Historic Vancouver Photos

[Metro-One]

:previous: Thanks for the video!

I can hear the birth of the Vancouver NIMBY... "Dang that Marine Building, way to tall, to many lights on at night and destroying the mountain views!"

hehe.

[entheosfog]

I was going through some old boxes and came across an issue of the Province I had from when I visited Vancouver back in September 1996 and this was on page 5, The Abbott House:

http://img695.imageshack.us/img695/3171/heritagehouse.jpg

Kinda reminds me of what's happening with The Homer, minus the being suspended over the pit part...

[entheosfog]

And I came across this sticker as well, not bought from Expo 86 but at a flea market in Calgary a number of years ago:

http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/1176/expo86decal.jpg

[ckkelley]

:previous:
Ha! Thanks for that. What a trip.

[SFUVancouver]

Of interest - came across this book preview while Googling - talks about the freeway fight, etc.:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false

An interesting visual comparison of what 54 years of growth did to downtown Vancouver:

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/4678/vancouverchanging.png
Source: Vancouver Ltd. (care of Google Books) (http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false) pp.8-9


The CPR land grant was just astounding, yet completely worth it for bringing the railway terminus to Vancouver. The land grant is probably as large as all of Port Moody at the time of its loss of the terminus.

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8937/cprlandgrant.png
Source: Vancouver Ltd. (care of Google Books) (http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false) p.12



The second CPR Hotel Vancouver. The current one is actually the third.
http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/5199/hotelvancouverno2.png
Source: Vancouver Ltd. (care of Google Books) (http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false) p.16



Check out those prices.
http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7279/cprrealestatedevelopmen.png
Source: Vancouver Ltd. (care of Google Books) (http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false) p.18


The numbers Walter Hardwick quoted proved to be pretty dead on, which is remarkable considering the recession that hit not long after this prediction.
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/8008/caseforasubwaycirca1975.png
Source: Vancouver Ltd. (care of Google Books) (http://books.google.ca/books?id=tchhd4FUS98C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_v2_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q=&f=false) p.22

[officedweller]

Thanks for posting.
Looks like that last pic may be of the site for 1500 West Georgia.

[Stingray2004]

Yeah, that's the site for the Crown Life Building, now known as 1500 W. Georgia.

[PaperTiger]

Not often you get to see colour photography from this far back, let alone film (or video):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wo95I5uKbyY&feature=player_embedded


PS: another noobie here, no idea how to imbed the video from youtube.

[twoNeurons]

Remove the spaces from this:
[ youtube ]wo95I5uKbyY[/ youtube ]

And you get this:
wo95I5uKbyY

That video ID is in the URL after "v" which means... video:

youtube.com/watch?v=wo95I5uKbyY&feature=player_embedded

[Locked In]

^ That's terrific! Great shots of the Marine building towering over downtown and the bustling streets complete with street cars.
Is there still a Harding memorial in Stanley Park?

[Polelum]

A website to visit: http://oldmaps.ca/van1934/

[SFUVancouver]

Remove the spaces from this:
[ youtube ]wo95I5uKbyY[/ youtube ]

And you get this:
wo95I5uKbyY

That video ID is in the URL after "v" which means... video:

youtube.com/watch?v=wo95I5uKbyY&feature=player_embedded

Thank you for explanation.

[Stingray2004]

Some Historic Odds and Ends:

Newly Opened Expo Boulevard - 1984 - Surrounded By a Brownfield Moonscape:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/3069391074_227857074a.jpg

And Vancouver's Changing Social Fabric:

Stanley Park "Be-In" - 1970 - Guess Hair Salons Were Not A Profitable Venture

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3098764455_99c1c7f6e5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3098763613_6f684179c4.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3098763507_29b621dbe9.jpg

Easter "Be-In" - 1971

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3098764035_c3c3e555f0.jpg

Rolling Stones Concert - Ticket Line-Up - 1972

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3068370551_8c305457c7.jpg

Source: Flickr - Canadagood

[s211]

Stanley Park "Be-In" - 1970 - Guess Hair Salons Were Not A Profitable Venture

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3244/3098764455_99c1c7f6e5.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3102/3098763613_6f684179c4.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3002/3098763507_29b621dbe9.jpg


Where hippie met filth. YAWN.

