Brennan, Brian. "Theatre Pioneer left mark." Calgary Herald. Wed., May 28, 1997.
Leighton, David & Peggy. Artists, Builders and Dreamers. McClelland and Stewart Limited: Toronto.
1982.
Morrow, Martin. "Prothroe is praised by former students." Calgary Herald. Wed., October 18, 1989.
Powlan, Henry. Interview. The Chinese Canadian Oral History Project, University of Calgary. 2006.
Only some material in the fonds has been digitized. Please contact Banff Centre Archives to explore the whole fonds.
Irene Prothroe (née Powlan, 1925-1989) is an actress, teacher, director, and producer who taught at the Banff Centre from 1958 to 1970, and served as the Head of the Theatre (1969-1970) and the Musical Theatre Division (1970-1974).
Irene was born on March 19th, 1925 in Winnifred Alberta to father Frank Yuen Powlan (b. 1887) and mother Mary Organ. Frank immigrated to Canada from Sunwui (Guangzhou, China) in his late teens, and is described by his son Henry as one of Alberta’s original Chinese herbalists. Mary was born in Liverpool England and met Frank in Raymond, Alberta. Irene has eight siblings, including Vi and Ron, both of whom also worked in the theatre.
Raised in Calgary, Prothroe was an original member of Workshop 14, organized by Dr. Betty Mitchell in classroom 14 of Western Canada High School. Prothroe continued her studies at the American Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles (1946-1949), where her tutors included Russian actress and teacher Maria Ouspenskaya. Prothroe was subsequently invited to join Charles Laughton’s Shakespeare Foundation in Los Angeles (1949), and later studied with Morris Carnovsky, and the dance instructor Hanja Holm in New York (1950). While visiting home during her studies in America, she married Jack Prothroe, a lawyer based in Calgary.
Irene taught drama at the University of Alberta (1951 to 1954); and at the University of British Columbia (1954-1957; 1970-1974). She received a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alberta (1960) and a Bachelor’s of Education at the University of Calgary (1963).
As the recipient of two Canada Council Senior Arts Fellowships (1965, 1967), Prothroe was able to survey international theatres and theatre schools as well as attended conferences as the Canadian Representative of the International Theatre Institute.
While engaged at the Banff Centre during summers, Prothroe served as Artistic Director at the Calgary Arts Centre Theatre (1960-1964), and as a drama advisor to the University of Calgary (1961-1974). She worked the Radio Drama Producer for CBC Calgary (1974-1981) and founded the 85th Street Players, a touring dinner theatre group, and Powlan Productions with her brother Ron, in Calgary in the early 1980s.
Irene died of a brain aneurysm on October 11, 1989.
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Final
Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Fonds consists of material relating to Prothroe's professional life, personal life, and personal interests. The fonds is divided into nine series which reflect the many items found in the fonds. Materials in the fonds include textual records (both by Prothroe and by others), scripts, programs, articles (about Prothroe and others), photographs (personal and professional), and other material.
Arrangement imposed by the processing archivist. Only archival material in the donation was preserved. Contact the Archives for a full listing of the material that arrived with the donation.
In 1990, the executor of Irene Prothroe's estate transferred the materials to the Banff Centre Archives. The material was initially organized and itemized by Elizabeth Kundert-Cameron. Two supplementary boxes were found at an unspecified date.
The fonds consists of the following accruals: 1990-58. No further accruals are expected.
"Interview with Irene Prothroe by Peggy Leighton July 16, 1981" (Tape 1993-41.02), 1990-44.04, LE08A.004.
There are no restrictions on access.
Itineraries generated by the estate and by previous processing archivists are available in the accession file.
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
Published
Series consists of files related to Irene Prothroe's personal life, including her "On Stage" scrapbook, personal materials, photographs, and correspondence.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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Sub-series consists of the fixed and loose contents of Irene Prothroe's scrapbook, titled "On Stage." The scrapbook contains programs and news clippings accumulated by Irene Prothroe, documenting her career in the theatre.
Some items refer to Irene as “Anna.”
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File consists of contents fixed within Irene Prothroe's scrapbook, titled "On Stage." The file contains correspondence, programs, photocopy surrogates of newspaper clippings, sketches, and photographs accumulated by Irene Prothroe, documenting her early career in the theatre, with a focus on the 1940s-1950s. The file includes a note from her mentor, Maria Alekseyevna Ouspenskaya, which originally accompanied a bouquet of flowers, as well as materials from Irene Prothroe's collaboration with Tom Peacocke in "Widger's Way." The file also includes production notes and a report card.
Materials are arranged by the processing archivist in their original order.
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Item is a note from Mme. Ouspenskaya to Irene Prothroe, with envelope from Marie Colman Flowers.
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Item is a program for Studio Theatre's production of "The Widger's Way."
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File consists of theatre programs collected by Irene Prothroe, some crediting her involvement. The programs document productions by the Banff School of Fine Arts, The Calgary Theatre Singers,The University of British Columbia's Summer School of the Theatre, the Calgary Allied Arts Centre Theatre,and the Alumni Players. There is also an edition of the Calgary Allied Arts Council publication the "Courier" from September 1962.
Materials were received by the processing archivist in a folder titled “On Stage Scrapbook.”
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File consists of photocopy surrogates of newspaper clippings documenting Irene Prothroe's personal and professional life, as well as items of interest. Clippings include reviews, publicity, and long-form pieces. The file contains reviews for productions by the Calgary Theatre Singers, The Allied Arts Centre, The University of Alberta Calgary, the Banff School of Fine Arts, the Calgary Junior League's Theatre for Children, and the MAC-14 theatre.
