Geezers’ Newsletter (Southwestern Ontario’s foremost Geezer newsletter – or a lifestyle guide for Freeps and Press Club survivors) “Outside of a dog, a book is mans best friend. Inside of a dog its too dark to read.” – Groucho Marx The Press Club -- to my knowledge – never played a role in a murder mystery. Nor did the Freeps’ police/courts reporter ever become involved in a shooting in a downtown hotel bar room. However, that’s exactly what happens in E. J. (Ted) McGrath’s 1990 thriller, Donnellys London. And, of course, the plot inevitably revolves around the Freeps sticking its nose in the court system. Brother Etherington, who introduced me to the book then lent me his copy, called it a “very good read with many memories.” He didn’t misspeak. McGrath, for those who don’t know who him, is a former London criminal lawyer and now a judge on the Ontario Court of Justice. He was also a frequenter of the Press Club during the York Street days. This tale is a fictional story about London lawyer Jack Donnellys adventures at the old courthouse, the former King Street police station, the Horseshoe Lounge in the long-departed Belvedere Hotel, the Press Club and various locations around London. Granted, it’s not a classic in the style of The Great Gatsby or Wuthering Heights, not as erotically explicit or titillating as 50 Shades of Grey, nor does it have the historical scope of Churchill or Will Durant, but it is charmingly familiar in references to a bygone London. As I strolled through the 188 pages of the novel, I found myself thrust back to 1974 when the story takes place. Anyone who was in London in those days can easily relate to references to Wong’s Cafe, the Stork Club, the London Club before women were admitted, Tony’s Pizza, Ann McColl’s where our hero buys a Christmas gift, the Hong Kong Grill and Western students drinking to excess at the Ceeps. When I mentioned those names to old-timers Finch and Bambrick, there was instant recognition. Eric wrote “I suspect they are takeoffs (Wong’s Cafe and Hong Kong Grill) on a couple of restaurants that go back to the ’50s and ’60s. The two people involved were Sammy Ho and Wally (whose last name I forget). They had the best restaurant in town on the second floor over the Hoo Hoo in the ’50s. They later broke their partnership and Sammy opened the China Doll at Wellington and South streets and Wally started up Jade Garden at Cheapside and Waterloo near St. Joes.” (Now the Bungalow.) The Press Club makes an early appearance. When lawyer Donnelly meets to discuss a murder case with – among others – police/court reporter Gilbert (Gib) Peterson, the club is the choice of locale. While there, Donnelly muses “the fact that Gib Peterson would know every detail of the police investigation 14 hours before the crown attorney was typical, although something the poor crown would never know.” Those were happier times. In the days before the corner of Dundas and Talbot became the site of Budweiser Gardens and before that the “meat-market pickup bar” Mingles it was in the words of lawyer Donnelly “a semi-dive dominated by a large tacky bar, named the Horseshoe Lounge by its horsey, modern owner. However, the dining room clinging desperately to its past was an ancient lady with starched tablecloths and linen napkins. It was a noon-hour meeting place for criminal lawyers, crown attorneys and a few hangers on.” I don’t remember the Belvedere’s dining room, but I do recall the Horseshoe Lounge. I guess I was more interested in booze than food in those days. And, if I recall correctly, there was a real-live shootout there one night, though not the one Donnelly describes. The Belvedere wasn’t always a dive, narrator Donnelly tells us. Back in the 19th century, the City Hotel was located there, the London terminus of the stagecoach line operated by the infamous Black Donnellys. Later, “before we were hit by the plague of hotel chains in this country, even supreme court judges stayed at the Belvedere when they travelled to London on circuit.” The real joy of this book, though, is in trying to figure out the real-life characters who were the models for the fictional ones. We have “Book” – the veteran homicide cop, Max – the experienced criminal lawyer who is headed for a judgeship, Art – the crown attorney who is Donnelly’s courtroom foe but Belvedere buddy as well as cast of judges from a stern “hanging judge” to a pretension prig with a doll collection. I wonder if the real people would have blanched at how they are portrayed. I’ll leave it to older hands to make some guesses as to who inspired those characters but I will go out a limb with one. Free Press police reporter Gib Peterson – who is on hand for the Horseshoe Lounge shootout that ends the book -- could only have been modelled after one character. Yes gentle reader, one William Mack Wire. If anyone is interested in this book, I found two copies for sale online from the site abebooks/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=9780919939264&n=100121503&cm_sp=mbc-_-9780919939264-_-used Distressing news about Marie Our friend, former Press Club president and organizer of the 13-run baseball pool Marie Sheculski is in hospital. Eric Bender reports that she had a scary time as she remained an unresponsive medical mystery in the intensive-care unit of University Hospital for a week. Teams of medical minds were baffled as to the cause of this ailment as she was tested and retested. Good news on the weekend. Marie regained consciousness Saturday afternoon although she’s not fully aware of circumstances yet. She will be in hospital for some time. No visitors for now. Sister Diane Stamp asks card senders to forward them to her and she will take them to Marie. Address is 102-744 Proudfoot Lane, London, N6H 5H8. Recalling first job