[SFUVancouver]

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3164/3069391074_227857074a.jpg
Source: Flickr - Canadagood

The Expo Blvd shot is amazing. BC Place simply commands the skyline.

[whatnext]

Links to some historic theatre photos:
Rex Theatre 25 W. Hastings:
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca%2Fspe%2Fhistphotos%2F&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO24658&SE=1757&RN=157&MR=5&TR=2000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=0&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=13055&NR=0&NB=31&SV=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1

Pantages Theatre (20 W. Hastings -not the original one which still exists):
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca%2Fspe%2Fhistphotos%2F&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO15125&SE=1774&RN=10&MR=5&TR=2000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=0&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=11679&NR=0&NB=2&SV=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1

Windsor Theatre (Main & King Ed):
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca%2Fspe%2Fhistphotos%2F&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO14351&SE=1769&RN=0&MR=5&TR=2000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=0&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=17554&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1

Kerrisdale Theatre (2138 W. 41st):
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca%2Fspe%2Fhistphotos%2F&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO14635&SE=1772&RN=0&MR=5&TR=2000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=0&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=2&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=11865&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1

The Windsor and Kerrisdale seem to have been built from the same plans!

[flight_from_kamakura]

maxine's (from their website, you'll have to click to get there, otherwise image resizes weird):

http://i.imagehost.org/t/0038/Maxine_s_Apartments.jpg (http://i.imagehost.org/view/0038/Maxine_s_Apartments)

[Dylan Leblanc]

Sometime in the 1960s. I scanned this from a souvenir book, which I had to rip apart to scan the pages flat. :D

Interesting to see how the residential buildings of the West End are clustered along the shore and park.

http://gingert.net/images/ZB96KPLNKJ9K4J63V8WZ.jpg

[ckkelley]

:previous:
That's an awesome pic!

[entheosfog]

Came across this interesting yet disturbing documentary video on how Vancouver was going to deal with 'urban blight' back in the 1960s, mostly inthe Strathcona neighbourhood. Didn't know if this should have gone in the video thread but I thought these could fit nicely in this thread, too:

A2xdYUk4iAY&

YcbDhWT5orE&

[zivan56]

Sweet thanks, interesting to see the locations now after so many years...here is what I found:


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcbDhWT5orE
Time: 3 : 56
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&ll=49.277591,-123.095552&spn=0,359.991744&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.277595,-123.095678&panoid=bN-GWSMyAHdS98XuEwWM0A&cbp=12,62.37,,1,-2.8

Time: 4 : 03
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&ll=49.277563,-123.093749&spn=0,359.991744&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.277558,-123.093588&panoid=mvtfJVs73MdimXdkEBgNrA&cbp=12,320.98,,1,-6.46

Time:5 : 11
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&t=h&layer=c&cbll=49.277915,-123.093572&panoid=mvXYF_oArNUPfH6XurqLdA&cbp=12,306.1,,0,-7.02&ll=49.277801,-123.093578&spn=0,359.991744&z=18

[delboy]

Came across this interesting yet disturbing documentary video on how Vancouver was going to deal with 'urban blight' back in the 1960s, mostly inthe Strathcona neighbourhood. Didn't know if this should have gone in the video thread but I thought these could fit nicely in this thread, too:

A2xdYUk4iAY&

YcbDhWT5orE&

Funny how the new building are now the 'blight' infact there is street gang named after one of the developments: Skeena Terrace Boys.

[touraccuracy]

:yuck: so stereotypical of the early 60s... glad that plan was never fully realized.

[whatnext]

Came across this interesting yet disturbing documentary video on how Vancouver was going to deal with 'urban blight' back in the 1960s, mostly inthe Strathcona neighbourhood. Didn't know if this should have gone in the video thread but I thought these could fit nicely in this thread, too:..

