To: Patrick Foldes
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 3:01 PM
Subject: Old Willowdale
Howdy Patrick
Sun is finally out here today - been a while. The City of Moose Jaw has a special snowplow policy for this time of year. Wait until spring.
Thought you might enjoy this site - can't remember if I sent it to you. I'll have him post a few more of us at the old house in Willowdale.
- Richard Dowson
http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn.htm
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To: Richard Dowson
ReplyDeleteSent: Tuesday, January 11, 2011 4:30 PM
Subject: Re: Old Willowdale
Richard: Yes, you sent the images. Was Kenny Al's younger brother, or the other way round? Seems to me it was a large family, lived on Bishop east of Yonge, in a basement. There were a number of those "houses" in that area, left-overs maybe from the Dirty Thirties, and not finally built on top as a full houses until the 'fifties. There were two abandoned basement excavations, southeast corner, of Holmes and Kenneth. We used to play in them as children. One always had a frozen surface in the winter, the other was already filling up with small trees and vegetation. They must have been casualties of the Thirties as well. Bungalows were eventually built there in the Fifties. I remember from my childhood, a very young memory, it was said that one of the Hepburn's had dropped a cat off the Yonge St. viaduct over the Don River (still exists under the 401) to see if it would land on its feet. Didn't Al Hepburn work on the North York garbage truck? I think you or Wick told me that when Al went west, somewhere along the road, he picked up a garbage can and threw it into a ravine and said, "That's the last garbage can Al Hepburn will ever throw!" I hope the anecdote is true.
- Patrick
From: Richard Dowson
ReplyDeleteTo: Patrick Folkes
Cc: John Dowson ; Strathdee
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 5:53 PM
Subject: Re: Old Willowdale
Greetings Patrick
Yes - you are bang on. And Kenny was the youngest of the bunch. He married young - worked as an entertainer - was a good friend of my brother John's and then left full time entertainment to live in the country and drive school bus.
Not sure which one would have dropped the cat but it sounds like John Hepburn. He's the one who was pissed - driving the Hydro truck and hit a train at the level crossing in King City in the early fifties.
And I think the house started out as the basement type - and the main floor was built in the late forties when there was more money.
You think back - most of our families had very little money.
And he did work for the garbage and did throw the can down a coulee and express contentment at the end of his 'trade'. He was a fun guy and I enjoyed working with him. At one point we were running a fence line - three miles of it - and decided we should work without clothes since it was hot and we each wanted a tan. At lunch break Al fell asleep and got a sunburned ass - so bad he couldn't sit for three days.
We still have managed to keep winter here in Moose Jaw
- Richard
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: Richard Dowson
Cc: John Dowson ; charles dowson ; Russ Strathdee
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 7:57 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
those are great - lots of memories there - and like Chuck I was impressed with the shot of Ron and did zero in on the old store at the end of the street. I always remember it as Stevenson's Red and White - when I was little it was just Stevenson's. I remember mom sitting me on the counter while she paid for the groceries and the huge ball of string on the ceiling used to tie the parcel. The post office was also in that building - at the back on the north side. The floors were dark wood planks. It was quite the day when the new post office, down the road on Yonge street was built. Then of course when the A & P grocery store was built on the east side of Yonge the Red and White closed. We should all write down our memories of old Willowdale and put them together for the library...might be quite interesting - and include the old Willowdale characters...those were the days when, if you hung around the streets with nothing to do and no place to go the cops would pick you up and use the VAG charge...vagrancy (sp?) Too bad they can't use that today. I worked for the Summons Office that was in the Police station and hated Monday mornings when all the VAGS were brought in to be processed in front of the Justice of the Peace...Memories!!!
- Mary Dowson
From: charles dowson
ReplyDeleteTo: Mary and Ray Harris ; Richard 2 Dowson
Cc: John Dowson ; strathdee@primus.ca
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 9:59 AM
Subject: RE: Willowdale Photos
...........and getting or hair cut as little lads in the '50's at the corner barber shop. I always wanted to check out the Playboy mags they had there and we'd often take a quick peek leaning forward from our waiting chairs. Those chairs had big curved chrome arms and were stiffly plump and in an off color vinyl. The walls were a salmon colour and we'd always get a little roll of CeeDee candies for being good.
