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Linda King

Phantom Memories

I grew up in the 1950-60's era. It was exciting to go to the Calgary Jubilee Auditorium with our elementary school classes. We were treated to symphony music performed by the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, while we sat back in red plush velvet seats to enjoy this wonderful experience. Although I visited the Jubilee many times since then, the performance that stands out most was the fantastic "Phantom of the Opera" show. I look forward to having many more memorable trips to the newly-renovated Calgary Jubilee Auditorium.

An anonymous contributor

Special Delivery

In 1957 I was a young married man working for W.R.Zeidler Ltd. as a truck driver. I hauled a number of loads of special trim for the Jubilee Auditorium that was milled at the Zeidler woodworking plant.This trim was installed on the large pillars inside the Jubilee. It was awsome seeing this building being built and made me proud to have had a part in delivering the special walnut trim.

Glen Griffiths

Westminster Boy's Choir

In grade 7 I was a member of The Westminster Boy's Choir and we sang with other schools on stage in 1957

Cathy Fortune

Cathy Fortune sang and danced at the official opening!

I was one of the singers and dancers at the official opening of the Edmonton Jubilee Auditorium. Subsequently, the theatre group to which I belonged, the Orion Musical Theatre (musical director Tommy Banks) put on several shows there. Two years later we took our show to the Calgary Jubilee under the auspices of the Foggy Manor Jazz Club.
 
I was also a cast member of the Calgary Theatre Singers' production of "The Boyfriend". I have many fond memories of both Jubilee Auditoria.

Trudy Olson

Auditorium Tour

I grew up on a small farm in a community about 100 miles northwest of Edmonton. My father has always been a proud Albertan, so soon after the Jubilee Auditorium opened, my Mom and Dad brought me into Edmonton and we had the great honour of touring the Jubilee Auditorium. Not only was it a special day because I got to go with my Mom and Dad into Edmonton while my younger siblings stayed behind with my aunt and uncle, but I got to tour this magnificent structure.
 
I don't remember my exact age, but I believe I would have been eight or nine. What I do remember was stepping into the auditorium itself and being awed by the sheer size and impressed how you could hear every sound so easily. I remember thinking how beautiful the carpeting was - until I went to take a drink from the water fountain and got "zapped" with static electricity as soon as I touched the fountain.
 
Since that time I have had many opportunities to attend functions at the "Jube" but my proudest moment was when I got to be on stage during my graduation from nurse's training in 1970.

Neil McMullen

Opening The Jubilee

In 1953 my family and I moved to the new community of Housefield Heights. My brother and I used to cross 114 Street on our way to the University Demonstration School which was located in the original Technical School building. Each day we went to school we could see the Jubilee Auditorium being constructed. I think it was the first time for us to see a steel structure under construction.
 
In 1957 we read about the Jubilee Auditorium being opened. The grand opening was on a Saturday night. My mother said to me, "Why don't you go and see if you and I can get tickets for the opening performance?" I walked over to the Auditorium and went to the ticket wicket. I was one of the first people in line. There was another young man waiting in line when I got there. We began to talk, and as we talked a line started to form behind us with others wanting tickets.
 
Around 7 pm a man came out and said there were three tickets left and about 40 tickets that hadn't been picked up. That meant I could have a ticket for myself, my mom and the man I had been talking to. I ran home and changed, and my mother and I got to see the opening performance.

Irene

Country Kids visit the Jube

When the Jubilee Auditorium first opened, we country kids were absolutely amazed at the carpeting everywhere AND to the shocks we would give one another when touching the rails!

Bud MacDonald

Richard E. (Bud) MacDonald — Original Stage Carpenter

Bud MacDonald started at the Jubilee Auditorium as No. 1 Stage Carpenter in May 1957, about a week after the official opening. At that time Mr. Plewes was the Manager and the Jubilee fell under the Department of Economic Affairs. The years that he worked from May 1957 to January 1976 were interesting, hectic, enjoyable and sometimes exasperating.
 
He remembers fondly having the opportunity of working with some very interesting people. In particular, he noted that Dr. Kaasa was a man for whom he had great respect.
 
He remembers that on November 29th, 1957 he rushed back to work after supper for a 7:30 curtain call and back home to take his wife to the hospital for their second son to be born at 8:45 p.m., and later went back to work to take the show out — but he forgets what show it was!