Gary'sGlimpses

Lou Miles was a famous Toronto Tailor and a man about town. We became great friends and went out on many parties dinners and the like with his girlfriend Wendy. They also spent many nights at my bar.

Austin Clarke Another old friend bit the dust. I met Austin in the pilot in 1965. We assumed he was a student he looked studious always neatly dressed in a shirt and tie and a blazer. with dark-rimmed glasses, He kept pretty much to himself usually sitting in the front with enough light to read. Somehow we got together and had many great conversations over a year or so. He had unassuming intelligence, and curiosity and was a great storyteller.  He mentioned writing a book I had never heard of. Then suddenly he wrote a piece for the Telegram or Maclean's or something entitled " I Have No White Friends". I confronted him "Hey I thought we were friends." " ya we are friends he grinned and bought he drinks." I didn't mean it that way more political like' and we continued our friendly talks until he published a book and disappeared from the scene. A few years later I met him at the track with his wife and we had a pretty good day and went out for ...

 Dianne was a regular good looking and engaging. She moved to L.A. about the sametime I moved to the movie biz. She Edits and Publishes  an online magazine there

Dianne spent many nights at my bar and we had a close personal relationship that in another time and place could have gotten very serious. Dianne Mae Heatherington  (May 14, 1948 – October 22, 1996) was a  Canadian  singer of several genres, particularly rock, whose musical career spanned nearly two decades. In the latter part of her career, she became a successful businessperson in the film security industry, while at the same time enjoying modest success as a Canadian film and television actress. She was nominated for a  Juno Award in 1981  in the category of  Most Promising Female Vocalist of the Year . She also hosted her own national  CBC Television  series,  Dianne , in 1971. [1] In May 1993, she was diagnosed with  ovarian cancer  from which she died on October 22, 1996, aged 48, in Toronto. [2] CLICK ON PHOTO FOR MUSIC

I met Peter when he was doing his TV Show. I guess it put him under a lot of pressure. He would come to my bar a couple of times a week to unwind. We spent many a night just the 2 of us in my backroom playing pinball for 20 bucks a game. We talked about a lot of things. One morning for some reason we ended up back at his place, some lady making breakfast or something. At eight o clock in the morning we were sitting at his kitchen table on Yorkville Ave. with a bottle of wine on the go. We were very very drunk. Out of the blue he stops and says. "Want to know what is the most important thing I ever did in my life?" Of course I said "Sure." he proceeded to tell me about a hockey game he had played. Something about beating a really tough team from another town. I don't remember how old he was when he played this game or anything. I just thought of all the things he had accomplished and that is what he thought of. It was not long after this that Peter wrote "...

I always had time for Reiner. Not long before he died he messaged me apologizing for not talking to me more and I would second that. We had a couple of little adventures together and a few great get-togethers. I was part of a conspiracy with MacLean & Maclean to say fuck on his show.

 Burton Cummings is no longer talking to me. I have had a troubled history with Burton Gary MacLean was a friend of Burton's and he brought him to my after-hours bar and introduced him. I bought him a drink e chatted for a while and i drifted off to tend to some bar business. Suddenly there is an awful racket screaming and yelling. It is Burton and he is attacking Peter Gzowski. I can't believe it. At his time Peter was doing his TVshow and he and his crew were my best customers They were there every night the show was on (not always peter) They were the major source of my Income and there was no question. I escorted Burton out the door. 15 Minutes later Burton shows up and apologizes profusely saying he won't do it again.  I buy him a drink. In 15 minutes he's yelling at Gzowski again. (I have no idea what the problem was. It was beside the point.I escort him out. He came back and apologizes profusely says he won't do it again.  I buy him a drink. In 15 minutes he...

  Nick St. Nicholas, My dear friend Lesley McDonell married Nick. One night at my club she mentioned that Nick was starting a new band and he needed a space to rehearse and could he rent my space during the day. Anything for Lesley I agreed. I gave her a key and didn't give it another thought until Monday morning. I wake up to loud solo Bass. I forgot I slept upstairs during the day. One week of Bass. Next week Bass and Drums next week would have been Bass, Drums, Rythem Guitar. ETC. By then I had moved out to a Hotel for the next 2 months.  

