The Harland Bartholomew & Associates development plan for Exhibition Park (aka the PNE) drawn December, 1948. This file was recently added to the City of Vancouver Archives at Archive.org (image tweaked for a cleaner black and white image.)

Map shows existing buildings, proposed buildings (immediate program), proposed buildings (future program), building names and parking lot capacities in Exhibition Park. Diazo. Scale [ca. 1:4,500]. 27 x 25 cm. Vancouver Archives Item # Map 968.

Here’s one thing which didn’t come true that we can be thankful for; the envisioned front entrance would have allowed 2762 cars to drive right into the park and create a giant parking lot in the bottom corner of the site. Of course, lots of the parking inevitably still surfaces throughout the surrounding neighbourhood. But looking at the top of the map leads me to believe there were plans for the CPR to make a direct stop at the park, perhaps providing a form of early rapid transit?

And what about the aesthetic design of the park? The bottom left corner of the park bears a certain resemblance to the present day PNE. To the right there are orderly plans for a Future Exhibit of unknown variety, right where the midway is today.

Up in the top left, they decided to install the Gayway (a term synonymous with midway today). Gayway was also the term that was used at the Golden Gate International Exposition in San Francisco in 1939-40. I don’t want to get too far off topic, but the Golden Gate Expo is another favourite topic of mine. Who here knew the GGIE also featured Sally Rand’s Nude Ranch? About a month ago, I spotted this on ebay; the 3 page proposal for the attraction by the Bert Levey Circuit of Vaudeville Theatres.

I don’t see any clothing optional sections planned for the PNE in Harland Bartholomew’s development plan, but it does look like the designers did try to add a hint of romance to their plan, putting a dance hall at the end of the meandering Gayway. And if you weren’t up for some romance, they put the roller coaster right next door, so those who chose not to dance could still have the ride of their life! Oh, designing is such fun and games, isn’t it?

Update! I just learned that the midway WAS at the back corner of the PNE back in the day. While the park didn’t evolve exactly as envisioned above, at least we did get a new wooden roller coaster in 1958 designed by the legendary roller coaster designer Carl Phare. Incidentally, it’s the last remaining Carl Phare designed roller coaster in operation in the world.

There were at least 3 other coasters that pre-date the Carl Phare design at the PNE, according to rollercoastersofthepacificnw.com. First there was Coaster (Dip The Dips) - 1915-1924. Heritage Vancouver has posted a photo from 1914 of the first rollercoaster under construction here, and there’s an aerial view of the finished coaster from 1919 here. Happyland got a pair of coasters known as Giant Dipper - 1925-1947 and Baby Dipper - 1928-1944. Then along came a string of smaller roller coaster rides for Playland; Little Dipper - 1958-197?; Mad Mouse - 1958-1964?; Monster Mouse - 1965-1971?; Super Big Gulp - 1972-1994; Wild Mouse - 1979-2008. And finally, there was another roller coaster in Stanley Park called Dips circa 1913-1923. I’m hoping I come across some artwork of this one day.

Map of North Vancouver, published by the North Shore Jaycees in 1975.

Bird’s Eye View of Gastown, the village of Granville, around 1875. Drawing by Beverly Justice commissioned by the Vancouver Arts Council © 1970.

From a walking tour guide of Gastown, prompted by the “Gastown Revisited” walking tours of September, 1968. I’ve transcribed the index below:

1. The famous Maple Tree.
2. Gassy Jack’s Hotel and Saloon, the Deighton House.
3. The Sunnyside Hotel, the best in town, rebuilt after the fire.
4. Old Road to the Sawmill 1/2 mile; George Black’s Hotel at Hastings Townsite, 3 miles.
5. New Road to New Westminster - became Kingsway.
6. George Black’s Butcher Shop and Slaughter House.
7.  Provincial Jail, Customs and Court House.
8. Granville Hotel, favourite of loggers.
9. Terminal Saloon.
10. Webster’s Store.
11. Home of respected mulatto widow Mrs. Sullivan and her two boys.
12. Mrs. Sullivan’s restaurant.
13. Joseph Simmons’ Saloon.
14. Gregorio Fernandez’ Store.
15. Indian trail to False Creek.
16. Cabins of Chinese and occupants ”of ill-repute.”
17. Blair Hall, also known as Sullivan’s Hall or Gold’s Hall, scene of early dances, entertainments and church services.
18. House of Gillespie. the logging boss.
19. House of Irish-born Joseph Manion from Victoria. Gastown’s first business man.
20. Cottage of Constable Jonathan Miller, Provincial Agent, Burrard Inlet.
21. To Andy Linton’s Boathouse.

Celebrating BOMA’s 100th Anniversary in 2011, by Barb Wood. Last month Barb Wood celebrated her 30th year in the illustration business; she blogged about the occasion here, where she posted a few celebratory images from her portfolio.