In the back was the ladies beauty parlour and it was attended for years by this dark haired gay fellow maybe someone will remember him. When you think about how fortunate we were to have such conveniences so close and in walking distance.
From 68 Parkview there was the Willow, the Coffee Cup, the Library, the Memorial Swimming Pool and why was it called that? Then there was the A&P, the barber shop, Parkview Fashions for the ladies, the local cop shop if you had a beef with a neighbour, Earl Haig, McKee Public school,Keith's Hobby Shop, Beckers for last minute milk and bread, Ollies or Dacks as it once was called for comics and candy bought with money you swiped from you mom's purse. I remember having this big thing for Cherry Blossoms. One time after pilfering 25 cents I got one from Ollies and ate it in a hurry while hiding behind the big tree at 11 Parkview so that Mrs. Waddell wouldn't see me and tell mom.
Then when the Northtown PLaza opened up we were in heavy. We really felt we had made it as a middle class. Wandering from store to store on Christmas eve listening to piped over Christmas music and making like you had money. There was a local doctor on Doris just down from the Northtown on the corner of McKee and the last part of Doris. Any chipped bones, cuts or serious injuries were taken there. That was where I first went to get medical aid when I fell from my bike and hit my head on McKee in front of the school.1962 Paul Gatzos ran home to tell mom and the both of them ran back to the school. A neighbour saw me, put me in their car and drove me to the doc. Mom not finding me and seeing the bike ran to where she knew I'd be at the doc's place on Doris. Gat took my bike home.
Oh ya and the old dairy at the north east corner of Yonge and McKee. Just north of there was Don's Fish and Chips and Pirris Fruit Market. Don't forget that you could walk to church to St. Georges at Church and Yonge on the north west side. ABC Music supplied what you needed in the '60s just north of the plaza. I got my first set of drums there.
News at 11.
- Chuck.
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: charles dowson ; Richard 2 Dowson
Cc: John Dowson ; strathdee@primus.ca ; Michael Keys ; Lorraine Halstead Wood ; Lorraine & Bruce Kleinstuber ; Elaine Higgins ; Grant Parsons
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:01 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Well, Mr. D - very good writing and lots of good memories here - You were lucky to have grown up with the Memorial Pool - your older siblings had to take a bus to York Mills or to Thornhill. The Thornhill pool was still there last time I looked. Every time I smell an orange creamsycle it brings back memories of the Thornhill Pool. We lost the York Mills Pool during Hurricane Hazel, as well as the skating rink that the Jolly Miller had in the winter (of course - can't skate in the summer) . Now - if you were a young lady, in search of a young man - what better place to find one than at the Jolly Miller skating rink. Skating round that old tree, in the middle of the rink to the music of the old song 'I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts' ? Us girls loved the 'stocking caps' because the boys loved to yank them off your head and you were FORCED to chase after them. We carried on that tradition at Mitchell Field as well.
When I was growing up in Willowdale, most of what you needed in the 40s was located at the 'Limits' . If you needed new shoes your mother took you, by streetcar, down Yonge St. to the Limits to the shoe store called Browns Shoes. All the clothing stores, etc. came to Willowdale in my early teens. The Police station was on the corner of Ellerslie and Yonge, across from the Willow Theatre. Speaking of which, I remember doing cartwheels on the stage of the Willow theatre before it opened...
I did help myself to the odd nickel or dime - confession time - but the only place I could spend it was at Elliot's Drugs on the west side of Yonge. We were all careful and Leary about crossing such a busy street because poor Kenny Beaton had been struck by a car while attempting to cross Yonge Street and nearly killed. I think he was about 9 years old. There were few stores in that stretch of Willowdale until I was about 11 or 12, as I recall. When I was about 17 Parkview Fashions opened - my downfall. I ended up having to work for them to pay back my overdue account. There was also a ladies clothing store further up the block. I can't remember the name at the moment. The Student Council of Earl Haig had voted that all girls were to wear a uniform and this particular clothing store sold them. The year would have been about 1954. Come to think of it I think the store was called Bonnie View Fashions. They were next to Owens Men's wear. They all seemed to open about the same time. It was a strip of stores that also included Lubins Furniture, McKee Photo shop, a shoe store as well as Grant's gifts.