Materials were received by the processing archivist in a folder titled “On Stage Scrapbook.”
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File consists of photographs and a slide, documenting Irene Prothroe's career in the theatre, as an actor, director, and teacher. The file includes several cast photos from [the 1958 Banff Centre production of "Much Ado About Nothing"?].
Materials were received by the processing archivist in a folder titled “On Stage Scrapbook.”
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe in sunglasses outside a building. Given the date on the back (1955), it is likely that it is the University of British Columbia.
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Item is a photograph of cast of "Box of Smiles," on stage in costume. The production was a children's play produced under the auspices of the Allied Arts Centre.
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Item is a class photograph of Irene Prothroe with a group of Banff Centre students.
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Item is a cast photograph of [the 1958 Banff Centre production of "Much Ado About Nothing"?].
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Item is a cast photograph of [the 1958 Banff Centre production of "Much Ado About Nothing"?].
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Item is a cast photograph of [the 1958 Banff Centre production of "Much Ado About Nothing"?].
Several photographs feature Irene Prothroe racial costumes. The file’s contents were originally housed loosely within the “On Stage” scrapbook.
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File consists of three posed studio portraits of Irene Prothroe.
File over-sized: located in artifact box (#5)
Some of the photographs feature notations on the back. Item IP1.001.067 (a polaroid) features Irene Prothroe in blackface.
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Photographs from an album of Irene Prothroe's personal photographs The file includes photos of Irene and her friends. There are predominately vacation and leisure photographs, mostly in Alberta and British Columbia (e.g., Penticton, Vernon, Lake Louise, the Rockies). A significant number of the negatives feature images of headstones.
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Item is a photograph of [Irene Prothroe?] (second from the left) laughing with five friends in front of old cars.
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Item is a polaroid of a (rehearsal?) for the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts' production of "Man of La Mancha," mounted at the Banff Festival of the Arts on August 15th and 19th 1972, and during the Summer Showcase on August 2nd and 3rd of that same year. Four performers are standing in costume against a wall, with Prothroe in the background.
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Item is a photograph from a series of five that depict Irene Prothroe applying makeup.
* pfla IP-IP1-IP1.001.059
* pfla IP-IP1-IP1.001.084
* pfla IP-IP1-IP1.001.089
* pfla IP-IP1-IP1.001.090
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Item is a photograph of Prothroe and (Sly?) Harris on a couch, laughing. (Sly?) is wearing a velour tracksuit.
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File consists of notes; Irene Prothroe's business card, noting her position as producer-director of the 85th Street Players; an annotated program from the Castle Theatre; greeting cards; report cards; a certification that Irene Prothroe passed a Pitman Shorthand Transcription Test at Western Canada High School (1940); Irene's resume; a program from the memorial for Frank Yuen Powlan, held July 19th 1972; ribbons from "Murders on the Go Inc."; and a name tag for sticking within a book cover.
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File consists of personal correspondence including a letter from Irene Prothroe to her family; script notes from Irene to "Vickie"; information regarding a property purchase from Mr. & Mrs. F. Diehl; envelopes; reference letters; correspondence regarding Irene's father's estate; and correspondence regarding Prothroe's divorce; and a letter from her brother Robert, who was living overseas. There is also a letter from S.G. Ade to Jack Prothroe.
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Item is a signed thank you card addressed "to our favourite teacher." Features a caricature of Irene Prothroe with a cigarette holder.
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File consists of loose personal photographs of Irene Prothroe. File includes Irene Prothroe's Department of Immigration and Colonization document; a photograph of "Laura"; a photograph of Irene with her Western Canada High School basketball team; a wedding photograph from "Betty and (Larne?)"; photograph of a man in front of a lake at the foot of a glacier;
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Item is an identification document from the Department of Immigration and Colonization Chinese Immigration service certifying Irene Prothroe's registration as required by Section 18 of the Chinese Immigration Act (1924). Document includes photograph of Irene Prothroe.
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Item is a photograph of a basketball team with their coach. Irene Prothroe is standing fourth from the right.
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File consists of interview transcripts with various individuals about the theatre scene in Alberta.
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File consists of two photographs of a "Japanese wedding" collected by Irene Prothroe. There is writing on the back of the photographs, possibly written by Irene Prothroe.
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File consists of miscellaneous personal photographs and a booklet of the Calgary School Board "graduation exercises" from 1940. Photographs include head shots of Irene Prothroe and others, photographs from parties, and photographs of Irene's siblings.
File name and arrangement based on file received by processing archivist.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe (right) and Vi Powlan (Left), with the following annotation on the back: "two grand pals, October 1949 – Home - Calgary on Holidays".
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series consists of reference and resource materials accumulated by Irene Prothroe, as well as memorabilia. The series contains reference files of materials related to theatre and to children's theatre. The series also contains files of publicity stills from motion pictures, head shots of actors, and a cloth calendar from 1979, decorated with pins and buttons.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of miscellaneous reference materials accumulated by Irene Prothroe. The file includes newspaper and magazine clippings, reviews of interest, catalogue listings, a script for "The Thieves Kitchen (Oliver Twist)," and a press release of the successful entrants to the "acting course of National Theatre School of Canada."
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File consists of correspondence from Ray Herman to Irene Prothroe documenting his transfer of a script for John Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." The file also contains the annotated script.
