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| March 10 / Oak Bay Avenue — 1948 |
| We can all breathe a collective sigh of relief now that it has finally stopped snowing on our home page. In its place is a very interesting photo of the "Avenue" as we once remember it. Some artifacts still remain — like the old theatre sign. |
| The picture dates itself with the three Fords. A 1935 on the left and a '34 and '36 on the right are signs of a busy shopping day and yes, one was always guaranteed a place to park. People were still making do with their old pre-war vehicles prior to the auto sales boom of the '50s. Note the white patch painted on the "lamp post" which was there to provide better visibility at night –— helpful also in an October fog or returning home from an evening with army buddies. |
| The street cars were hand-me-downs from Vancouver and already about 40 yrs old when this photo was taken. Huntley's Radio Lounge, only just completed, is on the left, and the old vacant lot on the right would become the parking lot for the B&K supermarket built in the mid fifties. |
| The tracks were always a problem in front of the Oak Bay Produce, which is farther up on the left with the awning. I can recall derailments there. The conductor would take a small slab of cordwood and slowly work the car back and forth over it until it was back on track. The oak tree still remains growing at the edge of the road outside Pattison's drug store, plus a small grove of them visible in the lot next to the municipal hall. Try and cut down an oak today! |
| The photographer is standing outside the kindergarten run by Miss Ashdowne on the corner of Wilmot where I was dragged most unwillingly on a daily basis in 1946. While my parents tried to convince me I would have fun, I tried unsuccessfully to convey the fact that I hated every minute. Wilmot was originally the driveway for Wilmot House, the large estate at the very end of the street which still stands today. |
| Perhaps the most interesting thing of all is that the young woman with the scarf and trenchcoat is none other than my mother returning home from "Sues" with a pack of Players Plain. |
Richard
goodallr@sunwave.net |
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A couple of notes on Richard's comments...
At the end of Wilmot Place there's a tall fence, immediately behind which stands the original coachhouse the driveway led to. And further, on the streetcars: one driver would pass a baton to the other so an ingoing tram wouldn't trap an outgoing tram on the single line leading to the Oak Bay Ball Park (Windsor Park) — Gary |
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| March 10 / Other Class of '60 turns 60 Party |
| Thanks to everyone who's responded, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of interest so far. Maybe it's too soon after last year's affair. Those of us who are turning 60 this year could have our own Party, and anyone who's interested in coming is welcome to do so. |
| More later. |
Lianne
lhunter@islandnet.com |
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| March 12 / Oak Bay Avenue - 1948 |
| How wonderful to see an old photo of Oak Bay Ave. and particularly the Oak Bay Theatre. I saw the first movie I can remember attending in the Oak Bay Theatre. It was Gallant Bess, a soppy movie about a horse. My mother loved the Frances The Talking Mule movies and I attended a couple of them with her. The one I remember most vividly was Frances Goes to War. Do you remember when we went to the Oak Bay Theatre during english class to see the original black and white Romeo and Juliet. When Juliet called out "Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou"? from her balcony Hugh Stathem yelled out "I'm under the balcony you fool"! One of the teachers dragged him out by the ear. Could you imagine a teacher doing that today? |
| Sorry to see that the younger 60s are not going to get together for a party. We old people – 60 plus almost 1 – are too busy counting our Canada Pension Plan money to attend I guess. How about we plan an informal rendevous sometime this summer at the Snug? Any takers? |
Tom
timiles@shaw.ca |
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| March 13 / Movies |
| I have mentioned this before but we used to attend the Oak Bay Theatre every Friday night in the days before TV no matter what was on. The only exception was when the show was listed as Adult only. The first movie I took in at the Oak Bay was A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court with William Bendix and Bing Crosby in 1949. I think the admission was .25 or less. My mother remembered as a child attending silent movies in the little brick theatre at the corner of Foul Bay and Oak Bay Ave. Gary will correct me if I have the wrong address. Later on the premises was converted into apartments and was where Ken Duncan and his mother resided in the late fifties. I believe it is still there. |