By the way Chuck, Beckers was originally the Andrews Meat Market. I remember when that place was built and the family lived upstairs and the father ran the grocery/butcher shop on the main level. They were a nice family. I was very good friends of their daughter Donna.
Chuck mentions the beauty Salon - would that be Peters? The closest we had was our mother's scissors. But when I was 12 mom allowed me to have my very long hair cut and it was done in Lansing. I still have the braids - yes indeedee....I had mom's hair for many years, but did part with it about 2 years ago...
So, lots of memories of our years in Willowdale. You drive up Yonge Street now and it's all gone. It's been replaced with hundreds of ugly signs advertising all sorts...from the 401 right up to Thornhill. It's terrible. I don't understand how the City can allow what they have. It used to be a lovely place to walk up and down , but not anymore.
I've copied a couple of Willowdale ladies on this email - they might have something else to add. I'm sure they will....
- Mary (Dowson) Harris
Hi there....I happily stumbled across this "old willowdale" web-site a few days ago. I grew up on Hounslow Avenue in the 60's. My mother still lives the same house.
DeleteI thought that I had seen a photo of the Orange Bowl Restaurant a week or so ago, posted on this site. Was I mistaken? I can't seem to find it and I'd love to see it again, if someone could direct me to it.
Does anyone remember, Piggott Ford (at Yonge and Kempford)? Aikenhead Hardware (at Northtown) and the Canadian Tire (also at Yonge and Kempford)?
Love the memories
Craig Kowalchuk
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: Richard Dowson ; Strathdee
Cc: John Dowson ; Charles Dowson ; Michael Keys
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:02 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Question - why did Pat Folkes have the same jacket as Jamesy
- Mary (Dowson) Harris
From: Russ Strathdee
ReplyDeleteTo: Richard Dowson ; Mary Harris
Cc: Michael Keys ; Charles Dowson ; John Dowson
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Answer:
Those red wool (melton cloth?) jackets were the IN thing. It was a guy thing.
You had to have one of those jackets or you were very square.
I had one. Al Hepburn and Kenny Hepburn had one. I think Doug (The Lip) Tarpley had one. They were quite warm.
When we had reunion in the fall I wanted to buy one to wear for nostalgia's sake but I don't think you can get them anymore. The closest I could come was to order a hockey team jacket but that would have been no good because of the team crests.
- Russ
From: Russ Strathdee
ReplyDeleteTo: Mary Harris
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 9:51 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Hi Mary
I added your comments to that page:
http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosDowson2.htm
along with Zoomed in photos.
Maybe the rest of your family will like this too.
- Russ
To: Richard 2 Dowson ; strathdee@primus.ca
ReplyDeleteCc: John Dowson ; Mary and Ray Harris
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 12:24 AM
Subject: RE: Willowdale Photos
Rich. Saw some of these earlier. Thanks. I really am taken back by the early morning one of Wicker and his Ford..WOW! Time travel. If you download and then zoom in you can see the old store at the end of the street on the other side of Yonge. It later housed a barber shop. Then they moved next door to Parkview Fashions. I can still see the barbers face. A nice tall guy with big face features and he wore the barber white top with the double buttoned front.
Nice.
- CHuck :)
From: Russ Strathdee
ReplyDeleteTo: John Dowson ; Shirley Howes ; Bev Spencer
Sent: Wednesday, January 12, 2011 12:49 AM
Subject: Re: Black & White Photos
Hi Bev
Your photos are on this page:
http://rstrathdee.com/willow/photosHepburn2.htm
That one of the Model A - I think Al ended up with that car didn't he? I seem to remember him driving me around in it when he first got it - he was so proud of it. We pulled into a gas station on Yonge and I vaguely recall the price of gas was 35 cents / gallon.
- Russ
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: charles dowson ; Richard 2 Dowson
Cc: John Dowson ; strathdee@primus.ca ; Michael Keys
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Well more memories - The local doctor would be Dr. Bette Stephenson - she lived in the old family farm house on the corner of old Doris and McKee - Next door was Dorothy Stephenson and her family. They ran the Stephenson's dairy. Dr. Bette's brother in law Weiss ran the gas station across the road from the Willow - east side..
