Johnny Coy, Montreal born Hollywood Tap Dancer 1945

Would any member be old enough to recall a Montreal born tap dancer (NDG) who made it big in Hollywood in the mid 40s, I do, having seen him in movies at one of the Verdun theaters. He really made it big having been named the tap dancer of the year during that period. Here is a photo showing his expoits wich appeared in The Guardian of November 22nd 1945, the same year as VE DAY.

Guy  

Victory Europe May 8th 1945

Military personnel and civilians celebrate VE-Day on Sparks Street in Ottawa on May 8, 1945. (CP Photo/ National Archives of Canada, PA-114617)

INDEPTH: VE-DAY Victory in Europe CBC News Online | May 6, 2005 The news flash reached Canada at 9:36 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on May 7, 1945: “Germany has surrendered unconditionally.” This time the news was real. There had been two earlier reports; one was erroneous and the second officially premature. On April 28, as the war continued in Europe, as Russian and American troops met on the River Elbe, there were rumours from San Francisco, the site of the conference leading to the founding of the United Nations. The second report came on the morning of May 7, when there was a flash from The Associated Press saying Germany had surrendered. The military surrender agreement for the German armed forces was signed at a schoolhouse in Rheims, France, at 2:41 a.m. local time on May 7, 1945, by Colonel General Gustav Jodl, chief of staff of the German army; Lt.-Gen. Walter Bedell Smith, chief of staff for the Supreme Allied Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower; General Ivan Susloparov for Russia; and General Francois Sevez for France. But there were no confirming bulletins from other news organizations – Allied headquarters had ordered the news withheld for 24 hours, even though German radio had announced the surrender. That news did reach Canadian soldiers in Holland; church bells rang across the country, and the troops took part in celebrations in Utrecht and Amsterdam. On May 7, 1945, within minutes of a CBC bulletin that Germany had surrendered unconditionally, crowds flooded onto Rue Ste-Catherine in Montreal. (CBC Photo/Montreal Herald) With the premature news, celebrations had already started across North America; people gathered at Toronto City Hall and in small towns across the Prairies, as well as in New York and other major cities across the U.S. The parties dampened down when people heard that the news could be wrong again. At 3 in the afternoon EDT, the BBC announced that British Prime Minister Winston Churchill would address the Empire at 9 a.m. EDT the next morning. Later, Washington said President Harry Truman would speak to the American people at the same time. Something was definitely up, and six hours later the celebrations started up again when the German surrender was confirmed. When Churchill went on the air, it was afternoon in the U.K. but first thing in the morning in Canada. He told the audience, “We may allow ourselves a brief period of rejoicing, but let us not forget for a moment the toils and efforts that lie ahead. Japan, with all her treachery and greed, remains unsubdued.” He then declared “Victory in Europe Day,” soon shortened to VE-Day. There were official celebrations across Canada, including a parade on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, crowds filled the streets of Toronto and Montreal, there were victory parades in small towns. Times Square in New York City and Piccadilly Circus in London were packed. In Halifax, there were riots. The city was overcrowded, filled with navy and army personnel. For months there had been tension – many in the armed forces resented what they considered an indifferent or hostile attitude from the permanent civilian residents in the city. The restaurants and liquor stores in both Halifax and Dartmouth were closed, but once the celebrations began some people began breaking into the liquor stores. What began as small incidents then became widespread vandalism and looting. In the end, three people were dead, 207 shops were looted, a total of 554 businesses damaged and many arrested. Across the Atlantic, the surrender of the government of Germany was signed and ratified in Berlin at 11 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. EDT. After the ceremony, there was an official banquet for the victors, hosted by the Soviet commander, Marshal Georgy Zhukov. In Moscow, the Soviet Union proclaimed what it called “Victory Day” would begin at midnight, May 9. Fighting continued against the Japanese in the Far East theatre. The U.S. army was facing fierce resistance on the Philippine island of Mindanao, and U.S. aircraft sank or damaged 18 Japanese ships while American bombers hit the island of Kyushu.

Wellington Tramway corner Church 1909

Here is an older 1909 photo of the Wellington tramway at the corner of Church. Notice the building on the right wich would later become the People's then the Marshall's 5 - 10 -15 cent to a dollar store wich I recently posted. The tramway would be about facing the J.A. Gagnon store. You may also refer to my photo Album no. 11 for more information on Busses and Tramways in Verdun. This photo is presently posted in the "Messager" by J.M. Hachez in the Souvenir section http://www.messagerverdun.com/.

