bought the Edison Machine No. 5 in Charlottetown. Only thirty-five millimetre films were used at that time. A gaslight on a block of lime was used for the light, but the gaslight wasn’t steady enough. A short time later he used the electric bulb which ran on batteries. The machine was cranked by hand. Later an old generator was used for power.

In 1928, Mr. Dennis started showing sound movies. The sound was on records and the film on machine. The first movies were gas operated, and ran by acetylene light. Later they ran on a six horse- power engine and generator. Mr. Dennis bought his movie equip- ment in United States.

Initially the backdrop was a large sheet of whitewashed cotton; later a beaded spray was used on a canvass background.

Cecil pointed out that there were always favourites that people asked for time and time again but they always came back for the westerns.

The two most popular shows brought to the area at that time were ”Rose Marie” and ”The San Francisco Earthquake”. Cecil said that the prices were slightly higher for these films because the pro- ducers set the rates. Even though the price was higher (25 cents) peo- ple kept demanding that these pictures be brought back.

Colour was brought to the screen in the early 1930’s shortly after the talking movies were started. By that time movies were more com- mon but people still came to enjoy an evening at the movies.

After 28 years of bringing movies to the people of West Prince, Cecil was so restricted by government regulations that he gradually went out of the unique business which he had pioneered. O’Leary was the last place where he showed film.

There are still many people in the area who will not only remem- ber the low prices for the movies, but the excitement of going to the community halls to see their favourite actors on the screen.

Cecil died on July 29, 1990 in his 95th year.

EVA J. DENNIS

Eva J. Dennis was born in O’Leary on July 13, 1898. She was the daughter of Ewen and Allie MacLennan. She received her early edu- cation in O'Leary and then attended Prince of Wales College where

she graduated in 1916. For two years Eva taught school in Mount Royal before joining

the staff of A]. Matheson’s Drug Store as an apprentice. In 1953, she became a certified pharmacist, the second woman druggist in the area. Eva continued to work in this capacity for 38 years.

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