Goad’s atlas of the city of Vancouver, British Columbia and surrounding municipalities in four volumes from 1912. Fire insurance maps are great; I’m posting it here primarily for the typography, but the maps are great too! From Collections Canada, which has volume one (Kits) and two (Grandview) posted out of four. Via Michael Kluckner’s recent blog post at grandviewheritage.blogspot.com.

Vancouver Views Canada, a poster spotted for sale recently at the Treasure Cottage thrift store in Kerrisdale, 2319 41st Avenue. I can almost make out the artist’s name in the left hand corner, but there’s just not quite enough resolution. If anyone walks by, can they confirm who created the poster? If it actually does say M. Bender, 1996, I’m presuming that’s an alias? I do believe this framed poster is selling for $15, so check it out while you can!

Thanks for the tip, Richard!

Another unique artistic aerial view of the city, this time from DC Bucholtz. There have been a few vintage maps in the past that turn the aerial perspective on it’s head, and they’re quite refreshing to look at. The map was sponsored by CKNW, The Pop Shoppe, and The Province Newspaper, among other sponsors. It was published by Cornwall Publishing Co., and Chuck Davis was the editor. This was pre-Expo, as you can see the Expo site is simply indicated with a flag and a large circle, so I’m guessing it was drawn some time around 1983 or 1984, since the Seabus colour scheme was no longer orange in 1985. I also just noticed the map shows Cambie Bridge as the old truss swing span bridge (the new bridge was built 1984-85), so that reinforces it would most likely be circa 1983.

A 1969 Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board poster, signed by McLachlan, published by Agency Press Ltd, Vancouver.

Stanley Park, a map produced by Labatt Breweries of British Columbia Ltd, artist unknown. The brochure talks about the devastating effect Typhoon Frieda had on the park in the fall of 1962; more than 13,000 hemlocks were destroyed, knocking over mature trees onto younger generation of trees planted by foresters in the 1930s. In the spring of 1963, more than 22,000 Douglas fir were planted to repair the damage.

Map of Vancouver by artist uncredited, although the artwork looks so much like Don Blood’s style, as seen in this colour map from 1955, I think it’s safe to attribute the work to him. From the November 1958 issue of the Vancouver Guide, a small handout advertising pamphlet published by George A. Vickers, lithographed by Evergreen Press Ltd. The year 1958 was celebrated as the British Columbia colonial centennial. 

Vancouver, The Pacific Playground: a SuperValu poster in the tradition of illustrated advertising maps of the city, conveniently pointing out all the SuperValu locations, not unlike this White Spot map. It’s signed Ed Langley, but I can’t find anything more about him. I’m also not sure of the date, but perhaps someone can pinpoint it with some of the landmarks? It shows the CBC headquarters designed by architect Paul Merrick so it must be post-1975, and it also mentions the Gastown Wax Museum, possibly early 1980s?!

Update: Thanks to theressomethingwrongwithyoubaby for this comment which seems to indicate the 1974-75 era is likely:

It shows the Crystal Pool at Sunset Beach which was replaced by the Aquatic Centre in 1974 according to the Parks Board site

I’ve passed this poster on to the VPL Special Collections.

White Spot placemat (dated Aug 22, 1947 in ink on the reverse). The initials L.D. appear in the bottom right of the placemat; anyone know a cartoonist from the 40s who might have those initials?!

Cross-posted to VancouverIsAwesome.com with additional text.

Vancouver, an illustrated poster by W Ellis, circa 1969. The credits at the bottom of the poster indicate it’s from Studio 001, Vancouver, BC, with distributors PHD. Does anyone know which Ellis this might be, way back in 1969? Maybe a Bill or William? Thanks for the submission, Jeff!

Easter Be-in, a comic map of Stanley Park, unsigned, but based on the typographic style, presumably Rand Holmes. Published in the early days of the Georgia Straight, March 30th, 1972. Some historical context provided via an article by Dave Watson from the Georgia Straight, May 8, 1997:

From 1967 through to the mid-1970s, the Easter Be-in was one of the most visible expressions of Vancouver’s counterculture. At its peak, thousands of the young, the hip, and the merely curious would assemble in Stanley Park to listen to bands, speakers, and poets, socialize, become inebriated, and occasionally throw up. The Be-in arrived each year with spring, a time when it is either very foolish or merely optimistic to schedule a regular outdoor event in Vancouver, a time when the monotony of rain and cold is often interrupted only by long periods of cold rain.

The Be-ins were more than just free concerts. They served as an opportunity to gather as a community, a means of keeping in touch, an annual general meeting for people who felt they were onto something that mainstream society wouldn’t give them credit for. The rest of the year, you might be a freak, some weirdo with long hair, the subject of derisive jokes, but at least at the Be-in you knew you weren’t alone. At the beginning, there was no industry to design, package, and market some form of channeled rebellion for you and your peers. That came later…

Map of Vancouver, from a Western Canadian Greyhound Lines Ltd travel pamphlet, which according to this bus website, operated from 1940-1957.