Brother Whipp writes: A note on the Canadian Daily Newspaper Association. I recall getting my first newspaper job from the now deceased secretary of the CDNA, Ian McDonald, I think. Sent to the smallest daily in Canada, the Port Hope Daily Guide. Went to CDNA on the advice of the then editor of Globe and Mail. It was 1946. Currently do a column for the bi-weekly Pender Island (B.C.) Independent. Enjoy seeing the names of LFP Old Timers; recall being one of the group founding the Press Club. New-age journalism Brother Etherington writes: Recent house advertisements by The Free Press identify its reporter/photographers as multimedia journalists, a current description of the modern function of the reporters and photographers who have equipment to take still and video visual records of scenes and news subjects, including themselves, for electronic online reports for the newspaper’s e-edition, and also to write articles and contribute to the various social media avenues provided by lfPress. It would be interesting to have one of the newsroom staff offer a description for the Newsletter of how it works today, to update us on how a modern journalist functions on the job. It all sounds rather demanding and fast-paced compared to the job as many of us knew it in the past. Like many Freeps reporters who at one time worked in regional bureaus or started their careers at a weekly newspaper, I was somewhat an early multimedia journalist in that I wrote the articles and did the news and feature photos in the Sarnia bureau 1965-67. As I remember it, my training to use the film camera and flash unit took about two hours under the direction of one of the photo staff. It was made clear that not much was expected of my photog work. I was told to take at least four or five exposures and, if I was up to it, to try my hand at various camera settings to increase the chances of a usable picture. It was a slow process. We scribbled down the info with paper and pencil for the news story that would be sent to London by teleprinter and then wed line up the folks for the picture. The exposed rolls of film would be put on a bus to London where they would be picked up and developed for possible use. If it was a major evening event such as a fire or significant traffic accident, we jumped in the car and drove the film to London. A lot of the pictures were of the “grip and grin” variety -- somebody making a presentation of some kind, but we also had the excitement of “real” news occasions at a murder scene, a raging barn fire, some smashed up cars, the odd boat sinking in the St. Clair River. Compared to the skills and expectations of todays multimedia news person, it was kind of stone-age work. (Editor’s note: Do any Newsletter readers working at the Freeps want to take up the challenge and submit a piece about your work day?) Media updates Steve Ladurantaye writes in the Globe and Mail: Sun News Network is hitting the reset button. The money-losing network wants less repetitive news and more analysis and will dedicate more of its daytime hours to opinion-based journalism in a bid to differentiate itself from new channels operated by CBC and CTV. Full story: https://secure.globeadvisor/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20131105/RBSUNNEWSREVAMPATL Also from the Globe – Rogers lays off television and magazine staff: theglobeandmail/report-on-business/rogers-media-announces-round-of-layoffs/article15267406/ And, Torstar swings to loss on lower ad sales: https://secure.globeadvisor/servlet/ArticleNews/story/gam/20131107/RBTORSTAREARNS1106ATL Retirees invited to Free Press Christmas bash Norman Debono writes: We are planning a newsroom Christmas party and would love to see retirees there. I have booked Thursday, Dec. 19, at Joe Kool’s basement room named the Polish Penthouse. Itll be from 7 p.m. ’til whenever. It’ll be cash bar. (Let Norm know at Free Press -- 519-667-4551 or [email protected] – if you plan to attend so he will have some idea of numbers.) Reminders Geezer Nation meets Thursday at the Ceeps at 2 p.m. to inhale personality enhancing fluids and to solve all the world’s problems. You don’t have to be old to attend. All are welcome. Those who can’t attend Geezer Thursdays because of other pressing engagements (a job perhaps) have a second opportunity to renew acquaintances with former Freeps or Press Club pals. A gang meets at Chaucer’s on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Again, all are welcome. For Geezers who are also former employees of the Blackburn Group (retirees, quitees, buyoutees or firees), the retirees’ Christmas breakfast is Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 8:30 a.m. or so at the Riverdale Family Restaurant at 360 Springbank Rd. Don’t forget to bring some non-perishable items for the charity food drive. As well, the Army, Navy, Air Force Club continues to invite former Press Club members to drop in for a drink. Sister O’Brien has established a Facebook page for former Press Club members to stay in touch. Check it out. It’s called London City Press Club Survivors. If you are a Facebook user, befriend the page. You can also look up past Geezers’ Newsletters there. News welcome If you know of any news (you know, gossip, dirt and unsavoury details about people we know) of interest to the Geezers (even a rant would be acceptable) please let me know so I can pass it on. Also if you know anyone who would like to receive the newsletter, pass along the email address. Copyright: Geezer Nation. All rights reserved. No part of this Newsletter may be reproduced or disseminated in any form without permission from Geezer Nation, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passage.
Posted on: Tue, 12 Nov 2013 04:00:13 +0000
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