The Orillia on Robson:
The Orillia on Robson and Seymour Streets, was just a memory by the time I moved to Vancouver in the mid-1980s, but from time to time I see a mention or a photo of this early mixed-use structure at Robson and Seymour. One particularly poignant photo was taken before its destruction in the 1980s and shows the Orillia boarded up, covered in music handbills, smeared with graffiti, and the words “Save Me!” scrawled across one of the plywood boardings.
Story from Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
Tamale Parlor:
Author and historian Michael Kluckner tells me he used to play pool there in the 1960s and that it was well known for Sid Beech’s Vancouver Tamale Parlor, which operated there for decades as a popular dining and late-night hangout. Beech’s eclectic menu ranged from tamales and enchiladas to Chinese noodles, spaghetti, soup and sandwiches.
Over the years there were rumours of a brothel that had set up shop in the Orillia. It was Funland Arcade, for a time, and Twiggy’s, a gay disco. Twiggy’s morphed into Faces in the 1970s.
Built for William Tait:
The Orillia was built in 1903 for retired lumber baron and real estate tycoon Owner William Tait who owned several rental properties and his house at 752 Thurlow Street. Originally a two-storey wooden rooming house comprising six row houses, the Orillia first appears with tenants in the 1905 city directory. Residents listed include a nurse, a painter, a cutter, a saddler and a clerk. In 1909, Tait added another floor for retail businesses.
Real estate was good to Tait, and in 1911 he built his Shaughnessy dream home. Glen Brae was dubbed “the Mae West” by locals because of its two outlandish turrets. Tait died in 1919, and Glen Brae changed hands several times, becoming the headquarters for the Kanadian Knights of the Ku Klux Klan in 1925, and eventually the home of Canuck Place Children’s Hospice.
Fate was less kind to the Orillia. After years of neglect the building was demolished in 1985 and replaced four years later by the 16-storey Vancouver Tower.
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14 comments on “The Orillia (1903-1985)”
Eve, so very interesting. Much more fascinating and colorful buildings than the glass towers of this century. The houses of yesterday looked like mansions from another day and time. My mom told me that if you had a big house back in the day in North Van, it meant that it was built for a doctor.
Just found this site. It’s wonderful. Thank you.
Thanks so much for saying so. And thanks for letting me know about the subscription problem, I’ll ask my techie to take a look next week. Eve
PS – The ‘Subscribe’ in the left hand column would not work. Three failures. Msg said to contact/notify the webmaster.
Eve, your book “Vancouver Exposed” is a home run!
Faces was a standard downtown bar as I recall. Doors on both Robson and Seymour, or am I dreaming that? No matter. It was a handy place to grab a beer. One time after a few rounds, we did something questionable, can’t remember what now, and they gave us the bum’s rush. Our group of guys decided to hang out elsewhere after that. Within a year developers tore down the building, unfortunately.
Another one bites the dust.
The Robson ‘entrance’ was actually the fire exit. They sometimes opened it on busy nights to air out the smoke! You had to enter on Seymour, and usually sign in, because it had a private liquor license.
Thank you Eve for confirming a memory for me. I remember passing by this building many times when I was very young in my parents car and wondering about it.
I have similar memories of seeing this building and feeling sorry that it disappeared.
Oh where to begin. Firetrap for one thing led to its demise.
Faces was a bottle club. And private with the cliche peep hole where either you were granted entrance or denied. Mr Savage you must have been in the Castle or Ambassador.
I can not believe this building is more famous just for the fact Dr. Bonnies fav shoe guy started there with then partner John Fox in an
over the top clothing store caller Beau Brummel. With its pressed tin curved ceiling and denim padded floor and walls jean room. Fox & Fluevog was in the next section with $300 ( then . $1500 today) blue snakeskin platform’s. Faces was a place where 3 Dog Night came to after a show or stars looking to get high. One night a guy came up to me introducing himself as James Williamson. He was told I had ” dolls” . Yes, the term used in the must see movie Valley of the Dolls a Judy Garland expose in a way.
Reds or Tuies I said. Both so outside in the parking lot we went with 1/2 the totally uncool ppl at the bar. Deal done
Into the red MGB and down Seymour the wrong way. Why did you not intro me many asked? He did not intro himseld in that manner I said. It was Iggy Pop! I only had the pills as my buddy a DJ wouls lose track of how many and pass out on the turntable. Later he said where did my pills go. I sold some to Iggy Pop . Sure you did he said. Lol
Love tht story!!!
Sunday tea dances at Faces. They were the best! Years later a health practitioner of mine told me he met his wife there, she was a go go girl dancing in a cage. I don’t remember the cages, but alas, there’s a lot I don’t remember from that era other than it was a ton of fun. Thanks for the memories Eve!
[…] Missing Heritage: The Orillia […]
One night back in the early 80s I was walking past this building and there were fire trucks and firemen scrambling everywhere. It was difficult to tell where the emergency was but I found out quickly when a smoking mattress came flying out the second storey window and landed about 8’ from me. I lost a little faith in the fire department that evening.
[…] Missing Heritage: The Orillia […]