| I am all for meeting in Victoria this summer Tom. Once we get a date rolling I am sure others will join in. |
| Richard Goodall |
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| As Richard mentioned, the first theatre in Oak Bay was located near the corner of Foul Bay Road and Oak Bay Avenue (2013 Oak Bay Avenue). Built in 1913, it was called the Avenue Theatre and was possibly the first theatre building in Victoria. (The Dominion Theatre, on Yates Street, opened in 1914.) The Avenue Theatre was converted to apartment suites in 1943. The Oak Bay Theatre, built in 1936, was converted to retail/office space in 1986. — Gary |
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| March 13 / Willows Grade 1 Photo |
WILLOWS GRADE 1
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| I can identify 22 kids in this picture with Miss Applegate. Here is a challenge. Can anyone identify more of those in the picture. |
Back Row:
Bob Proctor, Alec Merriman (?), Hugh Morrison, Brian Wilson (cutey), Robin Estlin (my buddy), Christopher Longridge, John Fahey, Glen Hammond, Mike Gibbs |
Third Row:
Gerry Porter, —— , Jane Seatle, —— , Lynn McLennan, Sandra McKeachie, Diane Wiper, Craig Mearns, Clyde Blyth |
Second Row:
Marj Aaronson, Patsy Goodspeed , Glenna Reside , Diane Hayward, Terry Bradshaw, Diane Wilson (?), Patsy Gould , Jean Crisp , Moira Jackson (?), Janet Stenstrom, Barbara Blyth |
Front Row:
—— , —— , —— , —— , —— , Al Mayhew, —— |
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| This photo was originally submitted by Therese Bradshaw in April of 2000. |
Mike
mgibbs@webtv.net |
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| Just guesses, but do I see John Fehler in the third row, and Jim Reichert, Michael LeFevre and Kerry Zeal in the first row?? |
| It occurs to me that the above photo was probably taken the same year (1948) as was the photo of Oak Bay Avenue on our home page — just to put a perspective on things. I wonder how many of you are in this photo taken inside the Oak Bay Theatre in 1947. — Gary |
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| March 26 / Making Movies in New Zealand |
| Our friend Richard Cox is subject of a recent article in a New Zealand publication by Angela Moriarty which I would like to share with you. |
24 March 2003.
Golden Bay film consultant Richard Cox is closer to his dream of creating feature films in the Nelson region with the signing of a deal to make a movie based on bestselling Kiwi author Alan Duff's novel Both Sides of the Moon, at an estimated cost of $9.4 million.
...While Mr Cox is the chief executive of Film Nelson, Both Sides of the Moon will be created by Barklay Holdings - a production company formed by Mr Cox, Duff, Lord of the Rings unit manager Bridget Bourke and a private partner.
...Having set up Film Nelson two years ago to promote the region as a film location, Mr Cox said it was highly likely Both Sides of the Moon would be made in the Nelson-Tasman region.
..."I have looked at locations based from the Wairau through to Golden Bay.
...The sort of locations that we are looking for are state housing, native bush and waterfalls. All of these locations either exist or can be built within the top of the south."
...While he firmly believed the region had the acting and production talent to support a feature film, Mr Cox said he could not promise anything.
..."If we find a location in Taupo which makes more sense to us we are just as likely to do it there."
...The company is currently looking for a director and seeking finance for the film.
...The project is with three distribution groups for review said Mr Cox, who will take on the role of executive producer. "Production won't start until we get the word on finances. We have got the screenplay, we have got the budget, but it could all fall over tomorrow. It could never get made or it could get done in three years' time."
...However Mr Cox said he was confident he would be involved in a feature film project within a year.
...With Whale Rider being made on a budget of $10 million, Both Sides of the Moon would be "in there with the biggest films by New Zealand standards and a small film by international standards".
...Mr Cox said, as a banner company Film Nelson was working on a number of projects, including one with Nelsonian Cole Ryan who is writing the screenplay to Barry Crump's book Wild Pork and Watercress.
...A London-based entertainment company also wanted Film Nelson to work on a project which already has its $24 million budget financed.
..."We are attracting that sort of attention. We are currently negotiating to see whether it's what we want to become involved in."
http://www.nelsonmail.co.nz
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Richard
goodallr@sunwave.net |
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