Theatres-Photographers (Russell)

The Cranbrook Courier, November 18, 1926 (p6)

LOCAL FIRM CELEBRATES [photo of V.C. Russell]
Last week "Photo-Crafts," the well-known firm of photographers,
celebrated its first birthday here, having opened for business November
5th, 1925.
Mr. and Mrs. Vincent C. Russell, proprietors, came here shortly
before from Manitoba, where they had been for a visit after selling their
business in New Westminster.
They had been very favorably impressed with the Cranbrook district
when they were here as special publicity representatives of the New
Westminster Board of Trade in 1924.
Mr. Russell received his early training in photography in Winnipeg,
moving to the Coast in 1909, where he had a very wide experience in the
different branches of the art.
Opening in New Westminster shortly before the war, his work soon won
him the appointment of official photographer to the 47th and
121st battalion in training there. While he was in New Westminster he was
officially appointed to photograph many public receptions to famous people,
including H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Governor General, General Jofree,
General Currie, and many others; he was on the executive of the Vancouver
and New Westminster Photographers' Association, and an active member of the
Board of Trade and Kiwanis Club. He was a member of the Art committee and
on the directorate of the Provincial exhibition; was official photographer
to these, and also the Provincial mental hospitals, including the Essondale
and New Westminster institutions; also the B.C. Electric Railway, etc.
Mr. Russell's fondness and love of children made him very successful
in photographing them, and led him to make a special study of child nature.
In consequence, in 1919 he was appointed official photographer to the
"Better babies" movement in connection with the Provincial Exhibition and
with nearly 400 entries annually made it the most important affair of its
kind on the coast.
The years spent in large centers like Vancouver and New Westminster
gave Mr. Russell an opportunity to associate and compete with some of the
foremost photographers in Canada, to the number of 55 within a radius of 12
miles, and now enables him to give the people of Cranbrook and district
work of a class seldom seen outside of the larger cities.
Local people have been very appreciative and the year has been one of
rapid growth. Picture framing is an important item, and in order to be
better able to serve the public the picture framing business and equipment
of Mr. Geo. Leask has been purchased and this added to their own stock
gives them the largest selection of moldings in East Kootenay.