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File consists of two tour itineraries for the Comedie de l'Est (1967); course schedules (1967); "V Symposium on the Professional Training of the Actor"; "Viet Rock"; "Theatre Sovietique D'Enfants"; a program for "L'Ile des Chevres"; documents relating to the United States Institute for Theatre Technology Conference (1966); a program for a Calgary Drama Council production of "As You Like It" directed by Irene Prothroe; a program for the 1973 selection of "Curtain Time"; a program for the Mermaid Theatre's production of "Lights Up" (1967); a 1965 pamphlet for the National Theatre School of Canada; a program for the Comedie de L'Est's production of "Joel Brand, histoire d'une affaire"; a program for the Regina Little Theatre's production of "An Italian Straw Hat"; a memorandum from Irene Prothroe to Mary McRoberts; a script titled "John Doe"; [audition assessment?] notes; a flyer for the 1966-1967 season of the Comedie de L'Est"; "Apprendre le Theatre" (publication from L'Ecole Superieur d'Art Dramatique de Strasbourg), and various Comedie de L'Est publications.
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File consists of photographs of children's theatre productions; a document titled "Theatre Sovietique D'Enfants"; Children's Theatre Press catalogue of "Plays for Children" (1953); notes on "The Place of Children's Theatre in Calgary"; a copy of Sonja Dunn's "You Were Asking About Creative Dramatics?"; a reprint of a Daily Telegraph article: "Leatherhead Finds the Elixer" (1965); a "Young Stager's Diary" newsletter; a copy of the British Children's Theatre Association's "Directory of Theatres for Children in Great Britain, British Commonwealth, and South Africa" (1964), and a photocopy of John Fernald's paper The Director in the Theatre."
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Item is a photograph with annotation on the back: "Theatre for Children...please return to Irene Prothroe Arts Centre Theatre Box of Smiles." Photo shows three expressive individuals in costume.
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File consists of publicity stills from motion picture films and a still of three planes flying over and island.
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File consists of glamour shots of unidentified men, Catherine Myles (with CV attached), and Alexandria Patience-Thom.
Item IP2.007.010 features an actress in blackface.
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File consists of unidentified photographs including three images from an unknown Shakespeare production starring [Vi Powlan?].
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File consists of prints documenting an unknown production, possibly at the Allied Arts Centre. An inscription on the back of one of the photographs suggests the involvement of set designer Jack McCullough.
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File consists of a calendar made out of fabric for the year 1979, decorated with pins, buttons, and ID badges collected by Irene Prothroe. The calendar features two ID badges from her employment at the CBC. Loose buttons and pins have been housed in an accompanying envelope.
File over-sized: located in artifact box (#4).
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File consists of two posed studio portraits of an unknown woman. One of the portraits is signed, but illegible.
File over-sized: located in artifact box (#5)
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series contains files related to Irene Prothroe's activities as a student and a teacher at the American Repertory Theatre, The University of Alberta, Wildshire Adult College, and Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology. Irene Prothroe studied at the American Repertory Theatre in Los Angeles with Maria Ouspenskaya (1946-1949). She was later selected to join Charles Laughton's invitation-only Shakespeare Foundation Group (1949). And in 1950, she studied with Morris Carnovsky and Hanya Holm in New York. Irene later received a Bachelor's of Arts from the University of Alberta, Edmonton in 1960 and a Bachelor's of Education from the University of Calgary, Calgary in 1963. Irene was engaged as a theatre teacher at the University of Alberta and the Calgary School System (1954-1957), the University of Calgary (1961-1964), and the University of British Columbia (1970-1974). Irene also served as a Guest Director for the actors' workshop at Urchfont Manor in Wildshire, England (1965, 1967).
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of miscellaneous documents (i.e. essays, exercises, syllabuses, timetables) accumulated by Irene Prothroe as a student at the University of Alberta and the [American Repertory Theatre?].
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Item is Irene Prothroe's 1947 timetable of studio classes.
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Item is document titled "American Repertory Theatre Class Notes"
Received by processing archivist in a folder titled “Acting”
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File consists of documents from philosophy courses attended by Irene Prothroe at the University of Alberta. The file contains short and longhand notes, syllabi, and essay drafts.
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File consists of documents from a French course attended by Irene Prothroe at the University of Alberta. The file contains notes and language study exercises.
Received by processing archivist in a folder titled “Acting”
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File consists of an attendance list and page of notes created in the context of an acting class overseen by Irene Prothroe.
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File consists of two photographs. One of three shots of Irene Prothroe in robes with the attached note "for your campus A card photo." There is also a photograph of Irene's [graduation?]. The annotated paper envelope in which the photographs were originally housed.
Received by processing archivist in a folder titled “BBC”
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File consists of a calendar of "residential short courses at Urchfont Manor" (1965); a program for a course in "professional theatre" that ran from the 11th to the 13th of June, 1965 at the Wildshire Adult College. Irene Prothroe lectured in the course: a weekend designed for young people interested in the theatre. There are also four photographs: two publicity stills for "The Rains Came" (1952), a photograph signed "fondly, Linda [Darling?]," and a photograph of a man giving a thumbs-up in an airplane.
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File consists of Irene Prothroe's Certificate of Achievement from Humber College of Applied Arts and Technology recognizing her completion for a course in Management for Results.
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Two photographs of Irene Prothroe, one of her in graduation garb.
Both photographs were filed together in a folder titled “school.”
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Item is a studio portrait of Irene Prothroe holding a magazine, wearing a thick metal necklace.
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File consists of two degrees awarded to Irene Prothroe from the University of Alberta: degrees for a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Alberta (1960) and a Bachelor's of Education at the University of Calgary (1963).
