Day 12- R.H. (Bobby) Scanlon It seems widely known in Powell River history books that Bobby Scanlon was the first owner of the Patricia (on the cenotaph location) when it began showing films in 1913. Bobby was the adopted son of Michael J. Scanlon. Mr. Michael Scanlon was one of 3 partners in the building of the Powell River Paper Company along with Dr. Dwight Brooks and Anson Brooks . Bobby came to Powell River and worked at the mill in a managerial capacity as a very young man. He lived at the Gopher Club, which was a boarding house for mill employees that hailed from Minnesota. It was at the corner of Maple and Aspen and any of the fellows who came from the Scanlon’s home state would stay there if on temporary jobs, or until they found permanent housing. Bobby Scanlon seems to have been very active in community activities such as the brass band and sports teams ( lacrosse and baseball) There is a newspaper account in the dusty memorabilia box at the theatre that states there was a persistant rumor that Bobby Scanlon did not build the theatre , but won the building and the business in a card game. Remember that in 1913 , this was a frontier town. We’re going to search that out and confirm that bit of history. However he acquired the business, it was a thriving community gathering spot for many years until the “new” Patricia Theatre was built up the hill on the corner of 2nd Ave and Oceanview , now of course renamed Ash Ave. and Marine Ave. Bobby Scanlon, seemed to be a good businessman, employing numerous people in part-time jobs . There’s one story about how he let young children in the side door if they didn’t have the money to pay at the box office.
Posted on: Mon, 05 Aug 2013 17:34:16 +0000
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