Interesting. But why call it disturbing? Essentially that's what happened to the West End, but led by private enterprise. Perhaps the mistake lies in the gov't providing social housing, rather than then private sector. Anyone who remembers what some of the areas mentioned were like (eg. Fairview Slopes) can recall that they were rundown dumps.

Urban planning goes through fads and cycles. The crew cut keeners in the video have their counterpart in the "war on the car" crowd currently being churned out by universities.

[SpongeG]

wow

[entheosfog]

Interesting. But why call it disturbing? Essentially that's what happened to the West End, but led by private enterprise. Perhaps the mistake lies in the gov't providing social housing, rather than then private sector. Anyone who remembers what some of the areas mentioned were like (eg. Fairview Slopes) can recall that they were rundown dumps.

Urban planning goes through fads and cycles. The crew cut keeners in the video have their counterpart in the "war on the car" crowd currently being churned out by universities.

It was mostly in response to the clear cutting block by block of Strathcona. The West End was redeveloped in piecemeal with bits and pieces retained. The little graphic they showed as each entire block was yoinked out was a little unsettling, a least to me.

[entheosfog]

Sweet thanks, interesting to see the locations now after so many years...here is what I found:


Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcbDhWT5orE
Time: 3 : 56
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&ll=49.277591,-123.095552&spn=0,359.991744&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.277595,-123.095678&panoid=bN-GWSMyAHdS98XuEwWM0A&cbp=12,62.37,,1,-2.8

Time: 4 : 03
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&ll=49.277563,-123.093749&spn=0,359.991744&t=h&z=18&layer=c&cbll=49.277558,-123.093588&panoid=mvtfJVs73MdimXdkEBgNrA&cbp=12,320.98,,1,-6.46

Time:5 : 11
Link: http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=503+W+16th+Ave,+Vancouver,+Greater+Vancouver+Regional+District,+British+Columbia&t=h&layer=c&cbll=49.277915,-123.093572&panoid=mvXYF_oArNUPfH6XurqLdA&cbp=12,306.1,,0,-7.02&ll=49.277801,-123.093578&spn=0,359.991744&z=18

Here's a then and now comparison I did a while back of one of those very shots:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2559/4114319532_f24ac8b770_b.jpg

Also, check out the 3-story building, third from the left. This is what it looked like then:
http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1590/hotel002.jpg

Same building now, or at least in 2007 when I took this:
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1248/1062760103_952d85c6d4.jpg

Google Streetview, more recently:
http://img22.imageshack.us/img22/3161/hotel003.jpg

At least the building on the left and the house next door have been restored but when buildings end up like that, no wonder so many people would rather they just be torn down.

[Stingray2004]

Remember though, that was a different era with a different mindset. The "future" back then was espoused by influences such as the TV 'Jetsons' and the futuristic 1964 - 1965 World's Fair in New York among many others.

During that era, much of the West End of Vancouver still looked like this in 1957:

http://www.guestlife.com/media/GuestLife/Vancouver/Annual-2007/VA2007-Area-West-End/vc07-area-westend-1957.jpg

Source: Fred Herzog Photo - www.guestlife.com

And much of of "inner" east-end Vancouver was considered run-down with abandoned and derelict cars and buildings ready to be "re-paved" for the 'future':

http://www.lacritique.org/local/cache-vignettes/L320xH206/New_Pontiac_1957-6386b.jpg

Source: Fred Herzog Photo - www.lacritique.org

http://www.unitewithart.com/art/2008/live/fherzog.jpg

Source: Fred Herzog Photo - www.unitewithart.com

[SpongeG]

funny that they cleared "blight" has become the blight of today and those houses they demolished people would pay a million for today and fix it up

[entheosfog]

Remember though, that was a different era with a different mindset. The "future" back then was espoused by influences such as the TV 'Jetsons' and the futuristic 1964 - 1965 World's Fair in New York among many others.