File over-sized: located in artifact box (#5)
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series consists of materials related to Irene Prothroe's professional activities as an actor, director, teacher, and artist. It includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, playbills, head shots, and glamour shots. There are also files related to specific projects in Irene's career, such as her allocation of a Canada Arts Council grant, her wool felting project, "Irene Prothroe's School of Cultural Arts," and her performance as Joan in Studio A's production of "The Lark."
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of the contents of a folder labelled "Newspaper Clippings" comprised of reviews and editorials collected by and/or concerning Irene Prothroe.
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File consists of newspaper clippings about productions and theatre initiatives associated with Irene Prothroe. These include news bulletins and reviews of productions directed by Prothroe; reviews of Prothroe's own performances with the Banff Centre Players, and profile pieces about Prothroe and family members.
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Item is a newspaper feature covering the opening and dedication of the Alberta Jubilee auditorium.
Item over-sized: digital surrogate provided en lieu of photocopy.
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File consists of correspondence to and from Irene Prothroe concerning professional matters, including correspondence regarding the Medicine Hat District Festival, the allocation of the Lougheed mansion, Irene's employment at the University of British Columbia, and her position as advisor to the Drama Society at the University of Alberta.
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Item is a letter from Dorothy Somerset to Irene Prothroe sent on March 5th 1954 concerning possible plays for UBC's Summer Session.
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Item is a letter from Walter H. Johns to Irene Prothroe sent on November2nd 1961 concerning the approval of her appointment as Advisor to the University of Alberta Drama Society, Calgary campus.
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File consists of the contents of a folder labelled "programs," comprised of playbills collected by or crediting Irene Prothroe.
These materials were originally included in a folder titled - “On Stage Scrapbook: Joyce’s Plays.” Their contents, however, do not document plays authored or belonging to any person named Joyce. While their inclusion within the “On Stage” scrapbook is not impossible, it is unlikely considering that the scrapbook’s contents are predominantly about Irene Prothroe’s work “on stage.” The contents of this file document her grant-funded trip to learn and research the work of others.
Given the haphazard nature of the contents and labelling of this folder, some items were removed by the archivist.
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File consists of materials created and accumulated by Irene Prothroe during her tour of North American and European theatres, sponsored by grant from the Canadian Arts Council. The file includes correspondence to and from Irene Prothroe (including a letter from the Banff School of Fine Arts confirming Prothroe's teaching position that academic year), city maps, a listing of international theatre institutes, newspaper clippings, and a hotel receipt for the Queen Elizabeth in Montreal.
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Item is a letter from J.C.K. Madsen to Irene Prothroe sent on April 6th 1965 congratulating her on receiving a Canada Council scholarship, to clarify textbook selection for her Acting course at the Centre, and to ask if she would like to be involved on the "Entertainment Committee for the 1972 Olympics."
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File consists of a course outline for "Irene Prothroe's School of Cultural Arts." The document outlines different areas of focus (including speech and television) and breakdown of course timetables. There is also an outline of a [radio show?] introduction.
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File consists of photographs and slides documenting Irene Prothroe's raw wool artwork as well as an editorial profile in the Calgary Herald.
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Item is a photograph of one of Irene Prothroe's felt pieces. Photograph shows one coloured felt piece depicting horses in a corral.
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A photograph of one of Irene Prothroe's felt pieces. Photograph shows one coloured felt piece depicting a tipi in front of a fence.
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File consists of photographs of head shots of Irene Prothroe.
Irene Prothroe does not appear to have used the stage name “Irene Bloomingdale” outside of this one production.
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Item is a head shot of Irene Prothroe, annotated with her stage name "Irene Bloomingdale." For a production of Neil Simon's "The Prisoner of Second Avenue" at the Glenmore Inn Dinner Theatre in the spring of 1982.
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Item is a head shot of Irene Prothroe, posing against a black backdrop wearing a gown with a tulle front piece.
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Item is a head shot of Irene Prothroe, with short hair, looking over her left shoulder.
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Item is a photograph contains two prints of Irene Prothroe, seated with her hands in her lap. In the first (left-hand) print she is looking into the camera and smiling; in the second (right-hand) print, she is looking off to her right.
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Item is a head shot of Irene Prothroe with her hair up and her hands resting on a piece of furniture. On the back, the inscription reads: "My Best Publicity Picture. Best Photographer in Hollywood."
This item was originally framed
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Item is a head shot of Irene Prothroe wearing a blazer and a ruffed collar. Her gaze is downwards.
Several photographs are of Irene Prothroe in Chinese (IP4-009.008 through 010, and 021 through 025); Egyptian (IP4.009.006 and 007), and Indigenous racial costumes (IP4.007.003 through 005). The file also includes some matte prints; the title reflects the name on the folder received by the processing archivist. Several of the items have annotations on their non-image side.
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File consists of "glamour" photographs of Irene Prothroe.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe wearing a shall. Her right arm is raised to the flower arrangement in her hair.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe with a middle part and wearing a mesh shirt with embroidered grapes.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe with a middle part wearing a patterned shirt.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe wearing a neck scarf and a blazer with shoulder pads. Her arms are crossed.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe wearing a polka dotted blazer with her arms crossed.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe turned away from the camera, pulling on her embroidered shawl with her right hand.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe in a dark dress and jewels, looking up.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe in a dark dress and jewels, looking down.