Dr. Bette was much younger than Dr. MacAteer and Dr. Johns...I remember going with Mom to the wedding of Dr. Better and her husband Dr. Allan Pengelly. There is a new building up on Yonge St. in Oak Ridges called the Dr. Bette Stephenson Learning center. She was the minister of Education at one point. She is the only person left - if she's still alive - to call me Mary Margaret. Imagine mom running all the way from Parkview to Mckee - probably through the field from Norton to McKee...I had a similar situation with our eldest son Steve when he fell off his bike. He was badly hurt. By the way, Dorothy Stephenson married - I think - Fred Gummersall. She was widowed many years ago. We see her once a year at the annual Nov. 11 memorial service, in Aurora . She represents a branch of the medical corp., I think. She's always dressed in an old nursing uniform. I do remember buying milk from the Stephensons dairy - the buildings were painted dark green..
OK - firttered away most of the morning.
- Mary
From: Elaine Reynolds
ReplyDeleteTo: Mary Harris
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:32 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Hi Mary,
Instead of Bonnie View, why do I remember the name "Francine's"? Was it Francines at one time, then sold to Bonnie View? Really great memories. Seems Higgins Radio was not mentioned. Being lots of kids came in to have their favourite 45s ordered, then saved under the counter, usually until Friday(s). Allowance day???
Good stuff!!!
- Elaine.
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: Elaine Reynolds
Cc: charles dowson ; Richard 1 Dowson ; John Dowson ; Russ Strathdee ; Michael Keys ; Lorraine Halstead Wood ; Lorraine & Bruce Kleinstuber ; Elaine Higgins ; Grant Parsons
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 12:41 PM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
- Mary Harris
Hi Elaine - Well, Higgins radio wasn't forgotten - that would be in the next block to the south- we remember it well. Our mother bought her very first refrigerator from your dad, on time.(remember it was called On Time - rather than credit?) It was pink and I was about 16 - imagine...My mother in law won a contest that your dad had - that would be about 1957. I'm sorry i don't remember Francine's - but maybe. I'm sure I ordered and bought 45s from your dad. I remember him well....Yonge, south of Kingsdale. What year did he open the store Elaine?
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: Russ Strathdee
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 1:10 PM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
OK - I have the answer - sort of like a Red coat club. Funny - On my first date with Ray, we double dated with Doug Tarpley and his then girlfriend Violet Lee. They were quite the item until their parents got wind of it - she Chinese and him Anglo - that was a no no back then. I am still in contact with Vi -
As for Karen's comments on the photo of Barbara - I can't answer that Russ as I didn't really chum with that crowd - ask me about Shirley German, Isabel Gibson, Sheila Maluski , etc...and I could answer - OR - anyone in the band...as I remember you....Wish I could help, but Karen is very knowledgeable about many people at the Haig. She's probably right.
- mary
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: charles dowson ; Richard 2 Dowson
Cc: John Dowson ; strathdee@primus.ca ; Michael Keys
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 11:09 AM
Subject: Re: Willowdale Photos
Well more memories - The local doctor would be Dr. Bette Stephenson - she lived in the old family farm house on the corner of old Doris and McKee - Next door was Dorothy Stephenson and her family. They ran the Stephenson's dairy. Dr. Bette's brother in law Weiss ran the gas station across the road from the Willow - east side..
Dr. Bette was much younger than Dr. MacAteer and Dr. Johns...I remember going with Mom to the wedding of Dr. Better and her husband Dr. Allan Pengelly. There is a new building up on Yonge St. in Oak Ridges called the Dr. Bette Stephenson Learning center. She was the minister of Education at one point. She is the only person left - if she's still alive - to call me Mary Margaret. Imagine mom running all the way from Parkview to Mckee - probably through the field from Norton to McKee...I had a similar situation with our eldest son Steve when he fell off his bike. He was badly hurt. By the way, Dorothy Stephenson married - I think - Fred Gummersall. She was widowed many years ago. We see her once a year at the annual Nov. 11 memorial service, in Aurora . She represents a branch of the medical corp., I think. She's always dressed in an old nursing uniform. I do remember buying milk from the Stephensons dairy - the buildings were painted dark green..