Some pretty sweet old photos there!
I know what you mean, mindsets were different than they are now. Out with the old! was the order of the day. Which is also why so many old buildings are stucco covered to look like buildings that were new from that time. It still disturbs me to think that Strathcona, one of my favourite neighbourhoods in the city, could have become a giant MacLean Park housing complex. But hindsight is 20/20!

[Prometheus]

An excellent video on the early history and development of South Granville (including interesting information about the original Vancouver street car line), hosted by Vancouver historian John Atkin:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthGranvilleBIA#p/u/6/tKHVHG2VhZc

[Prometheus]

Gastown in 1977: http://www.flickr.com/photos/canadagood/4030375162/sizes/l/in/set-72157612737540476/

[Prometheus]

Groovy times at Lumberman's Arch, Stanley Park, 1973: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pageworld/3529142465/in/set-72157618026523257/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pageworld/3529142969/sizes/o/in/set-72157618026523257/

[Prometheus]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/squeakymarmot/4337981597/sizes/l/

[Dylan Leblanc]

The MacLean park towers look a bit different in real life than how they are shown in the video.

Here they are today - http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=s6csm84r7wqy&scene=29230170&lvl=1&sty=b&where1=Vancouver%2C%20BC

And from the video -

http://skyscraperpage.com/gallery/images/1266312812.jpg

[SpongeG]

cool video about woodwards

TO-ZL_i6t3Q

[SpongeG]

PPMjTfBgr3o

[whatnext]

:previous: And its been downhill ever since. Would that Tom Campbell had five more years.

Khatsalano Beach?! Shoddy reporting.

[SpongeG]

its seattle TV its the american pronounciation - lol

its not news its a magazine show showcasing the pacific nw - just nice for them to include Bc

[twoNeurons]

Actually, i believe that "Khatsalano" is one of the correct pronunciations... in fact, if I'm not mistaken, that's what the area used to be called before it was anglicized.

[whatnext]

Actually, i believe that "Khatsalano" is one of the correct pronunciations... in fact, if I'm not mistaken, that's what the area used to be called before it was anglicized.

Indeed it was Chief Khatsalano, but nobody uses that pronunciation or spelling when referring to the neighbourhood or beach. I'm just surprised their research wasn't better.

[jsbertram]

Kind of amusing, since there are so many Indian names & phrases in use around Seattle (thats one of them!) like Tulalip, Issaquah, Duwamish, Kennewick, Salish, Cowlitz, Tokitae and Samish off the top of my head.

I doubt our modern pronunciations & spelling of these names would make sense to a someone who used these native languages 100 years ago.


Locally, I've heard "t'wassn" and "sa-wazn" and "saw-wassin" for the name of the ferry terminal.

[trofirhen]

An excellent video on the early history and development of South Granville (including interesting information about the original Vancouver street car line), hosted by Vancouver historian John Atkin:

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthGranvilleBIA#p/u/6/tKHVHG2VhZc

:previous:
Great video! Really informative. Too bad that the depression of 1913 hit just as the area was taking off. Had that not happened, South Granville would have been THE focal point for Vancouver south of False Creek, almost like a second, smaller downtown.

[SpongeG]

http://buzzer.translink.ca/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/1981_lookout.jpg

from flickr Dave2 (http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4372347298_0d8e24fb43_o.jpg) via the buzzer

[osirisboy]

What was there in the place that stupid parking lot is now

[jsbertram]

What was there in the place that stupid parking lot is now

um, theres more than ONE parking lot to choose from;
can you be quite a bit more specific what *that stupid parking lot* you're referring to?

[hollywoodnorth]

ya I always wondered what the Multilevel Parkade at Beatty and Pender used to be also......my bet would be it was a collection of smaller buildings.

anyone know what year it went up? that would be a good clue to work from....

[SpongeG]

the picture is apparently from 1981...

