Under Ackery, the theatre, the largest movie house in Vancouver at the time, was frequently picked to show movie premieres in Canada, often world or Canadian premieres (such as 1939's "Gone with the Wind", 1942's "The Forest Rangers" which one of that movie's stars, Susan Hayward, appeared in person for the world premiere at the Orpheum, and the 1965 James Clavell World War II feature "King Rat"). Live shows at the Orpheum during the Ackery years featured performing greats like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Lionel Hampton, Ella Fitzgerald, Tommy Dorsey, George Burns, Jack Benny and Chief Dan George.