OK - firttered away most of the morning...
- Mary
From: Facebook
ReplyDeleteTo: Russell Strathdee
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 6:04 PM
Subject: Karen Cronk Druchok sent you a message on Facebook...
Karen Cronk DruchokJanuary 13, 2011 at 9:04pm...
The girl named Barbara was Barb Gelhoff (phonetically) and was a friend of Helen Nanof who went with Doug Farrow in the fifties. I did not know her well, but she lived on one of the streets behind where I live and her son went to school with my daughter.
-Karen
From: Bev Spencer
ReplyDeleteTo: Russ Strathdee
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 3:06 PM
Subject: Re: Fw: Karen Cronk Druchok posted on your Wall.
Hi Russ
Karen could be right about the name. It does ring a bell. She seemed to hang out with Nora & I for a short time
then I guess went on to a more racey crowd. (lol) Nora & I just hung around singing songs & walking all over Willowdale.
Take care
- Bev
From: Don Brown
ReplyDeleteTo: Russ Strathdee
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 10:31 PM
Subject: WILLOWDALE PHOTOS
Hi Russ,
Thanks for sending the photos & updates. I already had some of them, but there were some I hadn't.
In the Richard Dowson Collection, there was a good pic of Ron Drury (Wick). In 1954, I worked at Maclean-Hunter during the summer (I was 16 at the time.) I remember Ron working there too. I think I may have worked on some of the same equipment as he did then. Ron was full-time, but I was only part-time and going back to school in the Fall. In those days, Ron's nickname at M-H, was "Fats."
In John Musgrave's Slide Show #3, would that be Trevor Sumpter on the right of Bobby Faulkner? They're both wearing their bop-glasses.
If I remember correctly, I believe one of those guys was the uncle of the other one.
I just thought I'd mention also, when I saw the photo of Doug Farrow sitting on his bike, that his was a black bike with the letters, "Fabe" on the side of the gas tank. (That was back in the days of the Willowdale Outlaws.)
I may have some old Willowdale pics myself and will let you know if I think they would be of any interest to anyone.
-Don.
From: Mary Harris
ReplyDeleteTo: Elaine (Higgins) Reynolds
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2011 12:41:49 -0500
Hi Elaine - Well, Higgins radio wasn't forgotten - that would be in the next block to the south- we remember it well. Our mother bought her very first refrigerator from your dad, on time.(remember it was called On Time - rather than credit?) It was pink and I was about 16 - imagine...My mother in law won a contest that your dad had - that would be about 1957. I'm sorry i don't remember Francine's - but maybe. I'm sure I ordered and bought 45s from your dad. I remember him well....Yonge, south of Kingsdale. What year did he open the store Elaine?
- Mary
From: Don Brown
ReplyDeleteTo: Russ Strathdee
Sent: Friday, January 14, 2011 10:31 PM
Subject: WILLOWDALE PHOTOS
Hi Russ,
Thanks for sending the photos & updates. I already had some of them, but there were some I hadn't.
In the Richard Dowson Collection, there was a good pic of Ron Drury (Wick). In 1954, I worked at Maclean-Hunter during the summer (I was 16 at the time.) I remember Ron working there too. I think I may have worked on some of the same equipment as he did then. Ron was full-time, but I was only part-time and going back to school in the Fall. In those days, Ron's nickname at M-H, was "Fats."
In John Musgrave's Slide Show #3, would that be Trevor Sumpter on the right of Bobby Faulkner? They're both wearing their bop-glasses.
If I remember correctly, I believe one of those guys was the uncle of the other one.
I just thought I'd mention also, when I saw the photo of Doug Farrow sitting on his bike, that his was a black bike with the letters, "Fabe" on the side of the gas tank. (That was back in the days of the Willowdale Outlaws.)
I may have some old Willowdale pics myself and will let you know if I think they would be of any interest to anyone.
- Don.