[hollywoodnorth]

the picture is apparently from 1981...

cool so we know b4 1981 for sure ;) (http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/BC/Vancouver/Downtown/1982/081/2 that photo shows it up as well clearly in 1982)

onward to look for more photos....70's is my guess does not look like 60's construction in person. that site is PRIME for Redevelopment....it screams MIXED use to me especially "institutional". another prime redevelopment site is the VCC jumble of buildings next door. :cheers:

[delboy]

cool so we know b4 1981 for sure ;) (http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/BC/Vancouver/Downtown/1982/081/2 that photo shows it up as well clearly in 1982)

onward to look for more photos....70's is my guess does not look like 60's construction in person. that site is PRIME for Redevelopment....it screams MIXED use to me especially "institutional". another prime redevelopment site is the VCC jumble of buildings next door. :cheers:

the 1970's was an era of function over form. there are a number of them dotted around vancouver. I particularly loathe the one next to the harbour centre which looks like it is about to fall down.

I imagine we will gradually see them vanish over the next decade or so.

[Prometheus]

Recognize this building?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/4696091767/in/photostream/

[LeftCoaster]

Wow, it kinda looked like a dump back then too.

[officedweller]

Are you confusing it with Seymour & Davie?

The caption says Seymour & Smithe (i.e. Orpheum parking garage)

[whatnext]

Recognize this building?: http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/4696091767/in/photostream/

Isn't that long gone? Were you thinking of this one, which is now Staples:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/4691459314/in/photostream/

[Prometheus]

Are you confusing it with Seymour & Davie?

The caption says Seymour & Smithe (i.e. Orpheum parking garage)

Yes, I did assume it was Seymour & Davie. Notwithstanding the caption, I still wonder whether it is in fact not Seymour & Davie. The Money's building really looks like a repurposed version of this old building. For instance, compare the Money's office space with the garage's office space. They seem identical.

[BCPhil]

ya I always wondered what the Multilevel Parkade at Beatty and Pender used to be also......my bet would be it was a collection of smaller buildings.

anyone know what year it went up? that would be a good clue to work from....

After searching through the Vancouver Archives, it looks like it was the location of the Vancouver City Health Department Building, which included some green space on Pender Street.

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/PHOTOS/CVA772/A43706.JPG
Source: Vancouver City Archives

I can't find much information about the building itself.

[LeftCoaster]

Are you confusing it with Seymour & Davie?

The caption says Seymour & Smithe (i.e. Orpheum parking garage)

Davie is definitely what I was picturing. I think it might just be mislabeled, as it looks identical, although I suppose the design isnt exactly rare...

[SpongeG]

it has to be misblabelled caquse it no longer exists at seymour and smithe

[jsbertram]

VPL has another photo of 898 Seymour Street as "Cheeseman's Garage Under Construction"

http://www3.vpl.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?AC=GET_RECORD&XC=http://www3.vpl.ca/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll&BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww3.vpl.ca%2Fspe%2FhistPhotos%2Fphotos-search.htm&TN=PHOTOS&SN=AUTO4854&SE=4281&RN=0&MR=0&TR=10000&TX=1000&ES=0&CS=1&XP=&RF=briefweb&EF=&DF=Full+Photo&RL=0&EL=0&DL=0&NP=255&ID=&MF=&MQ=&TI=0&DT=&ST=0&IR=3347&NR=0&NB=0&SV=0&BG=&FG=&QS=&OEX=ISO-8859-1&OEH=ISO-8859-1

I doubt there would be two mis-captioned photos of the same Cheeseman's Garage with both of them getting the address wrong.

[officedweller]

Davie is definitely what I was picturing. I think it might just be mislabeled, as it looks identical, although I suppose the design isnt exactly rare...

I recognized the similarity with the building that used to be @ Davie - that's why I mentioned it.
If the decsription is accurate, I suppose it could be the predecessor to the Orpheum parkades. I recall that an underground oil storage tank was removed from the ground level Seymour side of the parkade a while back (within the past 10 years (before Dolce Vita went up)) - so there was probably a gas station of some sort on the site.

[entheosfog]

This is the building that's at Davie and Seymour (for now, until it gets demolished):

1937
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/298/24146.jpg

and this is the one that was on the 800 block of Seymour street, from 1936:
http://www3.vpl.vancouver.bc.ca/spePhotos/LeonardFrankCollection/02DisplayJPGs/17/11508.jpg

They have a very similar shape the smokestack in the background is a hint at the difference in locations.