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File consists of a program and three photographs of Irene Prothroe as Joan in Studio A's 1959 production of "The Lark." The show was performed at the Alberta Regional Drama Festival in Edmonton, having already been staged at Studio Theatre. It was directed by Gordon Peacock. Irene had taught in the University's Drama Division for the 1951 to 1952 season, and was in the process of taking her drama degree.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe as Joan in "The Lark," being interrogated.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe as Joan in "The Lark," kneeling with a sword.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe as Joan in "The Lark," kneeling with a man in the background.
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Item is a program for "The Lark."
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series consists of materials related to Irene Prothroe's activities with the Banff Centre. Irene Prothroe to teach at the Banff Centre by David Cameron on Gordon Peacock's recommendation. She taught at the Centre for seventeen years from 1958 to 1970, serving as the Head of the Theatre (1969-1970) and the Musical Theatre Division (1970-1974). Irene was instrumental in the mounting of musical theatre productions at the Centre.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
Date range based on notion on original file received by processing archivist.
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File consists of correspondence and memos to and from Irene Prothroe concerning theatre courses taught at the Banff School of Fine Arts, including, Acting I, Advanced Acting (Acting II), Seminar in Advanced Theatre Study, Introduction to Acting, and other Theatre Division courses. There is also correspondence concerning textbooks for acting courses, namely: Toby Cole's "Acting," Richard Boleslansky's "Acting" The First Six Lessons, and Rosenstein, Haydon and Sparrow's "Modern Acting."
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Item is a memo from Gordon Peacock to the instructors of the theatre division at the Banff School of Fine Arts regarding matters such as attendance, space allocation, and new courses.
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Item is a memo announcing a seminar in advanced theatre study at the Banff School of Fine Arts.
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Item is a letter from Donald Cameron to Irene Prothroe regarding staff arrangements for the 1962 Summer Session.
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File consists of an agenda for the 1956 Summer School of the Theatre; a Musical Theatre Division advert; a list of students in the 1973 Musical Theatre Division; a reminder for the 1974 scholarship deadline; the 1974 summer program; a memo "re: Audition Plans"; correspondence to Irene Prothroe alerting her to taped auditions; audition appraisal notes and sheets; a notification of the death of Boris Roubakine; the February-March 1974 Banff Centre audition schedule; a [set?] budget breakdown; an agenda for "radio arts-accounting," and two pamphlets for the the visual arts and dance and theatre arts 1974 summer programs.
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Item is a letter from Irene Prothroe to Wall Seibert regarding the need for a choreographer and dance instructor in the Musical Theatre division of the Banff Centre.
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Item is a letter from Donald Cameron to Irene Prothroe regarding her thoughts on potential hires, Irene's husband's trip to South America, and general catching up.
The “Performing Arts Foundation” was an initiative spearheaded by George Crawford and supported by Irene Prothroe and Donald Cameron, to establish a year-round professional theatre program at the Banff School of Fine Arts. While the project had been percolating informally since the mid-1960s, more formal conversations began after the opening the Eric Harvie Theatre. In the early 1970s, the project was shelved indefinitely due to a lack of funds and administrative backing.
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File consists of materials accumulated and created by Irene Prothroe during her activities at the Banff School of Fine Arts, including: a handout for speech exercises; a linear chronology of when characters are on stage for "Fiddler on the Roof": program layout documentation; space requirements for classes and rehearsals of the Musical Theatre Division; correspondence to and from Irene Prothroe regarding hiring and the establishment of the 'Banff Foundation for the Performing Arts' (a professional theatre school), as well as newspaper clippings containing reviews and editorials.
PR01.02.07
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Item is a linear, colour coded chronology of when characters are on stage for the Banff Centre's production of "Fiddler on the Roof."
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Item is a letter from Irene Prothroe to Donald Cameron regarding the formation of the Banff Foundation for the Performing Arts.
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Item is a program for the Banff Centre's 1972 production of "Man of La Mancha," directed by Irene Prothroe.
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File consists of a venue schedule for the 1973 and 1974 Summer Showcase; a "report of the planning meeting for Summer Session 1974"; an offer of employment from Neil M. Armstrong to Milton Williams (1973); a list of faculty and course offerings for the 1974 Summer Session; attendance estimates for the 1973 Banff Festival of the Arts; an annotated list of national drama department heads; program offerings; the weekly registration report - performing arts (1973); the 1973 interim operating statement, and the agenda for the "Planning Meeting Summer Session 1974."
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File consists of an informational pamphlet for the 1973 Banff Festival of the Arts; a list of plays of the British Council Play Reading Library in Ottawa (1969); a list of British Council tape recordings (1970); Volume IX, No. 3 of "Performing Arts in Canada"; a transcript of CBC Radio coverage of the Banff Centre in August 1973, photocopies of newspaper clippings regarding the Banff Centre and the Banff Festival of the Arts; a photocopied article from "Performing Arts in Canada"; a performing arts management document with scheduling and cultural resource notes, and a list of participants in "Performing Art Management."
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File consists of notes; a schedule of available off-campus performance facilities for the 1974 Festival of the Arts; a class room booking schedule; a meeting agenda; a draft of "An Artistic Policy for the Banff Centre"; registration reports; a schedule for the 1974 Summer Showcase; correspondence to Irene Prothroe from Assistant Festival Coordinator Pat St Pierre detailing listings of potential locations for off-campus performances; suggested 1974-1975 library acquisitions budgets for the Performing Arts Division; a breakdown of tuition fees; an [external?] review of the 1974 fine arts program; a report from the Canadian Chamber Orchestra Training Program.
