Gary'sGlimpses

 I remember that night vividly. Bernie Fiedler, a well-known figure in the Yorkville music scene, brought Joni Mitchell to my after-hours club. Bernie and I were good friends, and he often frequented my club, sometimes bringing along his star attractions from the Riverboat coffeehouse. The Riverboat was an iconic venue, part of a prestigious circuit that included notable places like Detroit’s Chess Mate and New York’s Bitter End. Situated below street level, the Riverboat was an intimate setting that seated 120 people in red booths, surrounded by pine walls and brass portholes. Many great names in music had performed there, from Howlin’ Wolf to James Taylor.  It was one of those quiet nights when Bernie walked in with Joni Mitchell. We sat around, enjoying drinks and engaging in conversations that flowed naturally. After about an hour, Joni, with her signature poise and quietly engaging demeanor, asked if we wanted her to sing some songs from her new record. Of course, I jumpe...

  This was in 1979 I had just quit the booze can biz and was transgressing into the Movie biz.  A Night with Leonard ut play ▶ + Save to documents My usual haunt was Club 22 at the Windsor Arms, a spot where I always felt at ease, my own enclave of comfort and confidence. One evening, as I meandered into the familiar space, the faces that typically welcomed me were absent, so I settled for a drink at the bar. While scanning the room, a lone figure caught my attention—Leonard Cohen. With uncharacteristic boldness, I approached and introduced myself. "Hey Leonard, I'm Gary LeDrew, a friend of Lesley McDonells. She often speaks of you." Leonard’s eyes immediately sparkled with recognition. "The lovely Lesley. Have you seen her lately?" he inquired. I mentioned that I hadn’t seen much of her since she married that St. Nicholas fellow. This exchange about our mutual friend quickly eased us into further conversation. Being from Montreal, I shared my personal history...

 **Meeting John Allan Cameron at the Horseshoe (1975)** The year was 1975, and the iconic Horseshoe Tavern on Queen Street in Toronto was buzzing with energy. That was the night I met John Allan Cameron, a fellow Cape Bretoner and a legendary figure in the folk and Celtic music scene. I had recently opened an after-hours bar right across the street from the Horseshoe, a cozy spot where musicians and music lovers could unwind after a gig. Between John’s sets, I mustered the courage to introduce myself, sharing my Cape Breton roots. Our conversation flowed easily, filled with the usual Cape Breton inquiries of "who you know" and "where you're from." There was an instant connection, and we spent the night talking about our shared homeland, music, and life. What started as a simple introduction developed into a genuine friendship. Over the years, John and I often crossed paths in the vibrant musical scene of Toronto. He always took the time to stop, chat, and catc...

ALAN MACRAE Alan McRae, Ont.: Born in the British Isles, the son of a highland piper, Alan was a gold miner and with ...? was instrumental in organizing Canada's first folk club in Vancouver, BC. He moved to Toronto and became the resident singer at Toronto's first "folk bar" the Steeles' Tavern. he played the Horseshoe Tavern most of the summer of 1975. He was a mentor and friend to many Toronto folk musicians through the 60s and 70s before he passed away. T.C. played the Horseshoe the summer of 75 and hung out at my bar. I admired his drive a real folk star in spite of the lack of natural talent he could entertain. comments: Anonymous said... I remember persuading Basil Steele to book Gordon Lightfoot, give him a try for a week. Gordon was at home there for a long time. Hard to be precise about the year in the 1960s but Brita, Gord's first wife brought their first child to Steeles one night, the first night the child was out of the house. During this perio...

I hung out with Ken for a while at his coffee house in Toronto. The New Gate of Cleve. I was hanging out with him one afternoon. He was working on a poster for Mariposa 63. Ed Cowan came by and through him I ended up with a job at the Mariposa Folk Festival. Somewhere along the way Ken broke a leg and was hobbling along with a cast. A couple of weeks after Mariposa, Goodwood Go track had a big festival weekend with concerts and a tent city. I was a duty bootlegger. I had a tent filled with booze. Ken stayed in the tent with me. When suddenly we were raided by the provincial police. Ken and I sneaked away and sat up on a hill and watched the police check every tent except for mine. Ken was pretty much a wild guy to hang with at this time. I think this was his last hurrah. It was the last I saw of him as he suddenly cleaned up his act and concentrated on his painting. Ken Danby (1940-2007) was one of Canada's foremost practitioners of contemporary realism. Rooted in the Canadian p...

I met Jay (Eugene)Smith and the Majestics on a cold rainy fall night at Goodwood Go-Kart Track in 64. It was supposed to be the Last night of a Gala Weekend of racing and a tent city and a hootnanny etc. but they had got raided by the police for selling liquor illegally which was mostly me. (I was never caught) Nobody showed up. They were huddled on the porch when I met them trying to decide what to do. I gave Eugen a bottle of whisky to warm them up before I left. I met Jay (Eugene)Smith and the Majestics on a cold rainy fall night at Goodwood Go-Kart Track in 64. It was supposed to be the Last night of a Gala Weekend of racing and a tent city and a hootnanny etc. but they had got raided by the police for selling liquor illegally which was mostly me. (I was never caught) Nobody showed up. They were huddled on the porch when I met them trying to decide what to do. I gave Eugen a bottle of whisky to warm them up before I left.

I was introduced to him at the Filmores Hotel in Toronto when they tried a Jazz format He sat down with me between sets

Shared with Public I was Captain of a Charter Sailboat in Orillia in 1984. Brian chartered us for a night cruise for a couple dozen people. I partied with them afterward.