[entheosfog]

Here's some vintage Vancouver shots, all from 1949. These were recently given to me by my friend who knew the photographer who took them. He lived into his 90s and died a number of years ago. All of these were scanned from the original photos and have notes written on the back.

Lions Gate Bridge:
http://a.imageshack.us/img814/6978/sgatebridgeand1stnarrow.jpg

The Aorangi:
http://a.imageshack.us/img547/9093/aorangi1949.jpg

CPR Pier and Aorangi:
http://a.imageshack.us/img651/5705/carpierfromrailroadbrid.jpg

Cleaning of the Aorangi:
http://a.imageshack.us/img227/1599/cleaningtheaorangi1949.jpg

CPR Pier and Aorangi and Princess Katherine ship at the far end:
http://a.imageshack.us/img401/8265/cprpier1949.jpg

North end of the Lions Gate bridge when they still had toll booths for the bridge:
http://a.imageshack.us/img27/4906/sgatetollboothsnorthend.jpg

Corner of Georgia and Howe, downtown Vancouver:
http://a.imageshack.us/img822/6426/howeandgeorgialookingno.jpg

Downtown Vancouver from Stanley Park:
http://a.imageshack.us/img831/7982/downtownfromstanleypark.jpg

http://a.imageshack.us/img34/7982/downtownfromstanleypark.jpg

[worldwide]

wow. thanks

[IanS]

Here's some vintage Vancouver shots, all from 1949.

Those picture are amazing. I love the one of Lion's Gate Bridge.

[ckkelley]

Holy smokes! Thanks for those pictures.

I can't get enough of those historic Vancouver pics. A walk back in time....

[xd_1771]

Left turn signals in 1949
Interesting :P

[whatnext]

Left turn signals in 1949
Interesting :P

I wonder when Howe St was converted to one-way?

[Stingray2004]

I wonder when Howe St was converted to one-way?

I would think that when the new GSB was opened in 1954 both Seymour/Howe were turned into one-way couplets based upon the existing GSB on/off ramp designs - about 5 years after the pic was taken.

[SpongeG]

http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Images/009Vancouver%20Hotel-B%26W.jpg
http://www.historicphotos.ca/

http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Images/Van.%20pics003.jpg
http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Vancouver%201950's.html

http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Images/Van.%20pics014-1.jpg
http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Vancouver%201950's.html

http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Images/Van.%20pics005.jpg
http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Vancouver%201950's.html

http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Images/Van.%20pics004.jpg
http://dbooth.applesbc.org/Home/Vancouver%201950's.html

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_KH7iEBzq4tk/S84eoarLk8I/AAAAAAAAA7s/B_4-0cFL6cs/s1600/Van+Sc+P59.1+J.+A.+Brock+1887.jpg
http://historywalksinvancouver.blogspot.com/2010/04/walk-along-alexander-street-in.html

[SFUVancouver]

The CBC has a wonderful archive of old Vancouver photos that their staff have taken over the years. In no particular order here are some great ones I found.


http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/5754/downtownaerial1956.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4920/panorama1961.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img823.imageshack.us/img823/5785/skylinefromstanleypark1.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img818.imageshack.us/img818/1450/navyinenglishbay1967.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/5904/marineandburrardbldgs19.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/8899/kitspool1965.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/3028/hotelvancouver1964.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/5796/granvillestreet1955.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/1451/englishbay1965.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/66/davidsuzuki.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img535.imageshack.us/img535/8611/courthouse1958.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img821.imageshack.us/img821/5440/cityskyline1966.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/9319/bclionsempirestadium195.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/8586/southendofgranvillebrid.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

http://img242.imageshack.us/img242/4559/burrardbldg1965.jpg
Source: CBC Archive (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

[Metro-One]

Great photos, thanks for sharing!

