I have always loved going through my grandparents’ old photo albums showing their houses, streets, and activities that took place when Vancouver was still being shaped into what it has become today. One of my most cherished photos of my Opa (grandfather) is one that was taken by legendary street photographer Foncie Pulice on Granville in 1956.
From 1934 to 1979, Foncie Pulice set up his camera on Vancouver city sidewalks and snapped candid shots of people strolling by. For almost half a century, he took thousands of photos, unwittingly capturing moments in time, the history of a city, and the lives of British Columbians.
When you knew you were looking good, strutting your stuff down Granville Street, you made sure to get that Foncie Foto. The photos were taken head-to-toe and they were great, mostly candid shots when you were just being yourself, walking along the street. And if Foncie caught your eye, he captured you smiling back at his friendly face. [About Foncie]
I came across the photo a few years ago and it inspired me to write a blog post about Foncie. I also contributed it to the Foncie Pulice group on Flickr where others have uploaded and shared their own photographs.
Vancouver memories that Foncie’s Fotos brings back to British Columbians are heart-warming. They are of loved ones long gone, the beginning of relationships now celebrating decades of marriage, family shopping excursions, Sunday walks in Stanley Park, Hi-Y initiations, long hot summer days, and wonderful teenage years of movies, dances, and cruising with friends on Granville Street. That was a time when downtown really was the centre of just about everything in Vancouver and people dressed to the nines when they went out. And they got their picture taken.
Just last week I received an email through my contact form about a new project from a local filmmaking team. They are collecting, cataloging, and sharing stories about Foncie’s photos through a “Digital Street Corner” hosted by Knowledge Network. This project is leading to a documentary by Melanie Wood that will air in August of this year.
Photo negatives of Foncie’s images do not exist. He destroyed most of them when he retired. Until now there was no central archive or collection. The images and memories you share will become part of this extensive collection, tracing a timeline through the heart of Vancouver. Your shared images could even become part of a documentary about Foncie and his work. This is a story about Vancouver, about British Columbia, and about it’s people… so we need your help.
If you have any photos by Foncie Pulice that you would like to contribute to this archive you can upload them to the Foncie’s Corner section of the Knowledge Network site. Stories are encouraged if you want to share those as well.
The Vancouver International Auto Show is coming up March 26th to March 31st, 2013 at the Vancouver Convention Centre West showing off the hottest vehicle trends and technology. The most powerful brands on the road today will be represented and consumers will be able to get up close with the latest models, collectors, and more.
Hours
Tuesday, March 26, 2013 to Thursday, March 28, 2013 from 12:00pm to 10:00pm
Friday, March 29, 2013 to Saturday, March 30, 2013 from 10:00am to 10:00pm
Sunday, March 31, 2013 from 10:00am to 6:00pm
Location
Vancouver Convention Centre West (Canada Place)
Tickets
General Admission $15; Seniors (65+) $10; Students (valid ID required) $10; Children 7-12 (when accompanied by an adult) $4. Family Passes for 2 adults and 2 children 12 and under are $30, and Multi-Day Passes (good for any 2 days) are $25. Taxes and/or fees, may apply to these prices. Tickets are available online or at the door.
The Vancouver International Auto Show will feature exotic cars, trucks, Classic Alley (collector car showcase), and the Red Line Stage that will host a roster of guest speakers. The new Green Ride and Drive will allow consumers to test drive some of the ‘greenest’ vehicles on the market. There is also an Auto Show Preview Gala on Monday, March 25, 2013 with a reception followed by a sit-down dinner in the ballroom.
If you would like to check out out all of the auto action I have a family 4-pack of tickets to give away. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 5:00pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013. Follow the Vancouver International Auto Show on Facebook and Twitter for more information.
Update The winner is Gordon!
The Vancouver International Auto Show is coming up next week so with all of the event notifications I’m receiving this week I have cars on the brain. Therefore in the search for today’s Vancouver history piece, Canada’s first gas station came to mind.
1920 – Imperial Oil at 590 Hornby St. Donated by J.E. Hayden. Archives # LP 295.
Vancouver was the home of the first service station in the country when Imperial Oil opened up on the corner of Smithe and Cambie in 1907. According to Chuck Davis’ History of Metropolitan Vancouver, the first car to appear in Vancouver was a Stanley Steamer, in 1899. The first gasoline-powered car arrived in 1904.
The opening of the gas station is actually very well-documented as the Founder of the Vancouver Archives, Major J.S. Matthews, worked as an employee of Imperial Oil at the time (he was in his twenties).
“One day, the telephone rang. The call came from the Hastings Sawmill and the speaker asked me if we had any gasoline which could be used in automobiles.
