Fonds F0155 - Barron Enterprises Ltd. fonds

Jacob Bell "Jack" Barron, 1888-1965, was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He moved to Calgary, Alberta in 1911, after graduating from the University of Chicago, and practiced law until going into the theatre business full time in 1937. From 1923 to 1927 he managed the Palace Theatre, bringing world-famous artists to Calgary. In 1937 he bought the Grand Theatre, which was built in 1912 by James A. Lougheed. The Grand, at 601-1st Street SW, hosted live musical concerts, theatre and vaudeville, although by 1937 it was predominantly a movie theatre. In 1941 the theatre joined the Odeon chain and was incorporated as Odeon (Grand) Theatre Ltd. In 1951 Jack designed and built the Uptown Theatre in the Barron Building at 610-8th Avenue SW. He subsequently acquired the Odeon Theatre at 2101-33rd Avenue SW and the 17th Avenue Drive-In. Barron Enterprises Ltd. was incorporated in 1958 to manage the family businesses. When Jack died in 1965, theatre operations were taken over by his sons, William J. and Robert H., 1916-2008. In 1969 Barron Enterprises ended its theatre involvement, and the four movie houses were taken over by the Odeon organization, with which the theatres were already affiliated. Jack and his wife Amelia had a third son, Richard Henry Gerald Barron, 1921-2016.