It always makes me sad though to see how much interesting signage and lighting effects the city has lost post 1960s. Sometimes I do believe my parents and Grandparents are right in that Vancouver was actually more fun back in those days than it is now. And when one thinks of the population difference since then and today (more than double now) they are at least right relatively (per capita) speaking.

It is also sad that we seem to have lost nearly all of our industrial base as well, from ship building to the forestry sector. You think Vancouver could have at least held onto one industrial base sector. It really does make me uneasy that so much of our economy is based on construction these days, which is something that can not last forever at its current pace (unless the selfish DINK syndrome in Vancouver subsides and people start having enough kids to replenish our population without relying on immigration in the near future).

I would love to visit Vancouver from the 40s, 50s and 60s, looooks so interesting and vibrant, especially considering its much lower population! (downtown would actually feel like a city, instead of one big bedroom community!)

[SpongeG]

cool stuff - what is this lone tower in the east? thats near gas town? china town? is it still there?

http://img181.imageshack.us/img181/4920/panorama1961.jpg

[SpikePhanta]

Wow some very nice pictures! Like the posters above, I would too like to visit Vancouver of the 40's, 50's, 60's ect.

Same with Industrial, I guess at lease we still have false creek flats and the port. Along with some near Fraser river.

[xd_1771]

I wonder if anyone's got old B.C. Highway pics. Come on, I want to see a Highway 401 sign :D

[Locked In]

Great find SFU. I love this photo - future site of the BCSC tower with Hotel Georgia in the background:

http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/TPQoIrr8HLI/AAAAAAAAD0w/vVwbkDAtDc0/s1000/untitled.jpg
Full Size (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_9FW9P3-u1EI/TPQoIrr8HLI/AAAAAAAAD0w/vVwbkDAtDc0/untitled.jpg)

Source: CBC Archives (http://www.cbc.ca/photogallery/fullscreen.html?dataPath=/photogallery/regions/bc/gallery_3710/xml/gallery_3710.xml&startImage=0)

[golog]

CBC Archive Photos (http://www.cbc.ca/bc/photogallery/archives-cbc-vancouver.html) 1954 - 1965, 98 photos

[Stingray2004]

:previous: Thanks. Interesting set.

From an historical perspective - these two esp.:

1. #28 - West Georgia St. Vancouver [west of Burrard]
June 17, 1958. Traffic jam due to collapse of Second Narrows (Ironworker's Memorial) Bridge.

2. #40 - Jr. Television Club - production still
June 5, 1957. Avril (Kim) Campbell, Bobby Olson, Margaret Stott, Graham Phillips. [as in future Prime Minister Kim Campbell]

[Prometheus]

CBC Archive Photos (http://www.cbc.ca/bc/photogallery/archives-cbc-vancouver.html) 1954 - 1965, 98 photos

I love it!

[SpongeG]

cool stuff

[golog]

just realized SFUVancouver already posted the photos, and took the time to copy them into .jpgs from the flash

the link was on the cbc front page and I assumed it was new, maybe there are more photos now?

[whatnext]

This photo (from OAChris' Flickr photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/with/5223120944/)) shows The Bay downtown. Was Georgia & Granville a scramble intersection? It looks like people are crossing in all directions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/#/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/lightbox/

[Spork]

Wow. Looks a lot better without those canopies that are there today.

[trofirhen]

This photo (from OAChris' Flickr photostream (http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/with/5223120944/)) shows The Bay downtown. Was Georgia & Granville a scramble intersection? It looks like people are crossing in all directions:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/#/photos/20522601@N00/5223120944/lightbox/

Wow. Looks a lot better without those canopies that are there today.
:previous:
@whatnext: I know Vancouver once had a scramble crossing (saw it on film), and yes, I think it was at Granville and Georgia.

@Spork: How true! The Bay looked a lot classier then. I wish they'd get rid of those ugly metal overhangs, and go back to the sweeping, traditional style, as in the picture.