From: charles dowson
ReplyDeleteTo: Mary and Ray Harris
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2011 12:07 AM
Yes old Higgins Radio!! Then there was the Yonge Garden Chinese Restaurant, Vic Tone Cleaners one block north of Sheppard on the west side, Nelsons meat market, The Spring Garden restaurant at the corner of Yonge and Spring Garden, St. Eds Catholic Church, Landsing Lumber, the Orange Bowl restaurant and the bowling alley just south of Sheppard on the west side. The bowling alley at Empress and Young east side. Feel free to step in.....Russ. You should advertise for photos in the local paper. Now days people don't have to sacrifice what they have as they can e mail them to you.
- Chuck
Sent: Thursday, January 13, 2011 4:09 PM
ReplyDeleteSubject: Karen Cronk Druchok posted on your Wall.
Karen wrote:
"Hi Russ, I was just looking at the pictures you posted and you asked about the one of the girl named Barb. She was Barb Gotthelf (that's phonetic) and she chummed around with Helen Nanoff (Spence) Doug Farrow's girlfriend at the time. She married someone named Brunton and my daughter went to school with her son. Hope you and your family are having a great New Year. Talk to you soon."
I am Al Hepburn's sister-in-law. I am enjoying reading your comments about Kenny and Al as my husband, Gord & I went to Cape Cod with them many years ago, along with Georgina (Gord's sister and Al's wife) and Ann, Ken's wife. Al died of lung cancer a few years back in B.C. We lived in North York for many years and I recognize all the stores, etc. you mentioned. We were at the house on Bishop Ave. many times. It was Al & Kenny's brother, Don (the second oldest) who owned the house and Al rented the basement. We also lived in the Georgian Court Apts. where Al & Georgie lived too on Sheppard Ave. near Willowdale Ave.
ReplyDeleteGreat to hear from you, Al's sister-in-law.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Al rented the basement on Bishop. I hope he got a discount for putting up with the smell of that Potatoe Champagne that Don was always brewing next to the furnace in a big stone crock. LOL
- Russ
We watched a TV special on the History of Rock and Roll on Yonge St. in T.O. a few days ago and they had the names of some old bands listed in the background and one of them was "Al Hepburn and the Hound Dogs". We have an album by Kenny and Al played the guitar and sang, but does anyone know if that would be the same Al Hepburn that we knew that had a band called A.H. & The H.D.'s? I kind of doubt it. - Linda
ReplyDeleteHi Linda
ReplyDeleteThat would DEFINITELY be the same Al. One of the producers of that Bravo show, Jan Houst, discovered some rare photos of Jackie Shane on my web site, called me and we discussed some of the history of rock n roll in Toronto. I mentioned having played sax with AH and the HDs. Maybe that's why he listed them in the background. Also, I played sax on that album Kenny did called "Twangy Guitar"... the Hepburns were "iconic" in the early days of music in Willowdale, which was a suburb of Toronto. - Russ
Hi Russ:
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting us know that is indeed the Al Hepburn who is a relation. (I was going to ask Al's wife the next time I spoke to her in B.C.) Gord, my husband, has Kenny's album "Sleepwalk". Did you play on that one too? Al's daughter, Georgia, is very musical and has a terrific singing voice and plays the piano and the guitar. She sang at our daughter's wedding in Willowdale in 1994. - Linda
Russ, my husband wondered if you knew George Griffith? He played guitar and sang and worked with Gord for many years at Maclean Hunter at 401 & Yonge. George knew Ronnie Hawkins and played with him.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda
ReplyDeleteThe name George Griffith doesn't spring to mind. I remember Maclean Hunter though. Ronnie Hawkins asked me if I would like to play in his band once. Playing with Ronnie was like a school of hard knocks for rock n roll musicians in Toronto. I opted to NOT go there. - Russ
Hi Russ: I spoke to my sister-in-law, Georgina, today in B.C. (Al's wife) and she remembers you. She said you played at their wedding (reception). I can't for the life of me remember a party afterwards with music. Al and her got married Nov. 15, 1960, I do know that. Anyway, I printed off copies of some of the pictures of Al on here and am mailing them to her. She can't wait to see them.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda
ReplyDeleteIf you want to do direct email with me, go to this page: http://www.rstrathdee.com/contact2.htm
and submit a comment - that way I can get your email address and respond with my email address.
- Russ
p.s. I remember Al and Georgina got married in a little church, I think on Avenue Rd.