Hall of Famers

I am going to take you back to 9/27/2010 when I wrote a bit about the BC Entertainment Hall of Fame and the plaques on the sidewalk. Today I want to a look at a couple and tell you a bit about some of the people.

This Vancouver born man is a larger than life personality. Thanks to Bruce Allen's radio talk show Bruce Break on JACK FM and his controversial yet popular daily commentary Reality Check on CKNW Allen has let his views be known. And sometimes they may seem a bit harsh but love him or hate him you cannot deny what Allen has done for the music scene.

Allen has brought to the forefront such musical artists as BTO, Loverboy, Martina McBride and Michael Buble as well as working with such legends as Jann Arden and Anne Murray. Bob Rock, the renowned record producer, is also a client of Allen's. But when I hear the name Bruce Allen I think of my favourite, Bryan Adams. Allen has managed to help these talented artists become the greats they deserve to be.

But Allen isn't all about music or radio. He is also noted for his tireless work for charity. Just reading what he has done makes me tired.

Since we are on the topic let's take a look at Bryan Adams. You may recall that on October 22, 2010 I wrote about Adam's recording studio - The Warehouse Studio. This singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer and photographer was born in Kingston Ontario on November 5, 1959. His father was a diplomat and young Adams travelled the world.

In 1973 Adams and his family returned to Canada and settled in Vancouver. Bryan began to pursue his love of music, singing for bands like Sweeney Todd. In fact  at fifteen Adams sang on the album If Wishes were Horses. (Thanks to my older brother who had the album it is now in my collection.)

Reports state that Adams has record sales from 65 to 100 million and numerous awards - much too many to state here. He is also a man who believes in helping others and seems to do so on a regular basis.

TDM was born in New Westminster and started his career as an RCMP officer. From 1960 and 1964 he served in Olds and Red Deer Alberta. Mulligan left the mounties and worked as a radio DJ before going to CBC and becoming the host for Good Rockin' Tonite which was a show that showcased music videos.
Terry David Mulligan also acts and it warms me whenever I see his face appear in one of my favourite shows. According to the Internet Movie Database he has appeared in 73 different titles the most recent being Hellcats.

Another great in Canada's entertainment field Sam Feldman is CEO of Canada's largest full service talent agency. S.L. Feldman & Associates has a roster that would leave a lot people permanently star struck.They represent over 250 performers.

For over thirty years Feldman has worked hard to nurture and promote talent whether it be actors or musicians. He started right out of high school promoting dances and concerts on the lower mainland. He wanted to learn more though and became doorman, and later talent booker, for a  music venue called The Daisy. In 1971 Feldman joined forces with Bruce Allen and formed A&F Music. The two managed such artists as Doug and the Slugs, Headpins and Trooper.

From those humble beginnings grew S.L. Feldman & Associates which has five divisions - S.L. Feldman & Associates, Macklam/Feldman Management, Music Supervision Services, Little Big Man Booking and Characters Talent Agency. SFLA has offices in Vancouver, Toronto and New York and over sixty employees.

These men are true success stories and represent what can be done if you have the courage to follow your passion, be yourself and work at it. Truly an inspiration to all of us.

At the stage door for the Orpheum Theatre are more plaques.

A fitting way to let passer bys know of those who have passed this way before.



This building on Granville Street is the Power Block. The art deco style exterior with terra cotta featuring Egyptian overtones was designed by architects  Townley and Matheson in 1929. But the interior was designed in 1888 by N.S. Hoffar and dates from a saloon built for Captain William Power. Power was known as the 'mayor' of North Vancouver's Moodyville.

Dominic Burns of the Burns meat-packing family expanded and renovated the Power Block in 1911, the same year that Burns had the Vancouver Block building built.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Bryan Adams, Bruce Allen,Sam Feldman,Terry David Mulligan,Trooper,history,

Did You Know

I am going to do something a little different. Today you will see an array of images of things I see around the city and I am just going to let you know some facts I have managed to glean from certain websites.

Ever wondered about city by-laws? On July 13, 1886 Vancouver City Council passed one that forbid bicycles from exceeding 8 mph. I wonder if bylaw 258 is still on the books?

On July 30, 1886 the M.A. McLean, Vancouver's first fire engine arrived in Port Moody. It was a 5,000 pound Ronald steam pumper with accessories such as four hose reels and 2,500 feet of 2 and 1/2 - inch hose that cost the city $6, 905. It was ordered a week after the Great Fire in June.

It took a four-horse team to haul it from New Westminster to Vancouver where it arrived on August 1. What excitement! The Ronald Steam pumper was state of the art with a reciprocating pump and could throw a stream of water over 150 feet. Since a new firehall was in the process of being built, the fire engine was placed in service 'under a canvas'. There was only one problem. The Vancouver fire department didn't have any horses to pull the pumper therefore it was hauled around town by the firemen.

In September of 1889 the firefighters finally got horses to pull the fire engine.

I took this photo on West Pender, just up from the Sun Tower. What treasures lie under that asphalt I wonder?

In September of 1881 an influential London  newspaper, the London Truth, stated that “British Columbia is not worth keeping. It should never have been inhabited at all. It will never pay a red cent of interest on the money that may be sunk in it.”

Hamilton Street between Hastings and Pender.

On June 29, 1878 Burrard Inlet's first newspaper appeared. The Moodyville Tickler had a short run probably due to its irreverant manner. For example the more money paid the more glowing the obituary would be. Sounds like fun though.

In 1887 William Macdougall's Advertiser began publishing in Vancouver. For a short time there were three daily newspapers in Vancouver. A settlement with a population of about 1,000.

In 1887 the Vancouver City Police got their first badges. They were made of American silver dollars with one side smoothed down and engraved Vancouver City Police and the other had a pin soldered on.

Also in the year 1887 the Oppenheimer family built a warehouse for their food wholesaling business. It still stands today as the oldest brick building in the city and the home to Bryan Adams' recording studio.

The city of Vancouver was incorporated on April 6, 1886. The ceremony was held in Jonathon Miller's house but had to be delayed. They had forgotten to bring paper to write out the details and someone had to go to the stationery store to buy paper.

In 1891 there was a population of about 13,000 in Vancouver. Six years before there were 400 and a year later at the time of incorporation there was 1,000. According to a 2006 census there are 578,041 people living in the city of Vancouver and I am sure it has grown in the last six years.

A lot seemed to happen in 1887. Four women known as the Hallelujah Lassies began an very worthwhile organization here in Vancouver. We know it as the Salvation Army.

July 1 1887 was the day that Vancouver became a customs port of entry.

E.T. Wade proudly became Surrey's first Police Constable in 1887. He was even prouder when a year later they gave him a gun and handcuffs.

Yesterday I said that there is beauty all around us if we look for it. And that is partially what this entry is about. Most of these photos are sitting on my computer because they don't have a story yet or fit in with another story yet I like what I saw. Like this sunflower.

I took this photo on the Friday before Labour Day but it didn't fit in anywhere. But I kept it because it looks so good. Or consider this one.

This is October, the weather is turning colder and the sunny days we have been experiencing lately are to end tomorrow. Yet this flower is as brilliant in color as it was in the spring time. The sheer tenacity, the will it has to continue is something that many of us can aspire to.

That was fun. At least I enjoyed it and I will have to do it again. I have so many facts to relate, so many more photos that are odd ones out and so many more posts.

I hope you find the beauty around you.

TAGS:Vancouver, Karen Magill, Bryan Adams, Ronald Steam Pumper,Oppenheimer,Salvation Army,walk,history,