[entheosfog]

It was indeed a scramble intersection! Here's a photo comparison I did from a 1956 photo:

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4857154920_1efd118394_z.jpg

[eduardo88]

Sacred Heart Convent, now the junior campus of St. George's School (my school from grades 2-10) in the 1920's

http://www.dunbar-vancouver.org/gallery/photos-historic/sacretheartconvent1920s.jpg

Another view looking down what is now 29th Ave just south of Dunbar at the Convent

http://www.dunbar-vancouver.org/gallery/photos-historic/sacretheartconvent1920s2.jpg

Lord Byng high school in 1924

http://www.dunbar-vancouver.org/gallery/photos-historic/lordbyng1924.jpg

Paving of 21st Ave near Dunbar in 1925

http://www.dunbar-vancouver.org/gallery/photos-historic/paving-21st.jpg

View of the 4500 Block of Dunbar Street at 29th Avenue looking south in 1923

http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/archives/PHOTOS/MATTHEWS/PRINTS/SUB1/A31715.JPG

[wrenegade]

Thanks for posting all these old photos guys! The Bay looks fantastic in those shots. I'd love to see them go back to those old awnings as well as the typeface on the signage!

[eduardo88]

Yeah The Bay building really needs a good reno on it's exterior to bring it back to it's former beauty

[officedweller]

For the Bay, it needs to take the windows back up to full height and install a glass awning that doesn't interfere with views into the grandeur of the store.

I wouldn't mind seeing a wavey glass awning like this one installed (which is also a bit like the one on the Opus Hotel):

http://www.abbarch.com/currentwork/1750daviestreet.htm#

[Prometheus]

Hey, at least we now have a 2-storey London Drugs. So it's all cool.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5249146265_0440fec04c_z.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/5249146265/)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/5249146265/


The backside:

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5006/5249749468_b140fb3916.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/5249749468/)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45379817@N08/5249749468/

[Stingray2004]

:previous:

My mom had her dentist in that building. A Vancouver Sun reporter asked her opinion about the demolition of the Birks Building as she entered the elevator for another dental appointment back in the day. She was pretty upset actually.

BTW, it still had the original elevators prior to its demolition circa 1974. They had an "elevator boy" who sat on a stool and punched in the floor number for everyone. The elevator also had one of those cage doors, which the "elevator boy" opened on each floor.

[whatnext]

The Birks building really added some class to that corner. Its loss was a real shame.

[Dylan Leblanc]

Here's a neat view of the skyline in the 1960s.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3284/3098761945_ce22b65d96_b_d.jpg
flickr via ssc - http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=1205199&page=4

[ckkelley]

^^
Oh those hippie photos on English Bay Beach are awesome!

[Smooth]

The Vancouver Sun has some interesting historic postcards on their website: http://www.vancouversun.com/Photos+Postcards+views+Vancouver+from+years/4015607/story.html

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to repost them here?

[SpikePhanta]

The last one of the second hotel Vancouver is quite nice!
I guess the colour effect makes me appreciate the thing more.

[officedweller]

Remember that Birks went back into that location and was there for years.

[whatnext]

The Vancouver Sun has some interesting historic postcards on their website: http://www.vancouversun.com/Photos+Postcards+views+Vancouver+from+years/4015607/story.html

I'm not sure if I'm allowed to repost them here?

Those are great postcards. I always find it interesting that Vancouver had the tallest buildings in all the British Empire (not just Canada) with the Dominion Building and then the Sun Tower. Quite an accomplishment for what was at the time a very small city, up against some much larger competition!

[delboy]

It's disgraceful the amout of heritage stock we have lost in this city. Misguided developers have done more damage in wiping out areas of the city than the Luftwaffe did during the London Blitz.

Sad, very sad. :shrug:

[delboy]

The Birks building really added some class to that corner. Its loss was a real shame.

Yes it did. I can live with the loss of the second Hotel Vancouver as the demise of it was contingent on the present one being built ( and much more elgant it is) but the loss of Birks is simply tragic...i actually feel gutted.

[mrjauk]

Yes it did. I can live with the loss of the second Hotel Vancouver as the demise of it was contingent on the present one being built ( and much more elgant it is) but the loss of Birks is simply tragic...i actually feel gutted.

As do I. What a shame.