the night before, being at their expense. I wondered if they bothered to tell the proprietors, that they had seen the vandal, or known who he was from encounters in the community. They did not want to get involved, of course. I gave as much information to Larry Giaschi as I could recall, and I sure wished that my camera had been within easy reach, to capture a crime in progress. I wonder how many times events like this have occurred, that the owners had to pay for similar damage out of pocket; and how discouraging it was to be treated in this fashion, by their home community.
     But make no mistake. There was always an unspoken code of respect, I knew even as a kid, passed along from my mates, that the Giaschi family, of the Norwood Theatre, was giving us something special, for the benefit of our hometown, and thus, we needed to act kindly toward them. So if you happened to be caught by us, doing something nasty inside or outside, the theatre, it was accepted protocol to snitch. We did. We didn't want the proprietors to give up on us, because of a few bad actors. I suppose we thought they might close the theatre for good, if there were a lot of ongoing problems, like vandalism, initiated by the younger generation. My mother probably reinforced this idea, before I left for the Saturday matinee. "You better behave yourself, because I know Mrs. Giaschi, and I'll find out for myself." She also wouldn't let me sneak candy into the show either, because, as she said, "They have to make money to keep the show open, you know, so buy your treats at their snackbar." God bless her, because she always sent extra money for the snackbar, which I saddled up to many times during any afternoon show. It's true. Like many others of my ilk, I'd miss at least half the show, pondering what chocolate bar or licorice I should buy. The rest of the movie was spent trying to win over the girls.
     A year or so ago, I got a chance to congratulate Gina on the restoration of the Norwood Theatre, and to tell her, and her husband, just how much we enjoy coming on hot summer nights, to experience a movie in air conditioned comfort. We don't have an air conditioner at home because I'm cheap, or so says Suzanne. I told her that I have written many historical pieces for the local media, reflecting on my great memories of the Norwood Theatre, since the late nineteen seventies, when I first joined Muskoka Publications. She had not read them, but that was of lesser importance, than offering her and all the Giaschi family, associated with these grand theatre years, a thank you from a family, that has so greatly benefitted from their dedication to entertainment; and the longstanding commitment to their home community, to enhance our social and cultural recreation.
     I can remember, during my jogging years as a part-time athlete, in the early eighties, running by the illuminated ticket booth, at the theatre, and seeing Mrs. Giaschi patiently awaiting patrons to that evening's show. Her husband would be working the door, and often times, the crowd was pretty thin. When our family visits today, and finds his daughter Gina, and her husband Brian, also greeting patrons at the front of the show, well sir, for a sentimental old fool like me, it inspires a strong sense of community and neighborhood tradition; more than just about anything else I still enjoy, for history's sake, of my former hometown. Some may believe, the Giaschis were just following the protocols of good business, and profiting from the investment of 65 years. There are others, who know differently; appreciating just how hard they worked to get to this milestone, which, by all business standards, is a great achievement. This achievement has been a boon to the main street of Bracebridge, and I have a feeling, as a Bracebridge Historian, that their work to restore and modernize the Norwood Theatre, will become an important source of inspiration in the ongoing work of revitalizing Manitoba Street.
     A short time before Larry Giaschi passed away, after a lengthy illness, I stopped to chat with him outside another of his many commercial buildings, downtown, and I shook his hand, because I felt it necessary, and long  overdue, to thank him, and his family for giving us a well run theatre for so many years, through such adverse circumstances. When I moved to Bracebridge in 1966, there were only 2,500 residents. And this did not change for quite a few years to come. But they managed to get enough patron turn-out, through the seasons, and the long years, to make it financially sustainable. I shook Gina's hand, a year ago, and expressed the same feelings; we would be lesser folks, in so many ways, without the benefit of that old theatre on upper Manitoba Street. How glad we should all be that it has lasted well into this new century; and that it has such an outstanding future ahead.
     As a sidebar, to this story, our family runs a vintage music and antique shop in another Giaschi family property, here in Gravenhurst, being the former Muskoka Theatre building, on Muskoka Road. You wouldn't believe the folks who come in here, each month, sentimentally recalling their youth, attending shows in this building. We have two binders full of clippings from those years, at the front of the shop, and yesterday, we had a former usher come in for a visit, who shared some stories about the former Muskoka Theatre. It's kind of neat, to listen and learn about a theatre I only visited several times; but each story is one we write down for posterity, to showcase its history of once, long ago!