More information on Verdun's rich historical past. I have added this photo to Album no. 11 on my site.

Guy

Remember Late-Night Montreal

"a very familiar & well known eatery in Montreal & a late night stop for many over the years when you thought of having Chicken it was a good bet this place popped to mind."  -Les_F       Chalet Bar-B-Q Rôtisserie opened its doors in August 1944. Over the years we have built a legendary reputation for the best charcoal barbecued chicken in the world. Ask anyone who knows! We selectively buy farm fresh plump chickens and then we slowly roast them over hardwood charcoal, in our custom built brick ovens. We make sure every chicken is crispy and golden on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside. When served with our famous dipping sauce, nothing compares. Simply delicious: Serving customers since 1944" Quest for best winner 5456 Sherbrooke St. west Take exit 64 - off Decarie Expressway Free parking at the rear of the restaurant or Call us for fast delivery at 514-489-7235 Limited delivery area

       Here's the menu present day:

Entrées  / Appetizers
Salade césar / Caesar salad SaladeChalet / Chalet salad Salade au chou / coleslaw Soupe au poulet / Chalet chicken soup	2.85 / 5.95 2.85 / 5.95 1.60 / 6.50 2.85
À la carte
Poulet entier  / whole chicken Poitrine / breast Cuisse / leg Demi poulet / half chicken 2 cuisses / 2 legs Frites / fries Pommes de terre au four / baked potato Sauce bbq Chalet	15.25 6.75 5.75 8.50 7.65 2.25 / 5.95 2.25 .90
Repas Poulet / Chicken Dinners*
Repas cuisse / leg dinner Repas poitrine / breast dinner Repas demi poulet / half chicken dinner Repas 2 cuisse / 2 leg dinner Sandwich au poulet chaud / hot chicken sandwich            -   viande brun / dark meat            -   viande blanche / white meat *chaque repas est servi avec frites, sauce bbq et pain grillé / all meals are served with fries, bbq sauce and toasted roll	8.75 9.75 11.50 10.50   8.75 9.75
Repas Familial / Family Pak
Poulet entier, frite familial, 2 sauces, salade de chou familial et 4 petits pains / Whole chicken, family fries, 2 sauces,            family coleslaw  and 4 rolls	☺ 24.95
Desserts
Tartes / pies            -   pommes / apple - pécans / pecan, coconut - au cinq fruits / five fruit -   à la crème boston / Boston cream pie	2.95  2.95 2.95 3.25
Gateau / cakes            -  chocolat                       -  fromage / cherry cheese            -  carrot	3.60 3.85 3.60
Boissons gazeuses  / soft drinks	1.60

    and here's the webadress:       http://www.chaletbbq.com/  

       Have Fun & Remember Verdun..........!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                       Here's an old shot of 'AuCoqModerne' delivery car & store frontage in Verdun:          

                                                                     HF&RV 

Queen's Park Velodrome circa 1899

Another map (Carey) has turned up showing the area where the Queen's Park velodrome was situated as indicated by the oval: Verdun ave., Willibrord, Church and facing Gertrude. I find it fascinating that such a large stadiun wich contained up to 12,000 people exhisted in Verdun in the late 1900s when you consider that there where less than 2000 residents at that time. Of course, it required residents from the surrounding Montreal area to be viable. This structure was the creation of the dynamic personality  of Ulric-Ucal Dndurand who was a Verdun resident and who was the first to have an automobile in Montreal/Verdun. Ccheck out my photo Album no. 31 for more photos on this subject.

Guy

Blue Jays

Incredible baseball season.
Bill

Reunion: Alice (Bundza) Mossey

I am now posting under "Blog". I am anxious to see how it comes up.

What: Reunion with Alice (Bundza) Mossey (Awesome elementary school teacher !!!) When: Sat. May 9, 2009 (4-7pm) Where: Cuccina Linda, 3900 Wellington / Hickson, Verdun, QC H4G 1V3 (514-362-9618) Contacts: Alice (Bundza) Mossey, E-Mail: Apmossey@aol.com OR,  Louise Lafontaine, E-Mail: l.lafontaine@rogers.com Note: Have an appetizer and drink, courtesy of Alice. Bring pictures of children, grandchildren, school, classes, etc. Share memories over a fun & delicious Italian dinner at Linda Minicucci's restaurant. Alice is looking forward to seeing the students she taught as well as other students !