In his first book “Rockin’ on the Rideau: Ottawa’s Golden Age of Rock and Roll”, veteran Ottawa broadcaster and musicologist Jim Hurcomb pulled back the curtain on the first 15 years of Rock and Roll in Ottawa, from 1955-1970. That fascinating story continues in “Rockin’ on the Rideau 2: The 70’s”. It was the decade when Ottawa welcomed some of the biggest bands in the world to town, including Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Queen, Kiss, David Bowie and many, many others. Rock FM radio arrived in Ottawa, and Geoff Winter, Brian Murphy, Shelly Hartman and Delmer and Cecil on CHEZ 106 became household names. We lined up to get into Barrymore’s and the Black Swan, and travelled across the river to enjoy Red Hot and Larkspur at The Ottawa House or the legendary Chaud, run by the mighty Gerry Barber. Midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Towne Cinema were wild, boisterous parties, and Punk Rock burst on the scene when The Rotter’s Club opened on Bank Street. And, of course, we had the great local bands: Octavian, The Cooper Brothers, Heaven’s Radio, Avalon, The Action, Tokyo Rose and Bolt Upright and the Erections, to name a few. Relive the best days and nights of your lives, with “Rockin’ On The Rideau 2: The 70’s".
The music world exploded into Technicolor on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and ignited the music phenomenon dubbed “The British Invasion”. In the weeks and months to come, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Ottawa teenagers put away their hockey sticks and picked up guitars, starting up bands in basements and garages, with visions of screaming girls and stardom dancing in their heads. For some, that dream came true, in packed High School Gymnasiums, Church basements, bowling alleys and every other venue they could find. Groups were working three or four nights a week on both sides of the Ottawa River. The Esquires, The Staccatos, The Townsmen, Don Norman and the Other Four and many others cut records that were as good as anything coming out of Britain or the States. DJ's Gord Atkinson, Nelson Davis and Al "Pussycat" Pascal make them stars by playing their records. Sandy Gardiner followed their exploits in his weekly "teen" column in the Ottawa Journal, and we checked out the weekly "Swing Set" to get the lowdown on the newest groups. From the day Elvis Presley came to town in 1957, to the release of The Five Man Electrical Band’s mega-hit “Signs”, we relive those memories with the bands, the clubs, the concerts and the colorful cast of characters who made it happen. Pull back the curtain on the magic of "Ottawa’s Golden Age of Rock and Roll”,
In his first book “Rockin’ on the Rideau: Ottawa’s Golden Age of Rock and Roll”, veteran Ottawa broadcaster and musicologist Jim Hurcomb pulled back the curtain on the first 15 years of Rock and Roll in Ottawa, from 1955-1970. That fascinating story continues in “Rockin’ on the Rideau 2: The 70’s”. It was the decade when Ottawa welcomed some of the biggest bands in the world to town, including Led Zeppelin, Genesis, Queen, Kiss, David Bowie and many, many others. Rock FM radio arrived in Ottawa, and Geoff Winter, Brian Murphy, Shelly Hartman and Delmer and Cecil on CHEZ 106 became household names. We lined up to get into Barrymore’s and the Black Swan, and travelled across the river to enjoy Red Hot and Larkspur at The Ottawa House or the legendary Chaud, run by the mighty Gerry Barber. Midnight showings of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Towne Cinema were wild, boisterous parties, and Punk Rock burst on the scene when The Rotter’s Club opened on Bank Street. And, of course, we had the great local bands: Octavian, The Cooper Brothers, Heaven’s Radio, Avalon, The Action, Tokyo Rose and Bolt Upright and the Erections, to name a few. Relive the best days and nights of your lives, with “Rockin’ On The Rideau 2: The 70’s".
The music world exploded into Technicolor on February 9, 1964, when the Beatles appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and ignited the music phenomenon dubbed “The British Invasion”. In the weeks and months to come, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Ottawa teenagers put away their hockey sticks and picked up guitars, starting up bands in basements and garages, with visions of screaming girls and stardom dancing in their heads. For some, that dream came true, in packed High School Gymnasiums, Church basements, bowling alleys and every other venue they could find. Groups were working three or four nights a week on both sides of the Ottawa River. The Esquires, The Staccatos, The Townsmen, Don Norman and the Other Four and many others cut records that were as good as anything coming out of Britain or the States. DJ's Gord Atkinson, Nelson Davis and Al "Pussycat" Pascal make them stars by playing their records. Sandy Gardiner followed their exploits in his weekly "teen" column in the Ottawa Journal, and we checked out the weekly "Swing Set" to get the lowdown on the newest groups. From the day Elvis Presley came to town in 1957, to the release of The Five Man Electrical Band’s mega-hit “Signs”, we relive those memories with the bands, the clubs, the concerts and the colorful cast of characters who made it happen. Pull back the curtain on the magic of "Ottawa’s Golden Age of Rock and Roll”,
Penelope becomes the victim of a cruel hoax. Ferneydale, now a rich novelist, once proposed to her, but she turned him down. He married Sophie, although he had a string of mistresses and young boys. Penelope married Caspar, but he is withdrawn, scholarly, boring, and unsuccessful. There are many twists to this tale, not least the final surprise.
During a lifetime in professional sports, Jim Finks touched nearly every rung on the ladder. As a player during the National Football League's Golden Era of the 1950's, Finks suffered a broken neck making a tackle and later survived to become a Pro Bowl quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He coached Paul Hornung to a Heisman Trophy at Notre Dame in 1956 before cutting his teeth as general manager of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. From Canada, Finks headed south to help build Super Bowl teams as GM of the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears. He even brought his winning touch to baseball as president of the Chicago Cubs in 1984 before rescuing the New Orleans Saints from pigskin purgatory and elevating them to playoff respectability. Finks spent 26 years as an NFL general manager and was a strong candidate to replace Pete Rozelle as commissioner in 1989 while earning NFL executive of the year awards in 1973 and 1987. Jim Finks was admired for his honesty and integrity in a business where the shafts and knives often fill the air. Finks was a unique individual, and "It's Been a Pleasure" will impart even more of that wisdom.
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