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File consists of materials relating to the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts' production of "Man of La Mancha," mounted at the Banff Festival of the Arts on August 15th and 19th 1972, and during the Summer Showcase on August 2nd and 3rd of that same year. The production was directed by Irene Prothroe. File consists of Irene Prothroe's annotated script for the Banff Festival of the Art's 1972 production of "Man of La Mancha." Numerated caricatures are tucked inside the script. Script was housed within a production binder.
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File consists of materials relating to the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts' production of "Man of La Mancha," mounted at the Banff Festival of the Arts on August 15th and 19th 1972, and during the Summer Showcase on August 2nd and 3rd of that same year. The production was directed by Irene Prothroe. The file contains the contents of a production binder, and consists of programs, rehearsal schedules, and a linear chronology of when characters are on stage.
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Item is a linear, colour coded chronology of when characters are on stage for the Banff Centre's production of "Man of La Mancha."
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File consists of an annotated typescript of "Man of La Mancha," generated during the 1972 production at the Banff Arts Centre.
The title of this file respects the title of the original file received by the processing archivist.
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File consists of blank greeting cards; a review of UBC Studio's production of "The Orchestra"; correspondence to Irene Prothroe; review of the Banff Festival of the Arts' production of "Anne of Green Gables" (1973); programs of the Banff Centre School of Fine Arts 1973 Summer Showcase; programs of the 1973 Banff Festival of the Arts' productions ("Anne of Green Gables," "Festival Ballet," "A Portrait of Angelica"); a copy of the Banff Centre's 1973 faculty manual; the 1973 bus schedule; a listing of the Banff Centre Library's musical theatre related holdings; correspondence from Nic Roggeman to Irene Prothroe, David Astor, Tom Peacoke, and Bernard Lefebvre regarding the use of high school and elementary schools' with maps of schools attached; a "musical theatre schedule"; a Samuel French script of "Anne of Green Gables: A Musical"; musical notations marked "King, Minstrel, Jester, and a linear chronology of when characters are on stage.
The title of this file respects the title of the original file received by the processing archivist.
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Item is a linear, colour coded chronology of when characters are on stage for the Banff Centre's production of "Anne of Green Gables."
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File consists of a copy of "The Performing Arts in Canada" (Number 2, Volume 1), with an attached, signed letter from Banff School of Fine Arts director David Cameron.
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File consists of one copy of "Fellfield," a collection of writings from the Banff Centre published in November 1974.
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File consists of a hand-drawn sketch of [Alan Monk?]
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Photographs collected by and of Irene Prothroe during her time at the Banff Centre.
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Item is a photograph containing thirteen prints of Irene Prothroe with various expressions.
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Item is a photograph of Irene Prothroe seated, surrounded by students. Annotation on back reads: 1957 Acting I Class, Banff School of Fine Arts, I. Prothroe, Susan Freedman, July Armstrong (Nanton).
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File consists of a seven set design sketches for the Banff Centre's 1971 production of "The Sound of Music."
File over-sized: located in artifact box (#5)
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series consists of materials relating to Irene Prothroe's activities with the Calgary Allied Arts Centre Theatre. Irene served as the Artistic Director & Theatre Manager of the Arts Centre Theatre from 1960 to 1964. The Allied Arts Centre was the first Regional Theatre in Alberta, and Irene was instrumental in developing the theatre's repertory standard. The Arts Centre Theatre is now occupied by Theatre Calgary.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of newspaper clippings and programs accumulated by Irene Prothroe during her involvement with the Calgary Arts Centre.
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File consists of materials accumulated by Irene Prothroe during her involvement with the Calgary Allied Arts Centre. The file includes correspondence to and from Irene Prothroe and the Calgary Allied Arts Council board of governors, a prospectus for a repertory theatre in Calgary prepared by Martin Lager and Charles Lewsen, publicity, and Samuel French receipts for the rights to "The Cradle Song."
The title of this file respects the title of the original file received by the processing archivist.
A letter from John E. Prothroe to Irene Prothroe in this file states: “here are all the clippings.” The contents of the letter suggest that the letter was sent during the summer in which Irene Prothroe was abroad in Europe. Because the file contains newsclippings dated after Irene Prothroe would have returned to Canada (mixed in randomly with those dated when she would have been away), it is difficult to definitively determine which clippings were sent to Irene by John.
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File consists of documents relevant to action taken by the Calgary Allied Arts Centre in the summer of 1965, wherein the Allied Arts Centre (AAC) determined not to renew Irene Prothroe's contract and dissolved her former position as director of the AAC Theatre. The board described their decision as economically motivated, as well as the result of Irene Prothroe's alleged failure to consult with them before accepting a Canada Council grant to conduct research in North America and Europe for three months. They allege that productions suffered as a result. The file contains several documents created by Irene Prothroe summarizing the situation from her perspective (including a letter to the AAC board of governors); a letter of support from Irene Prothroe's husband John, received by her while she was still travelling abroad; correspondence; materials from an AAC Board of Governors meeting on Oct, 21, 1963; newspaper clippings about Irene Prothroe's personal and professional life, as well as clippings about the incident with the AAC and its aftermath.
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A written explanation, from Irene Prothroe to the Allied Arts Centre's board of governors, describing her perspective on the matter of her termination.
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File consists of tour schedules, newspaper clippings, receipts, correspondence to and from Irene Prothroe, as well as budget and disbursement breakdowns. As the artistic director of the Calgary Arts Centre Theatre Company, Irene Prothroe oversaw touring Children's Theatre productions of "Sleeping Beauty" (November, 1964), "The Golden Goose," (February, 1965), and "Jack and the Bean Stock" (April, 1965). The Children's Theatre ensemble was composed of amateur adult actors, with the tour itself an initiative to introduce live theatre to every community in Alberta.