Wow Patrick Watson died on my birthday. I was always a big admirer of Patrick from 'this hour has seven days" I met Patrick through Robert Markle. Patrick often showed up in the Toronto Art scene and we became casual friends. Then one day he called me to meet for drinks and he said his son had been going to my after-hours bar and had told Patrick how much he liked our late-night conversations with me. (I am not sure if I even knew he was Patrick's son) Anyway, Patrick just wanted to thank me for friending his son and hoped I would continue the friendship. I eventually lost contact with his son and I heard he died tragically. I felt lucky to know Patrick he was an oner, one of those guys who was brilliant and creative. unquestionable integrity. he was a great guy to talk to. I will always regret not being able to have spent more time with him.   

I was Henry Winkler's Bodyguard. (Would you believe minder?) At the second Festival of Festivals Film Festival in Toronto. I was a friend of Bill Marshals and ended up with all sorts of odd jobs. Like I was the host of the Hospitality Suite. However, at one of the celebrity parties, Bill asked me to accompany Henry. My job was to distract over-attentive fans and stop photographers from taking pictures of him smoking. I regret to say I didn't get much time to talk to him. I was kept busy with fans. When Henry had enough of talking to one. He would give me the nod. and I would enter the conversation giving Henry time to slip away.

"I sat in the dimly lit Grossman's Tavern  sipping on my drink, when in walked Cliff Bastien, the talented frontman of the band I managed.  he asked if I wanted to join him in seeing the legendary Fats Domino, who was performing at the El Macambo just a block up the street. I eagerly accepted and we made our way to the venue. As soon as we arrived, the energy in the air was electric. Fats Domino took the stage, effortlessly entertaining the crowd with his famous hits. Cliff and I were mesmerized by his performance, tapping our feet and singing along. After the first set, Cliff led me to the dressing room, where he confidently knocked on the door. To my surprise, Fats opened it with a warm smile and welcomed us inside. As Cliff introduced us, I couldn't help but feel starstruck in the presence of such a musical legend. To my amazement, Cliff and Fats were old friends. Cliff started telling Fats stories about Fat's relatives. Fats turned to me and said " Man he kn...

  Mike and my Mother  MICHAEL IRONSIDE(my crazy friendship with him.) I used to be in the movie business but when I met Michael I was  Toronto's leading  'bootlegger' I owned an after-hours club that was basically for musicians but I expanded it to the famous. And I had been notorious in the 60s for my lavish parties and I slowly built up an illegal business it was a lot of fun and very profitable and I met everybody and their dog. Mike was at the Art College of Ontario and had made this acclaimed 8mm film that won an award and thought he was somebody.  Meanwhile, I was the King of Toronto in those days (lol) and we clashed often, it took a couple of years for us to become friends he kept after me. Finally, when we did become friends, we were good friends.  People have often asked me how mike got his scar. Mike got his scar before I met him.  He told me he was sitting in his girlfriend's house having a beer and waiting while she changed as they were go...

I had known Ian for a bunch of years and he was a good friend of Morgan Vice who lived in one of my upstairs rooms. (Only musicians could live above an after hours club) Ian was going through a rough time when his marriage was breaking up and spent a lot of time in the bar and Morgan's place. One night Gary MacLean comes by. The Macleans had started as the folk group the vicious circle and Gary was a big fan of Ian's. SoI told him Ian was there. He was very excited to meet him and when I couldn't find him I led Gary up to Morgans's room. The door was open and in the dimly lit room, Ian was passed out on the floor. what could I do? "Ian Tyson, meet "Gary MacLean, "Gary Maclean, meet Ian Tyson.' Gary bent down, "Jesus he said That is Ian Tyson." (sorry Ian it was a long time ago) Some weeks later Ian came in with Christine Wookie. He was schmoozing and I got into a long talk with Christine. We hit it off pretty well in a friend like fashion an...

 I knew Al from the early sixties. he was a talented folk singer. He got involved in Scientology and seemed to lose it. He was mostly driving Cab when he hung out at my place in the seventies. He talked about a comeback but it never happened.

When I first opened there were a lot of nights when there would just be Danny, Mike MacDonald and Jim Jones and me listening to my fabulous juke box and drinking beer till dawn.

