1
Clown with Large Drum and Goose Woodblock in yellow King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
2
The First Printing JobsAt first the only customers we had were those companies which came to put their shows on in Rouleau town hall. Then we were able to make personal contact, show them the plant and its facilities.
These companies were quite numerous, averaging about one a week. As they travelled up and down and across the prairie provinces, using our printing, more and more shows became familiar with our business, as every poster carried our imprint even if it was in small type.(Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 68-71)
3
Clown with Large Drum and Goose Woodblock in Red King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
4
Soon we were printing weekly posters for repertory stock companies playing winter season in theatres in several western cities. This provided a steady volume with equally stable income - a most appreciated phase of any business. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 68-71)5
Clown with Large Drum and Goose Woodblock in Blue King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
6
Clown with Large Drum and Goose Poster King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
7
Girl, Clown and Ferris Wheel Drawing King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
8
The Growing BusinessLooking back to those pioneer days when I was striving to expand the market I had discovered by a stroke of luck, I realize now that my inexperience had much to do with my entry into a highly specialized field of printing, already covered by large competitive companies. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 72)
9
Large Woman and Clown with Merry Go Round Drawing King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
10
If anyone had then suggested the time was coming when Enterprise Show Print in the little 800-population town of Rouleau, Saskatchewan, would eventually be shipping posters to dramatic companies, musical comedy companies, circuses, carnivals and other users all across Canada from Halifax, (yes, also Newfoundland) to Victoria, B.C., in volume amounting to tons in weight, I would have scoffed at the idea. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 73-4)11
Model Shows Drawing King Show Prints and Enterprise Show Prints1 January 1920
12
Neither would I have taken seriously any prophecy that we would finally be the only poster printing plant operating in Canada, or that we would be making shipments as far south as Kentucky and west to the Pacific coast states.Yet, all of this did eventually take place.
The conditions which resulted in Enterprise Show Print finally becoming the only poster printing plant in Canada were created mainly by the rapid growth in popularity of moving pictures. With movie theatres springing up in towns as well as cities, the travelling road shows began to disappear. ...
It was in 1919 that a second bit of good fortune descended upon us. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 73-4)
13
Train Clacking Sound1 June 2004
14
This time it could be definitely explained.A general strike in Winnipeg was gaining strength with different trade unions joining in.
When the railway expressmen walked off their jobs, the Winnipeg poster plant was unable to accept orders as it could not ship them out. (Excerpt from Paper, Pen and Ink by Andrew King, Pg 73-4)
 |
 |
 |
 |