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1/8 Vancouver’s “Gassy Jack” statue has been in the news recently. The statue dates back to 1970 and was commissioned by people wishing to and some novelty to the Gastown business area. It was made by BC artist Vern Simpson and subsequently gifted to the City.
2/8 Gastown was a different place back then. In the late 1960s it was almost demolished to make way for a freeway. Fortunately the area was saved from the wrecking ball. Here’s part of the “project 200” freeway plan that almost ruined everything.
3/8 One of the creepiest things in Gastown in the late 1960s was the “kill wall” from the St.Valentine’s Day Massacre. Bricks from the notorious wall were installed as an attraction at The Banjo Room (now The Alibi Room).
4/8 Around the same time, Gastown’s Trounce Alley was renamed “Blood Alley”. Again, mostly just to add more spooky / gruesome novelty thrills to the area.
5/8 The area attracted new businesses and entrepreneurs like John Fluevog. Here’s a pic of John Fluevog and his partner Peter Fox in 1970. They’re looking toward their first shop located at No.2 Powell Street. Behind them is the not-yet-installed Gassy Jack statue.
6/8 (Side Note for the classic car fans: I think that’s an MGTD Fluevog and Fox are posing with. Just for laughs, here’s a pic of JFK with an MGTD and also Marilyn Monroe and Cary Grant in an MGTD)
7/8 Gastown’s old-timey cobbled streets were added around 1974/5. The old-timey steam clock was added in 1977. Here’s Maple Tree Square in 1972 (note sign on far pole: "the original gassy jack's place")
8/8 All this to say the Gassy Jack statue’s origins are more about late ‘60s / early ‘70s marketing schmaltz than anything else. Maybe a better subject for the area would be a statue of … John Fluevog??