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Letter from Irene Prothroe to Mrs. Boake confirming a booking of the Arts Centre's Children's theatre tour.
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File consists of a script for "Beauty and the Beast," marked with handwritten blocking and production notes.
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File consists of twelve slides of a children's theatre production of "Sleeping Beauty."
While the materials in this file are likely from the AAC, it is also possible that they are from a Banff Centre production as they are undated.
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File consists of an annotated production script of "Write Me a Murder." Script predominately features lighting cues.
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File consists of an annotated production script for a Calgary Allied Arts Centre production of "The Moon is Blue."
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File consists of photographs documenting the Allied Arts Centre productions "The Enchanted," "Life with Father," and "The Moon is Blue."
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Item is a photograph of cast in "The Enchanted."
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Item is a photograph of cast in "The Enchanted."
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Item is a photograph of cast in "The Moon is Blue." Annotation on the back reads: "Moon is Blue," standing: Jack Waite, seated: Bob Cookie and Vi Powlan.
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Series consists of an annotated production script, rehearsal schedule, cast and prop list for a production of "As You Like it."
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
Irene Prothroe taught at the University of British Columbia between 1954-1957, and 1970-1974. It is assumed that this production took place during the former period, though it is possible that it took place during her later period at UBC. In 1957, Irene was commissioned by the Alberta Government to direct a production of “As You Like It” for the opening of the Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium. Dates on the rehearsal schedules lead the archivist to believe these materials were not generated from that production.
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File consists of an annotated production script, rehearsal schedule, cast and prop list for a production of "As You Like it," likely the one directed by Irene Prothroe in April 1958 to celebrate the opening of the Jubilee Auditorium.
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Series consists of files containing scripts produced by Fred Diehl (1901-2008) with handwritten production notes for radio broadcasts, correspondence, and a photograph of a recording session. On April 1s 1974, Prothroe was appointed drama producer at Radio Station CBR, succeeding Fred Diehl after he was assigned tot he CBC's Olympic Games Broadcasting organization in Montreal. She acted as radio producer of arts and humanities programming between 1974 and [1982?]. She left the network when her position was eliminated during a programming shuffle. Later, Prothroe would embark on a project called "Books On The Go Audio Ltd." with freelance broadcaster Tom Kennan, an audiobook venture that was to make use of local Calgary talent.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of a newspaper clipping announcing Irene Prothroe's appointment as drama producer with the CBC (CBR).
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File consists of a letter from Don Mowatt to Irene Prothroe regarding her appointment to CBC Calgary.
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File consists of an annotated typescript for Harold Alston's "The McDougall Papers"; correspondence from Bob Weaver to Irene Prothroe (1981); correspondence from Irene Prothroe to Blair Odney regarding a schedule of "town documentaries" (1980);
Assumed dates are based on information obtained from Irene Prothroe’s resume (located in IP1.003), as well as the presence of her maiden name.
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Item is a photograph of nine individuals holding scripts recording a radio drama. Signatures are on the back (including one for Irene Powlan).
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Sub-series consists of scripts produced by Fred Diehl (1901-2008) with handwritten production notes for radio broadcasts.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for Fred Diehl's "Alberta Calling."
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File consists of a Calgary Broadcast Radio Playhouse typescript for Lister Sinclair's "All About Emily." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Stage typescript for Joseph Tomelty's "All Soul's Night," prepared for radio by May Diver. The typescript features handwritten production notes and additional notes regarding audio production.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for Michael Judge's "A Matter of Grave Importance."
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File consists of a typescript for "And So Is The West."
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File consists of a typescript for "An Ounce of Breeding," and two reviews of a Shakespeare Society of America stage production in West Hollywood. There is also correspondence documenting Barney Dillon's transference of these materials to Fred Diehl.
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File consists of a Calgary Broadcast Radio Playhouse typescript for an edition of "Arabian Nights." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Stage typescript for Jim Nichol's "The Austere Gwendoline Parker Elliott," featuring handwritten production notes. The file also includes an annotated copy of a script Nichol sent to Bob Weaver in December, 1971, which is accompanied by correspondence documenting Weaver's transference of the script to Fred Diehl.
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File consists of two typescripts for John Lazarus' "Babel Wrap" dialogue. One script is annotated and belonged to Allan Lysell. The other typescript is formatted for radio broadcast.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of two typescripts for W.O. Mitchell's "Below the Salt." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Stage typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "Cabin Fever." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Playhouse typescript for Harry J. Boyle's "Chicken for Supper." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of two typescripts for W.O. Mitchell's "The Contenders." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes. The file also includes a summary of the production budget.
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File consists of a CBC Stage typescript for James Nichol's "Country Fable."
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File consists of a CBR typescript for Leslie McFarlane's radio adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The Crystal Egg."
A photocopy of a script originally broadcast in 1950.
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File consists of a typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "The Day Jake Made 'Er Rain." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Bill Fraser's "Edgar Dewdney and Canada's Struggle for Empire." The typescript for part one of the production features handwritten production notes.
A photocopy of a script originally broadcast in 1953.
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File consists of a transcript for W.O. Mitchell's "Duel at Dawn." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of CBC transcripts for A. Szumigalski and Terrence Heath's "The Eyes of the Fishes." These typescripts feature handwritten production notes and are accompanied by correspondence from Terrence Heath to Fred Diehl.
