The Melbourne Hotel became No5 Orange in 1971, after 67 years as a hotel and beer parlour
The Melbourne Hotel opened in August 1904 at Westminster Avenue and Powell Street. According to the daily classified ads that ran in the Vancouver Daily World and Province, it had steam heating, electric lights and a white cook. Rates ranged from $1.25 to $1.50 per day with a special rate for long-term boarders.
The Brandolinis
Around the time that the Melbourne Hotel* was establishing itself in the city, Leone Brandolini arrived in Vancouver. He bought a house at 507 Prior Street, took labouring jobs, and became a bootlegger during BC’s Prohibition (1917) and later during US Prohibition (1920-1933). He moved into rum running competing against Daniel Joseph Kennedy for marketshare.
Leone’s son Goliardo (Gillie) eventually joined the family business, married Ermie (sister to the legendary street photographer Foncie Pulice) and they had Leon and Charlene. Younger son Harry arrived 17 years later. Both Leone and Gillie did time at Oakalla prison, but it didn’t slow the family business and Gillie’s sister Elma took baby Charlene out for a walk every day around the East End in a stroller with a false bottom.
“She would take her daily stroll from 507 Prior with Charlene,” says Harry. “Unbeknownst to the law at the time, she was actually making sales of alcohol as well.” Charlene became a popular performer in Vancouver with a star on Granville Street. Gilley made enough money from working at the Columbia Hotel and bootlegging to buy the Melbourne Hotel in 1942. Gillie ran the beer parlour and Elma looked after the rooms.
The Melbourne Hotel
“Pretty well every hotel at that time was built with a beer parlour on the main floor and a few floors of single rooms,” says Harry. “It was literally just a room with a sink and a communal washroom on each floor.” Gillie’s son Leon went to work at the family hotel, and Harry started working the nightshift as a teen in the late ‘60s. After high school he worked in the beer parlour.
By the early 1970s, the area had changed and Gillie sold the hotel. “He sold it to a couple of young guys who had made a bit of money in real estate and thought it would be fun to buy a skidrow hotel,” says Harry. “When it came time to do the deal, one of the owners wanted to change the name to something New Orleans style—and he wanted a colour and a number in the name.” He asked Gillie to name his favourite colour –which was orange, and his favourite number. “My dad said that’s easy. He was a huge Yankies fan and Joe Dimaggio wore Number 5.” Leon stayed on to manage the beer parlour and Gillie held the mortgage.
No5 Orange
The new owners painted the building orange, brought in a live DJ and cranked up the rock ‘n roll. It was hugely successful, but by 1973 they were tired of the business, Gillie had passed away and Harry, Leon, Charlene and their mother Ermie bought the building back.
The night business boomed but the place was an empty shell during the day. They tried various ideas to increase business, and then one day Leon checked out the Olympic Hotel in North Vancouver. He noticed that the strippers danced for the lunch crowd and left. “Leon said ‘why are they doing this? They have a place full of people and then they stop the entertainment, Why?”
The Brandolinis called a family meeting and voted to turn the No5 into a daytime strip club. “Leon’s hand went up, Charlene’s hand went up, my Mum’s hand went up, and I got outvoted,” says Harry.
Strip Club
Charlene’s husband James Hibbard, a choreographer from Los Angeles, worked with the strippers during the day and live music continued at night. No5 went under renovation in 1976 and Harry brought in the R&B Allstars to play weekends. It was a big hit, but after a year or so the competition from nearby hotels started to affect business and the line ups outside the building were no longer. “We decided to flip the switch and go full time with the dancers, from 11 in the morning to 1 a.m.,” says Harry. “We created a really great business and treated everybody with respect. If we hired you, you became part of the family. The dancers felt very safe at No5.”
The Brandolini’s bought the Brass Rail Pub in Coquitlam and sold the No5 in 1981—after nearly forty years as a family business. Leon died in 2012, and his son Dean is now the keeper of the family’s colourful history.