I get a phone call one night. It's Tom  Hedley  "Hey Mick Jagger wants to talk to you. " Allo  Gary Mick Jagger here. "Tony  Silverthorn  says "we might get a drink at your club?' A little stunned I said 'sure.' "Can you guarantee my safety?' "No Problem!' I assure him. "We are in a limo outside your door Will you let us in." I went down and escorted them in. they stood at the end bar, not obvious but in plain site and a few whispers went through the bar but basically my very hip  clientele  ignored them. They kind of got antsy after a while and Mick had to do a little prance on the way back from the washroom to get a couple of young ladies to harass them for a while. Mick got very drunk and he had to go and pick up Bianca at the airport so he asked me to get him back to the limo. I got Jesse  Frayne  to do that for me and she thanked me for months after that. Tony  Silverthorn  was the manager of the Windsor Arms at that ...

I liked Cathy from the first time I met her in 1965, she was Paul  Donnelly's  girlfriend. We were social friends always glad to see each other 

  Myrna Lorrie frequented my after-hours in the seventies, She was a lot of fun and I caught a few of her shows and liked her music. One night she showed up on the arm of Jerry Reed. (I'm a lover, not a fighter) Roseanne Cash was with them and she was with one of the Eagles. (I can never remember which one) apparently, she had a fling with him They were there almost every night for a week or so.

Helen was a night person, She was intelligent and sexy. She came to my bar often and we enjoyed each other's company. She invited me for dinner one night, And in her sensuous sultry voice recited one of her poems about losing her virginity to a sailor in my ear. I suffered instant arousal. Unfortunately, it was not to be her sister dropped in and the situation never rose again so to speak. After she went to LA. We got together at a TO film festival. I introduced her to the MacLean Brothers and we had a great party. Ahh. . .Helen sigh

  How I became an Artist and almost met Bob Dylan(I sat beside him)  In 1964 I had a job as Stainless steel tube mill operator having formerly worked as a shepherd And decided to become an Artist. i had always been artistic but I thought I would make it official. How does one become an Artist? I tried to enroll in the Art College of Ontario but they wouldn't take me because I failed Math so I thought the next best way to become an Artist was to hang out with Artists. So I did this    By now I had found out about 'The Pilot' A tavern at Yonge and Bloor.The pilot was reputed to be the Mecca of Artists this is where most of the famous ones hung out. Barry Hale was the Art Critic of the Telegram and wrote lots of stories about Artists at the pilot. (mostly because he hung out at the pilot) At that time the pilot was a bit of a problem for me because of the shifts I was on at the factory. So I show up at the pilot around noon. There are no artists and I didn't even notice...

 Gary was an early patron of my after-hours club. I talked to him on many nights when he was the only guy left. He was married and worried about money and maybe give up playing. Now he is a giant bass player on the Toronto scene. playing for Downchild and many other bands. he wrote these c omments I`m a little foggy on the time frame but I think your bar`s era was around 76/77.  Not the best time for my career as a blues musician.  Disco had taken out a number of live music clubs, punk and new wave were gaining a foot hold. Looking back, I think I was floundering with not much direction or creativity.  My music of choice was blues but I couldn`t get a good gig to save my life and I was burned out from being the band leader of Dollars through 74/75.  Making money was a challenge and hanging out in an after-hours bar wasn`t a wise choice for a guy with a family.  When I did get a gig, I`d spend a good chunk of my pay drinking at your place. I guess that bar o...

Lou Miles was a famous Toronto Tailor and a man about town. We became great friends and went out on many parties dinners and the like with his girlfriend Wendy. They also spent many nights at my bar.

 MICHAEL IRONSIDE(my crazy friendship with him.) I used to be in the movie business but when I met Michael I was  Toronto's leading  'bootlegger' I owned an after-hours club that was basically for musicians but I expanded it to the famous. And I had been notorious in the 60s for my lavish parties and I slowly built up an illegal business it was a lot of fun and very profitable and I met everybody and their dog. Mike was at the Art College of Ontario and had made this acclaimed 8mm film that won an award and thought he was somebody.  Meanwhile, I was the King of Toronto in those days (lol) and we clashed often, it took a couple of years for us to become friends he kept after me. Finally, when we did become friends, we were good friends.  People have often asked me how mike got his scar. Mike got his scar before I met him.  He told me he was sitting in his girlfriend's house having a beer and waiting while she changed as they were going out, suddenly there wa...

