Author: Vancouver History

February 7 The great American bass Paul Robeson performed at the Orpheum today, and 3,000 fans in the sold-out theatre kept him coming back for more and more. The Sun’s Stanley Bligh, in a warm review, commented: “In addition to his great success in the artistic field, the eminent Negro has won an outstanding place in the world by his firm stand on the question of racial equality, his knowledge of languages, international economics and his wide sympathy for the oppressed peoples of the whole globe.”

January 31 The centennial of Congregation Schara Tzedeck will happen in 2007, but the building associated with it—the synagogue at Oak and West 19th—got its start January 31, 1947, when Vancouver mayor Gerry McGeer officiated at the sod-turning ceremonies. The synagogue was dedicated as a memorial to Jewish war veterans.

January 3 Art Jones and Ray Munro, photographers at the Vancouver Sun, both of them mad at Hal Straight of the Sun for some unremembered reason, went into business as freelancers in a company they called artray. Their base of operations was Nine East Hastings Street. An early assignment: flooding in the Fraser Valley (May). A vast collection of their photos has been donated to the Vancouver Public Library.

January 3 The Sun’s Page One headline January 4 about the police raid the night before on three local establishments was great: POLICE OPEN WAR ON NIGHT CLUB DRINKING.

January 13 Hedley Hipwell was returned for a fourth term as President of Greater Vancouver Tourist Association. Hipwell also headed the BC Automobile Association. Both groups shared directors.