*Being from Melbourne, Australia I was intrigued how and why the Melbourne Hotel got its name. The Brandolini’s don’t know, and according to Changing Vancouver, the first owners Donald McRae and Elizabeth McCannel are from Ontario.
Related:
- Iaci’s Casa Capri
- Bernie Smith and the Penthouse
- Foncie’s North Vancouver Connection
- That House on Yale Street
- 446 Union Street
- © Eve Lazarus, 2022
25 comments on “How the Melbourne Hotel became No5 Orange”
It may be a long shot, but there is a Melbourne, Ontario near London. Although Elizabeth McCannel (nee McRae) was from an area in eastern Ontario closer to Cornwall, perhaps her late husband (also called Donald) was from Melbourne. https://changingvancouver.wordpress.com/2021/06/28/205-main-street/
Interesting and certainly possible!
I lived in the Fairmont Apartments for ten years starting in 1967. One of the tenants was a Mr. Kinread, and he worked as the desk clerk at the Melbourne Hotel.
My bus route westbound along Powell Street to Stanley Park had a bus stop just west of Main Street. On the north side of Powell there was an old service garage and parking area for the Vancouver Police Department. it was torn down and a new fire hall was built to replace the one at Cordova and Gore, which became a live theatre.
When the Melbourne Hotel became No. 5 Orange, the windows that faced North onto Powell Street gave a clear view of the interior, especially from the seats in the bus. More that once passengers (and the driver) could see total nudity. One day I drove by the fire hall and all the firemen were standing on the sidewalk watching the action. Later the windows were covered with photos of fire engines, and eventually walled in altogether.
Thanks Angus – that’s very funny!
In the summer months the strippers used to sun tan naked on the roof of the adjoining building to the south to get that fresh summer tan on before hitting the stage. The building is no longer there now, torn down and replaced with a new building, taller building. The girls accessed the roof via the 2nd floor lobby window of the 2nd floor of the No. 5 Orange. Across the street is the Law Courts and the judges offices all viewed Main Street and the No. 5. Without a word of a lie, the judges or some of them would call my Dad asking him what time will the strippers be tanning on the roof? I remember there used to be a kiddie pool out there too
Oh wow this is so cool, thank you Angus! I never knew this
In the mid 1980s, a group from our office [men and women] would have the occasional lunch at No.5 Orange. Haven’t been back there since. Wonder if it’s changed?
I note that the Post Covid Marquee yells “Get in Here Now!”. A little stripper humor?
The Berrettoni’s,Nik and Lina,arrived in Vancouver 1912.they had 3 sons,Charles,Julio and Barry before the death of Nick in 1920
They lived at 750 Princess St and 612 Union St.
The family knew the Brandolini s well ..went to school ,Strathcona,had the same teachers.
The Berrettoni’s own and operated two hotels ..The Rainer on Carrol St and the Marr on Powell St at the same time the Brandolini s own their hotels
My brother and myself are presently doing our family history.any information appreciated
Hey Paul that’s awesome! Thanks for that information, I did not know that about those hotels and your Family, my Dad was Leon (Gillies son). Gillies father Leone’s brother Santo managed the Rainier way back in the 20’s or 30’s, date unclear. I found a Christmas newspaper ad put out by the Rainier Hotel where the Rainier Hotel manager – Santo Brandolini wishes everyone a Merry Christmas. I wonder if Santo was working for your family at the time? Anyhow, nice to meet you! I’ve been doing a lot of research on my family as well, it’s been great fun. I’d love to get your contact info to discuss more. Ciao!
I was renting a room on Bidwell Street in 1971 when the owner of the house and some real estate partners bought the Melbourne Hotel. Barry hired my future brother-in-law Mark as manager.
I visited one afternoon and found a typical beer parlour of era. Red terry-towel table cloths and a handful of patrons. Long-haired Barry and Mark didn’t match the ambiance.
When I next returned a few months later it had been renovated and there were lineups at the door. The biggest No5 attraction at that time was the great sound system; something unheard of in beer parlours of the day.
My sister remembers that they gave out free popcorn and that she was hired to come in at night to sweep the food debris off the floors.