I met Craig Russell in the subway one night. He was on his way to his hit show at the Royal York. Here he was in the subway entertaining about 6 people. He was sitting beside a wino and a small group had gathered around him and he was entertaining them and had them in stitches. I stood and watched for a while and when I got an opening I held out my hand. "Hi Craig I always wanted to meet you. I am a friend of your friend Sandy's." " oh Sandy, How is she? he pushed against the wino slightly to make room for me to sit down. We talked about Sandy for a couple of minutes and suddenly he stopped and sniffed loudly, still sniffing he asked "What is that horrible smell?" he gasped. "I am afraid it is your friend," I said nodding to the wino. "Shit!" he said, "there goes the promise I made to myself to fuck anybody that asked me."

I met Harry Hibbs at the Horsehoe in Toronto about 1977.  He carried two cases his accordion and a briefcase for his music he said. He was there for the week and after a few days, we became pretty good friends so I got invited to the dressing room. He opened the briefcase to reveal two bottles of rum. Harry started off with a bang but by the end of the night he was getting a bit maudlin and as he sang 'Me mother thee tears streamed down his face. He struggled with booze but managed to open his own club 'Conception Bay. (My grandfather was from conception Bay. ) he was a grand entertainer.

There was a big birthday party for Bob Markle at at the Masonic Temple. Gord Lightfoot highlighted the show. Old friend Michael Sarrazin came with his steady girlfriend Jacqueline Bisset I was out with them at the bar the night before and she was kind of shy and didn't really meet a lot of people. I think Jackie was a bit fed up with Michael's drinking and by the time they got to the Masonic Temple they were barely talking. As I was the only one else she knew at all she hung out with me most of the night. A nice line in my memoir 'spent the evening dancing with Jacqueline Bisset stoned on acid.'

Roy Payne does not get his due as a great Canadian songwriter. he wrote two truly great songs. 'I wouldn't take a million dollars for a single Maple Leaf' which he wrote when he was in the Canadian Army in Egypt. And 'There are no price tags on the doors of Newfoundland ' both of which can be considered anthems No question he was a character I met him in Toronto in the summer of 75. The Horseshoe was still Country and Western. I had moved in across the street in June and the Horseshoe had become my local and by then i had set up an after hours club. (booze can). It came to pass that Roy owed Morty Star (The manager of the Horseshoe) $3,000.00. so Morty hired Roy for the whole month of August. the idea that he could get his money back. He made strict rules that Roy could have no bar privileges and he wasn't to drink. So I am sitting in a booth in the east half of the huge bar. Drinking jugs of drafts with a couple of friends Roy was just setting up for the gig on...

David Crombie Wilt Chamberlin and Mayor Mel Lastman. In 1976 I was the host of the Hospitality Suite at the Toronto Film Festival. Bill Marshal asked me to open early one day for his friend mayor David Crombie and guests. I always liked David he was smart and positive. The guests were Wilt Chamberlain and Mayor Mel Lastman. For a couple of hours, I sat between Wilt the Stilt and David the perfect tiny mayor listening to Wilt tell funny self-effacing stories of how he got ripped off on a million dollar racehorse etc. Not to mention too much about the twenty thousand women he slept with. I was impressed with Mel Lastman. He was a good listener and asked good questions.  At a later festival, I attended a Festival party at City hall and ended up smoking a joint in the Mayor's Office with a city Councillor.

I had the strangest meeting with Neil Young. I shared a Roast turkey dinner with him backstage at Maple Leaf Gardens. I was hanging out with my buddies MacLean and MacLean and kinda strange too they opened up for Neil. As it was we all shared the same huge dressing room and on his contract rider neil had demanded a full Roast Turkey dinner with all the trimmings. I cant remember whether this was before the show or after. anyway neil invited us to join him and i sat beside neil and we had a most pleasant conversation while we enjoyed the meal.

  A friend of mine Beau Chorney had this lawyer ( I am embarrassed i cant remember his name.)who I met on a deal we were working on.   So I ran into him in the 22 in Toronto, and after a drink, he invited me to join him for dinner at Fridays. he only said was meeting with his some of his clients. so I had no idea until we sat down with Yvan Cournoyer, Guy LaPointe, Henri Richard, and Frank Mahovlich. Peter Mavolich was late he had just bought a Rolls Royce and as he pulled up and we all went out to the street to see it. When he got out an empty Heineken bottle fell out which made us all laugh.  I was out of my league in the conversation, I was like the fifth wheel with this lot so I didn't say much just a few bon mots during dinner and mostly listened. I wish I remembered more but I guess I was a bit awed as it was such a surprise. meeting so many Hockey heroes at once is a bit much. I have always been a habs fan and peter was a favouite.