The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Eva Playfair came to Creighton by train from Cupar, Saskatchewan, in May of 1956 with her two daughters, Diane and Patricia, and her mother Florence Bortis. Her husband Jack had arrived a few weeks previous to take the job of managing the Paragon Theatre. The family lived in the suite above the theatre. They ran the Paragon Theatre for 15 years until television virtually put them out of business. When they first started, the shows were 25 cents for kids, 35 cents for teens and 75 cents for adults. The popcorn was 10 cents and the drinks were 25 cents. There was always a children's matinee and for some this was "a great babysitting service". The capacity of the theatre was about 200 people. In the 15 years the theatre was open, the final prices had gone up to $1.25 for adults, with teens paying 75 cents and kids paying 50 cents! Jack then went to work for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), building homes at Denare Beach. He also drove the school bus, even while running the theatre. Both Diane and Patricia went to Creighton School and then on to Hapnot Collegiate. The girls were very active in Brownies and Guides with mom serving as Brown Owl. The family was active in the Grace United Church on First Street West in Creighton. Eva recalls the ministers as Lalonde and Heffelfinger. The family moved to Denare Beach in 1968 after Jack had built them a home out there. Even after Jack passed away in 1988, Eva continued to live at the lake till 1998. Eva spends much time knitting. After the Nearly New Store closed down at the United Church, she and several other women took all the cottons and cut them into rags which took almost a year, and she also unraveled all the sweaters and used the wool to make scarves and mitts and gave them to the Salvation Army. Eva still makes turbans and hats for cancer people undergoing chemotherapy. She is also very busy with the United Church women's group doing funeral lunches and suppers. Eva has five grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She noted that when the family moved to Creighton there were three grocery stores, a clothing store and a lumber yard. Now there is only one grocery store, the hardware is gone, with appliances and furnishings available now. She says for seniors who can't get their groceries because they don't drive anymore, it can be difficult. Luckily the grocery stores do deliver and will take your grocery order over the phone. She says if you shop around you will find that delivery charges are less at some stores than others as well. Thanks for sharing your story with me Eva!