Back in the seventies when he was playing at Sherbourne Charles in Toronto and Doug Bush took me to meet him, Now I had a lot of black friends in those days and hung out with them and Doug and I had a run-in over a girl at one time. anyway, Doug led me down a path that Charlie took offense to, and became an argument and I had to leave Always felt bad about this.

Drinking with Richard Burton  "During the making of 'Circle of Two', I had the privilege of being Richard Burton's drinking companion. While I wasn't part of the actual filming, my company UDO Productions had owned the movie and sold it to Bill and Hank and I had been finishing some details. Every day, I would be sitting in the 22, and at the end of the day, Bob Harris, Richard's valet, would come in and hand me a crisp twenty-dollar bill. It was my winnings from our ongoing bet on the World Series. Richard had chosen the Phillies, while I went for Kansas City. As part of my ritual, I would always buy the loser a drink. And as soon as I pocketed the twenty, Richard would slip into the booth to collect his drink. But when he won, he would show up alone, collect his twenty, and buy me a drink in return. (The series went for seven games, with Kansas City ultimately emerging victorious.) Our friendly competition wasn't about the money, it was just an excuse f...

In the heart of Toronto, I ran an exclusive after-hours bar, a hidden gem known for its unique clientele and enigmatic charm. Gaining entry to this clandestine establishment wasn't easy; you either had to be a celebrity, most notably a musician, or have the privilege of knowing me personally. This unwritten rule provided a layer of secrecy that kept the authorities at bay for a long time. It was a sanctuary for those who craved anonymity and the freedom to unwind without the scrutiny of the public eye. One memorable evening, as I was tending to the door, a tall man donning braids and a large white cowboy hat appeared. He introduced himself in a confident yet humble manner. "Gary, you don't know me. I am Gordon Tootoosis," he said. "I am an actor, and a good actor too, I can play any tribe." His earnest declaration and imposing presence were enough for me to grant him entry. Gordon's reputation preceded him, particularly for his role in the movie Alien Th...

Michael Snow SALUTE Michael Snow a Canadian Icon has passed away. Condolences to family and friends I had the pleasure of knowing Michael personally and even attending a few of his art openings. We would often share a glass or two, and maybe even a toke or two, while listening to the talented Jazz band he would bring along. Though I must admit, I did suffer through a couple of his more experimental films. But let's not make this story about me. It's about the incredible party I was invited to after a Michael Snow retrospective at the AGO. Held in a lavish mansion in the affluent neighborhood of Rosedale, Toronto, I couldn't help but feel like a stranger in a strange land. The party had all the makings of a great time with delicious food and an abundance of booze, but it seemed like the usual crowd was missing. Even my attempts to strike up a conversation with Michael were thwarted by the never-ending line of admirers. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, I excused myself to find ...

I met Farley in the 60's we had the same Hair Stylist (Chris Beacom) and we had a few drinks at the Pilot and talked of Newfoundland. i remember one of his lines. I would like to go back to Newfoundland, maybe when Joey dies.

I met Vera Lynn at the start of a parade in Toronto. the parade was forming at the legislature grounds on University Ave. I was tooling around on my bicycle and chatting with some people I knew in the parade. (Elwy Yost for one) When a bus with an American marching band arrived late. This held up the parade and I peddled slowly on down by the waiting parade. And There was Vera Lynn sitting alone in the back of a huge old Bentley limo convertible. She asked me if I knew why the parade hadn't started so I told her why and she just started chatting asking questions about Toronto etc. and we chatted for about 10 minutes until the parade started. She was very natural gracious and open and I was thrilled to meet her

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 that 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 that 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 fo...

I saw and met Dick Nolan and had a drink or two with him  when I was hanging out with Roy Payne at the horseshoe in Toronto. He had one of those great voices. CLICK ON THE PHOTO FOR MUSIC

Me and Keenan Wynn Spent the afternoon chatting with him in between takes of the 'Littlest Hobo shoot at my parent's place. ( The Balloonist 1980) I wish I knew then what I know now. So many movies of 40s and fifties have Keenan in them that i watched on TCM. I had no idea he was so versatile and prolific. he did not give autographs because of Parkinsons I think. But had continuity girl take a Polaroid

I met Norman at the Club 22 at the Windsor Arms in Toronto sometime around 78 79 I forget exactly how we met but I think we were both drinking alone in a slow afternoon in the bar. It took me a few minutes but I remember his eyes lit up a bit when I recognized him. I was very young when he was the figurehead of CBC News. I knew both of his children David from Hippie days and Suzanne from the movie biz. He had seemed a little bit sad and a bit lost but brightened to have an avid listener. He had great stories and enlightened opinions. For about six months or so I would see him once a week or so and always happy to chat. One afternoon I happened to be sitting with a couple of CTV people when he came in I invited to our table and introduced him. I remember his smile as he received words of admiration. I was saddened to see some weeks later that he had been mugged and beaten badly. He died not long afterwards

I don't remember how or where I met Gerry but it was in 1967 at one of the many Art party openings etc. Somehow i became Gerry's poor struggling artist and he liked buying me a few drinks and a chat at occasional meetings we became good friends over the years and in the eighties when he had moved to Beaverton he usually looked for me at the Club 22 for an hour or so of drinks and talk. I was also friends with his wife Sheila and I even silkscreened some material for her fashion designs. I remember one night at the old pilot i came in a Gerry invited me to sit with his large party which included a renowned heart surgeon and Eric Nesterenko the hockey player. They were buying rounds which were fairly expensive so when it was my turn Gerry said I will pay for the poor artist. As it happened I had $6000 in my pocket for a group cannabis deal. So I couldn't help but bring out the roll and pay the round. Mostly we met at Art openings but later he would seek me out at the 22 and...