The office boy replied that we had three kinds: One was ‘74’-brand Baume gasoline and was supplied to drug stores, who sold it to ladies for cleaning their gloves; the second kind was deodorized stove gasoline, used in plumber’s firepots for heating soldering irons, and the third kind was benzine, used for dissolving lacquer in the salmon canneries along the Fraser to prevent the salmon cans from rusting.
The office boy went to the warehouse and told the foreman to send a four-gallon can of ’74’ down to John Hendry, manager of the mill.
That can was the first gasoline ever sold in British Columbia for motorcar use.”
1925 – Pacific at Seymour. Dominion Photo Co. Archives #CVA 1399-530
Left: 1938 – Imperial Oil Service Station Connaught Drive. VPL Number: 15928. Photographer: Leonard Frank.
Right: 1933 – Imperial Oil Granville at 11th. VPL Number: 70726. Photographer: King Studio.
After a while the number of vehicles in Vancouver grew, from a handful to perhaps two hands full, yet the method used to refill their tanks was inefficient and dangerous. “So a 13-gallon (59-litre) kitchen hot-water tank was procured and a length of rubber garden-hose was attached to it.” A night watchman, J.C. Rollston, was the first attendant, they got him a chair (his wife made a cushion for it) and he sat in a corrugated tin shed. The country’s first gas station was established.
“…Ofttimes as I passed and waved good morning, [Rollston] would call out, ‘I’ve been busy this morning!’
‘How many?’ I would call, and he would answer back, ‘Three cars this morning!’ Two local bicycle shops began selling gasoline, which they bought from Imperial for 20 cents a gallon and sold for 40. [Vancouver History]
Chuck Davis writes: “Some have claimed that Imperial’s station was the first in the world. Not by a long shot. There’s no doubt, however, that Vancouver’s first service station was also Canada’s first.”
The following post has been contributed by writer, director, and producer Sean Horlor.
Imagine if you could’ve chatted with Tarantino as he was writing the script for Reservoir Dogs. Or debated Spielberg on what kind of alien he should create for ET.
CineCoup Film Accelerator — a Vancouver-based company — is giving film fans the chance to do exactly that. Over the next eleven weeks, you can watch, rate and vote for 90 Canadian filmmaking teams and help select one team to qualify for a $1M production budget to shoot their feature film.
The final team standing will also receive a guaranteed theatrical release in Canadian theaters by Cineplex in 2014. Not too shabby, considering only 3% of the total films screened in theaters across Canada every year are made by Canadian filmmakers.
Each filmmaking team also submits weekly mission videos to showcase their talent and cinematic skills, so you can check back every week for something fresh until the winning film is selected on June 12, 2012.
The CineCoup Film Accelerator is a disruptive model for indie filmmakers to develop, market and finance their feature films. Filmmaking teams apply to CineCoup with a two-minute trailer then advance through a gamified selection funnel that’s designed to package their projects and build fan support on the CineCoup social web platform.
Applications for filmmakers are now closed and we’re currently in the “Social Selection” phase until April 28, 2013. Fans on the site cast votes to set ranking for the films and can become “Super Fans“, earning more clout on CineCoup to cast votes.
As one of the 32 competing teams from Vancouver this year, I can tell you that we all want to get the city behind us and help make a local filmmaker’s dreams come true. It’s also a chance for Vancouverites to get out and support BC’s film industry.
Take a look at the trailer for my project below. The Mill and the Mountain is a thriller inspired by one of the most infamous stretches of highway in North America.
Don’t forget to support all the other incredible, Vancouver talent in this competition by visiting the ‘British Columbia’ tab on Cinecoup’s site here.
Personal trainer, reality show personality, talk show host and entrepreneur Jillian Michaels is bringing her Maximize Your Life Tour to Vancouver on April 9, 2013. From Tallahassee to Toronto, Jillian will be engaging audiences in a two-hour show to Imagine. Believe. Achieve. and provide inspiration.
When: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 7:30pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Vancouver
Tickets: On sale now for $39, $79, $149 (including HST, plus service charges/fees). Purchase tickets through Ticketmaster outlets, online through Live Nation, or charge by phone at 1-855-985-5000.
Promising an evening of inspiration that will forever motivate and change lives, America’s health and wellness guru Jillian Michaels is set to launch her first ever “Maximize Your Life” tour this spring. Kicking-off April 4th in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the tour touches down in 35 cities across the United States and Canada, wrapping up May 21 in Toronto.
In this intimate and uniquely personal experience, Jillian shows how to harness your potential, kick-start your goals and live an exceptional life – sharing her keys to health, success and happiness. No hype, no false promises: just results.
I have a pair of tickets to give away to this unique opportunity with Jillian Michaels in Vancouver. Here’s how you can enter to win:
- Leave a comment on this post (1 entry)
- Post the following on Twitter (1 entry)
I will draw one winner at random from all entries at 12:00pm on Monday, March 25, 2013.
Update The winner is Eric!
