Greg Rouleau Collection

Collection Items

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1952 circa: Rodeo #1
Film
1952 circa: Rodeo #1
1952
1948 circa: Circus - New York Trip
Film
1948 circa: Circus - New York Trip
1948
1947 circa: Circus - Showbiz 8
Film
1947 circa: Circus - Showbiz 8
1947
1965 circa: Lake Michigan - Dune Ride - Chicago - Man Power
Film
1965 circa: Lake Michigan - Dune Ride - Chicago - Man Power
1965
1950-1955 circa: Party Reel
Film
1950-1955 circa: Party Reel
circa 1950 – 1955
1956 circa: Rodeo - Autry - Annie Oakley
Film
1956 circa: Rodeo - Autry - Annie Oakley
1956
1953-1954: Christmas 53 - Chicago -  NY 54 - Laurie’s Birthday
Film
1953-1954: Christmas 53 - Chicago - NY 54 - Laurie’s Birthday
1953 – 1954
1956 circa: Disneyland
Film
1956 circa: Disneyland
1963
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Items with Viewable Media
Collection Identifier
C.2011-02
Extent of Collection
62 reels of 16mm. film totaling 20,260 feet
Language Of Materials
English
Custodial History
Donated to CFA by Rouleau's daughters. The films resided in Wisconsin with one of his daughters, Chris Thomas, after his death. Watrous met Chris to pick up the films in Janesville, Wisconsin.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open to on-site access. Appointments must be made with Chicago Film Archives. Due to the fragile nature of the films, only video copies will be provided for on-site viewing.
Use Restrictions
Chicago Film Archives holds the copyright for the films in this collection. No restrictions.
Creators
Rouleau, Greg (was created by)
Greg Rouleau was born December 20, 1914 to May and Gregory Hellhake in St. Paul, Minnesota. The family moved to Wausau, Wisconsin in 1930. Greg had a deep interest in the theatre, and upon graduation from Wausau High School, he joined a Federal Theatre project in Peoria, Illinois. Later he worked as an actor, magician, and stage director with a number of stock companies in the upper Midwest, including the Slout Players (Michigan), the Norma Ginnivan Dramatic and Vaudeville Company, and the Madge Kinney Company (Michigan and Ohio). He legally changed his name to Greg Rouleau in 1937, primarily because he had been using it in the theatre. Greg also became interested in magic, and studied with Percy Abbot of Colon, Michigan.

On May 10, 1940, Greg and Irene Grosskopf of Wausau were married in St. Wendelin’s Rectory in Fostoria, Ohio. The same year, Rouleau started his own magic show in North Carolina. In 1941, Greg and Irene had a show called “Rouleau’s Radio Auction Quiz” that was done in theatres in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. In late 1942, Greg joined the staff of radio station WHLB in Virginia, Minnesota as general manager. Greg and Irene's first child, Christie Irene, was born January 27, 1943 in Virginia. Mary Jo was born April 21, 1947 and Laurie Anne on April 11, 1950 in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

Greg joined the Navy March 22, 1944. He was based in the Pacific on a PC boat, and later transferred to the Special Services division on Oahu, where he was part of the theatrical unit entertaining service men. He was separated from the Navy December 15, 1945.

After the war, Greg rejoined Head of the Lakes Broadcasting Company, first managing radio station WJMC in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, then WEBC in Duluth, Minnesota. In 1950 he moved to Fort Madison, Iowa, where, with William E. Walker, Ben Hovel, and Joseph P. Mackin he jointly owned KXGI, a radio station formed by ex-GIs. He and his partners sold the station in 1954, and in January 1955 he became Public Relations Director of the Sheaffer Pen Company of Fort Madison, where he later became Manager of the Merchandising and Sales department.

In 1963, he returned to radio, joining KASI (Ames, Iowa) as vice president and general manager. Three years later he joined the Midwest Family Broadcasting Company where he worked at WERX in Grand Rapids, Michigan. After an interim stop at WYFE in Rockford, Illinois, Rouleau moved to Madison, Wisconsin, in 1969 where he was president and general manager of WISM-FM.

Greg was an ardent photographer, and had a lovely zest for life. He died in Las Vegas, Nevada March 9, 1973, en route to a Mexican vacation with Irene.