Credits for this production were inscribed on fax paper taped to a file folder. Because of their deterioration, the Archivist reproduced the credits in her own hand on a note added to the folder.
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File consists of a typescript for "The Ghost River Anthology" and a note citing production credits.
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File consists of a CBC Alberta typescript for "The Gift of the Magi." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for "The Goose Hangs High." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBR typescript for Leslie McFarlane's radio adaptation of Avram Davidson's "The Ikon of Elijah."
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File consists of a CBC Playhouse typescripts for Chris Tyson's "In Case of Emergency." The typescript features and accompanies handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Michael Collins' "In Search of Chekhov." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
Scripts are ordered by their noted broadcast dates. It is suspected that one of the two “part four” scripts is in fact a “part one” script.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for Pierre Breton's "Klondike." File includes parts two, three, and five. Two scripts are marked as "part four," but contain different contents.
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File consists of a typescript for "Listen to all those People in a One Man Band."
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File consists of a typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "Little Did I Know."
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File consists of a typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "Maggie." The typescript features handwritten production notes. The file also includes a summary of the production budget.
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File consists of a CBR Playhouse typescript for Elsie Park Gowan's "Men in the News." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "Murder Will Out." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for "Out of the Mouths of Babes." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for "Poems and Letters of Lord Byron." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Claudia Gibson's radio adaptation of of James Grey's "Red Lights on the Prairies." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for William Fraser's "The Rhythm of the Plains." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for William Fraser's "The Romance of Coal." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for John Bethune's adaptation of Sean O'Casey's "The Shadow of a Gunman." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for "Sing the Rundleround." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Len Petersen's "Some Days You Have to Hit Somebody." The typescripts features handwritten production notes.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of typescripts for W.O. Mitchell's "Sons and Fathers." The typescripts features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Stage typescripts of Leona Gom's "Sour Air." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes. The file also includes a libretto and score for an main theme song.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for Sharon Pollock's "Split Seconds in the Life of." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for "The Spy in the Piano." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBR Playhouse typescript for Gwen Pharis Ringwood's "Still Stands the House." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBR Playhouse typescript for H.J. Boyle's "Stopover."
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of typescripts for W.O. Mitchell's "Stylite." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes. The file also includes a summary of the production budget.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of typescripts for Frank Dabbs' "The Summer of '39." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Stanley K. Freiberg's "The Swamp."
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File consists of a typescript for part two of Lister Sinclair's "The Tale of the Talking Bird." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Louise Bresky's "The Tale of Two Towers." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC typescript for Jonathan Jones' "Tea Party." The typescript features handwritten production notes. The file also contains correspondence documenting the transfer of the script from Bob Weaver to Fred Diehl.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own file folder. These have been merged under the assumption that both were produced from the same production.
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File consists of CBC Calgary typescripts for "This Train." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes. Correspondence to Fred Diehl addends one of the scripts.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for Jack Peach's "Three Polluted Maidens."
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File consists of a typescript for Sharon Pollock's "Thirty One For Two." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a typescript for Claudia Gibson's "We Don't Need Another Widow McEachern."
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File consists of CBC Stage typescripts for Faith Greene's "We See and Speak No Evil."
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File consists of a CBC Calgary typescript for William Fraser's "But, We've Come from a Long Way."
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File consists of a typescript for David M.D. Young's "When the Cold is Thawed From Thought."
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File consists of typescripts for Douglas Bankson's "Whistle." The file also includes handwritten production notes.
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File consists of a CBC Calgary a typescript for Bill Fraser's radio adaptation of Cliff Faulknor's "The White Calf."
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File consists of a CBL a typescript for W.O. Mitchell's "The Wrong Trail." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
Each typescript was originally housed in its own folder.
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File consists of typescripts for the 1962 and 1969 radio broadcasts of W.O. Michell's "Yes, My Darling Daughter." The typescripts feature handwritten production notes. The file also includes a summary of the production budget.
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File consists of a typescript for Alan Brown's "Yes, We Care Not." The typescript features handwritten production notes.
If unannotated, duplicates were removed.
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Series consists of files generated during the course of Irene Prothroe's activity as a founding member of the 85th Street Players. As the artistic director of the 85th Street Players, Irene Prothroe produced and directed dinner theatre mystery plays. These would feature piano accompaniment, multiple endings, and a rotation of scripts. Around this time ([ca.1983]), Irene and her brother Ron Powlan, himself an accomplished director and producer, formed the joint venture Powlan Productions, which had as its mandate to produce three "circuit" productions a year for clubs and dinner theatres.
Arrangement imposed by archivist.
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File consists of publicity, program drafts, programs, correspondence, and photocopies of newspaper clippings.
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Item is an oversized logo for the 85th Street Players on card stock.
Item over-sized: located in artifact box (#5)
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File consists of receipts and an agreement between The Brass Cat and the 85th Street Players, stipulating a performance period between October 27th, 1988 and December 10th, 1988. The file also includes receipts and a performance contract between the The Calgary Professional Club, the 85th Street Players, and "Murders To Go," stipulating the conditions for one evening performance of "The Ghost of Lake Louise." Expense receipts are also included.
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File consists of annotated typescripts, programs, murder mystery handouts, murder mystery itineraries, and production notes.
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File consists of a newspaper clipping and photographs documenting the dinner theatre productions Irene Prothroe was involved with in the 1980s. "The Prisoner of Second Avenue," "Any Wednesday."