In later years I visited a few times for the music. I recall a little stage completely covered with six or eight musicians blasting out swinging jazz rock.
Eventually No5 went all in on shower power and strippers. It is a few decades since I’ve been inside but apparently it remains one of the classiest places on Vancouver’s Main Street.
I was Leone’s Molson Rep at the Brass Rail, it was the first account I changed to Molson draft beer, Leone was a great guy and customer to deal with. Leone then bought the Port Arms Hotel from the Alvaro’s.
I remember Cy Brandolini who was a sales rep with Labatts.
Alvaro’s long time family friends. I sold my operation in New West to the Alvaro brothers Nick and Meco
My uncle by Marriage with his Brother operated the New Empire Hotel and I was also in the Hotel business in New Westminster for over 20 years that was in the Family for over 60 years.
I also had very similar recalls during Prohibition days as my Grandfather was also operating using Studebaker Vehicle with false bottoms.
Great memories that bring back smiles, laughs and tears all good tears.
Dean, we never met but I had great visits with Cy.
Take care, remember those times.
Fred do you have some stories to share of the Empire Hotel? If so would love to hear them good or bad. What was the name of the hotel you sold to the Alvaro’s in New West? Was it the Terminal or something like that? My Dad talked about that Hotel and the Alvaro’s owning it
My Dad Leon was 50/50 partners at the Port Arms with John Alvaro. I believe my Dad bought out one of Johns brothers. Can’t remember exactly
I have been to the No 5 about ten times. I never noticed that the girls would access the stage from the second floor until my last time there. When I worked at Incendio I delivered food there one time and one of the girls on the floor came up to me and asked if I wanted any company. I said I’m working and I couldn’t believe how nice she became to me. But I’ve got to say the girl who I delivered for finished her routine just in time for dinner so I suddenly quit my job and asked her if Dave righetti was still on her mind and she said who the fuck is that and if you don’t give me my linguini I’m gonna strick a fork ball into you while you clean-up home plate. Later that night I had to deliver to 222 Main Street where they keep the records and I told them to play Put me in coach, I’m ready to play. And they said don’t you mean ready to pay. And I said as soon as you give me that $500 you owe me. What? They asked for extra mozarella and I gave it to them. A little Strikees humour. Don’t worry, Mr Ingrld didn’t get it either.
Why didn’t you just walk? Because then the pizza would have gotten cold,
Thanks for this story John – very colourful!
I met my future husband at #5 in 1973. His group of friends associated with my group of friends. Most of us worked at Alberta or Sask Wheat pool. It was a anomaly at the time because the other pubs were just drinking places and the clubs didn’t open until later in the evening. I don’t recall live bands, though, just recorded music. We weren’t allowed to dance in the pub. I covered for the cook, my SIL, a few times but I didn’t like it. The kitchen was tiny and not that clean. I can’t stand the smell of roast beef cooking to this day We had fun in the pub but can’t remember why we stopped going. Maybe because of the strippers.
I’m 68 now, been clean and sober since 81. In late 70 to mid 72, the Melbourne/No.5. was my daytime parlor…I was newish at the beginning to drinking and drugs . The Melbourne was my favorite place at first because it was quiet so as not to hurt my hangover, and was cool talking with all the old Italian guys…my evenings were spent mainly at the Travelers, and a few of the Granville hotels…I was into the Travelers at night, even as the MeL switched to No.5. The Travelers was more conducive to my group because we were selling and buying drugs, and had a good line of sight to the door so we could see cops coming in. Also the music at night in No.5 was to loud to do business. But even as my youth was not a pleasant experience I do have found memory’s of only the No.5…day and night..
Thanks so much for writing Dave and adding to the story. And, congratulations on 42 years of sobriety, that’s an amazing accomplishment!
Did you know that the first stripper was named Peaches. She came from Gary Taylors on Granville St. That was way before any stages etc. She gave Leon some ideas a they went with them. the rest is history.
Had no idea! Thanks for the history
What ever happened to Curtis Brandolini. I played hockey with him. I knew the Poison guys very well but just want to know about Curt.