From Salsbury to Napier

This home at 1528 Salsbury Drive is one of the early homes in the Grandview area. It is an example of the Gabled Vernacular Style - a simple rectangular form with a front-gabled roof and an attached porch, in this case with an upper balcony that once would have afforded excellent views over the city, before other buildings got in the way - and was the first on its block. It was built a year before Edward Faraday Odlum erected his BC Mills Prefab home at 1860 Grant. See this entry for more information on those homes.

The water permit, #8365, was issued to the Grandview Land and Trust Co. on November 11, 1905. The city directories show a carpenter by the name of Peter Sausen living at '1540'. Was he responsible for building this home?

This next house is at 1733 Napier Street. There is a listing on VanMap for 1905 but this block of Napier wasn't opened until 1907 so perhaps the application is referring to an earlier shack in the stumps.

This is a Colonial Revival Style: boxy house form with a projecting porch and a hipped roof; more elaborate versions often have a dormer in the middle of the front part of the roof, and bay windows on the second storey.

The Grandview Heritage Group - where I am getting my information - haven't found a building permit for this address but the 1907 City Directory lists this home as new and vacant. It was still vacant in 1908 but from 1909 to 1912, it was occupied by a realtor, George E. Neilson.

The next house I am going to show you is at 1750 Napier Street. It is in the Early Cottage Style - a single storey version of the Colonial Revival Style homes seen around the city. The insert front porch was likely filled to create more living space.

Another home with a lost building permit, the house was built in early 1909. The first occupant was Walter Watkins, a secretary. A widow, Agnes Close, lived here in 1910 and early 1911 when it was taken over by a CPR clerk, Duncan Cameron. He was issued a building permit on November 5, 1911 for an $85 repair.

As I mentioned earlier,  I am getting my information from the Grandview Heritage Group and I would like to thank them.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

The Making of a Legend

I promised to tell you more about Gary Taylor and today we area going to look at some of the highlights of this man's career.

From 1964 to 1968, CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) had a television show called Lets Go Show which played a part in developing Canadian bands and artists. Gary's band, the Classics, were the house band. The Classics were the lead off band of 2 part television special called Canadian Rock and Roll, also on CBC.

Gary Taylor is legendary in the nightclub business. He was co-owner of his first club, King of Clubs, and played in house band with other musicians, Tom Baird, Caire Lawrence, Glenn Miller and Brian Russell. These artists were the core of the Classics and went to become the core of the seminal band The Collectors with Bill Henderson. Ross Tierney took over on drums.

Gary had a good run with the King of Clubs before teaming up with rock and roll legend Buddy Knox (Party Doll / Hula Love and many other North American hit songs). The club also changed to the Purple Steer and became Greater Vancouver's premier country music club.

There was also the club Gary Taylor's Rock Room. That is where Taylor created "Live at Eleven", which spawned the 99.33 the Fox Vancouver Seeds Contest, Canada's Premier Independent Music Competition. The competition is over thirty years old and was originally broadcast live from the Rock Room.

The Rock Room was the place to be and during the punk scene, Gary brought in artists such as Johnny Thunders and The New York Dolls; Wayne / Jayne County (right at the time Wayne was turning into Jayne); Romeo Void; Lenny Kaye; Ray Loney and the Flamin' Groovies; Joe Jackson and many more.

We can't forget Gary Taylor's contributions to the exotic entertainment industry. He is known for placing art form in exotic dance performance. Some of his legendary productions include "Dracula and The Virgin" and "the Amorous Adventures of Wellington Wang" which were sold out for one year straight.

The majority of his clubs included live jazz, strip tease and stage plays. 

Gary has managed people from speed metal artists Jeff Walter and Annihilator to legendary blues artist Long John Baldry and currently manages country artists Carey Ott and Kate Lamont. He has his hands involved in many different ventures such as being talent coordinator for one of Vancouver's top live venues, Falconetti's on Commercial Drive to being Executive International Consultant of Canadian Music Week.

That is only a sampling of the credits this man has. Gary Taylor is truly a credit to the music industry not only in Vancouver but also worldwide

Thanks to Gary Taylor for supplying the bio where I got this information.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

Gary Taylor ReVamped

While going home from my meeting with Gary Taylor, I heard some sweet music coming from a neighbourhood park. I wandered over and enjoyed the sounds of the Carlo Rossi Gang.

In March of this year, I wrote a blog entry on Gary Taylor's Show Lounge. When I sent the link to Mr. Taylor, he informed me that the information contained in the entry was false and was kind enough to send me his bio. Therefore, I am writing a new entry to correct the first one.

Gary Taylor is 73 years old but you wouldn't know it to look at him. I met him at his club Falconetti's on the Drive and he possesses an energy and vibrancy of someone much younger. Hey, I know men who are half his age and act a lot older. Must be something to the music that keeps him young.

At the age of 15, Taylor began learning how to play the drums with the legendary and much sought drum teacher, Jim Blackley. (Mr. Blackley's students have gone on to play with the likes of Count Basie, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, Paul McCartney, Sting and Annie Lennox and many others.) 

Gary was a dedicated student and he rose in the professional ranks. At the age of 17, Taylor was playing with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. But that wasn't where he stopped. The young Taylor continued to study with Blackley, becoming the man's protege and at the age of 18, became an associate teacher and Blackley's right hand man. This was the start of a colourful and successful career in the entertainment industry.

In 1973, there was a Vancouver bar named 'Gary Taylor's Show Lounge' that employed showgirls and strippers as waitresses. These ladies would offer a free dance with every drink. Of course, this got the attention of the police who raided the club under the obscenity regulations.

In 1974, Judge Jack McGivern ruled the nudity of the dancers was not obscene - this naturally started the practice of nude dancing girls in bars - but touching was not allowed. Gary Taylor's had a boxing ring where the women performed revealing acrobatic acts after stripping then earned tips. This attracted men from Washington State to visit since their laws in this matter were much more strict.

Friday I will tell you about some highlights of Gary Taylor's career. He has done a lot.

Thank you Mr. Taylor for supplying the bio and allowing me a chance to correct the earlier version.

I hope you find the beauty around you.