Update on Keyhole
by Lois Perepelitz

A few people have been asking if I had learned anything more about ‘Keyhole’, I have been finding little bits here and there so now I will tell all.
He apparently moved to Nelson B. C. where he started his own newspaper, however the big news was in April 1955.

April 21, 1955
Bob Joins The Benedicts
“R. A. (Bob) Denison, former reporter, ‘Keyhole’ columnist, ad-man, and assistant editor of the Coronation Review, and now publisher of the Nelson (B.C.) Advertiser has made news on his own - he has joined the benedicts.
“Bob established the Nelson Advertiser last year and calls it “The biggest little weekly in the Kootenays”. Published Wednesdays at 611 Ward St. Nelson B. C., and here’s how he puts it for his readers:
“Well, it certainly was an eventful weekend.
“I got married. The date April 7, 1955.”
“Audrey Horner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. N. Horner of Creelman, Saskatchewan became the bride of the publisher in Penticton B. C.”

I was very happy to find this news now - not only is ‘Keyhole’ doing the work he was meant to do, he also found his blonde, only she wasn’t blonde, but that is okay because ‘Keyhole’ reports that “I am a very happy man.”
I have been feeling that I have not been doing justice to the spirit of the man in my column and was not sure how to fix that.
The Community Board of Trade for 1957 solved my problem when they started to do a ‘tribute page’ in the Review where they would write a tribute to members, past and present, who they felt were deserving of praise.
Their tribute to Bob paints a fairly clear picture. Here is a part of what they wrote:
“… it is a safe bet that the community of Nelson B.C., is getting its due portion of excellent publicity from the local editor.
We wonder if Nelson’s business men, and citizens generally, get a few well-placed digs about their lack of community spirit and the like, for we remember how he kept us on our toes a few years ago .”
They then go on to say:
“Too often a man of Bob’s abilities and ideals is taken for granted in a small town and his worth to the community is not fully appreciated until he is no longer with us.
“Bob has more natural talents (art, music, writing ability, WIT) than most people are blessed with yet probably his greatest asset is his sincere interest in the welfare of the community in which he resides.”
Bob didn’t forget old friends either. He and his ‘Mrs.’ would come for a visit fairly often; and he would correspond with the community through the Review.
He even challenged the town with the ‘big spud’ contest. Coronation won, of course, our spud was over three pounds while the Nelson spud was just under three pounds.
I hope that my writing about him has brought back some fond memories.

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