The PNE kicks off today (Saturday August 17) and runs until September 2.
In 1992, I worked at the Vancouver Sun and that year I spent most of my August shifts at the PNE.
One day I’d write about the rodeo clown who had broken every bone in his body at least once. The next day I’d write about the Demolition Derby.
For more stories like this one, check out Vancouver Exposed: Searching for the City’s Hidden History
Demolition Derby:
Glenn Richards, 31 told me that racing is perfectly safe; he’s only been taken away by ambulance once. “The throttle stuck. It rang my bell pretty quick.”
Sadly, the daily exploding car attraction was cancelled that year after officials received too many noise complaints.
That year I got to tour the PNE prize home without having to line up.
Up until 1991, the PNE had beauty Queens—43 in fact. And while they were replaced by the Youth Ambassador Contest in 1992, the last Miss PNE, Kim Van Der Perre was here riding a PNE float.
That’s right, the first parade was in 1910 along Georgia, Granville and Hastings Streets—and the last wouldn’t be until 1995.
Back then it cost $9.50 to get in the gate and it was free for kids 12 and under. You paid $4 for cotton candy and a root beer, bought 18 mini doughnuts for $2 or spent a $1 a minute at the Laser Zone tent.
Rides:
Fortunately for me, I was seven months pregnant and not even the most world-weary editor would force me to go on the wooden roller-coaster, the fair’s most popular ride since 1958.
The hot new attraction at the PNE this year is the Thundervolt coaster from Italy which “blasts off with 1.3 Gs of acceleration through an illuminated tunnel, up a steep incline before an 18-meter drop.” Yikes, it makes the Pirate Ship look like a merry-go-round.
“The lady with her prizes is one of my favourite photos,” says Bruce. “I was so fortunate that she was back-lit which make her feather stand out. The velvet painting of the semi was so bizarrely amazing, I was inspired to do an oil painting of this image.”
“The Wall of Death is a good lesson in the understanding of how gravity works,” says Bruce, adding that the ride master was trying to get the audience to donate money, because as he told them, the act was so dangerous they couldn’t get insurance.
“The Midway Quarterback’s job was to entice participants to toss a football into a hoop held by members of Kiss riding motorcycles,” says Bruce. “I couldn’t make this stuff up.”
Related:
- The 1972 Dollarton Pleasure Faire
- The 1981 PNE Prize Home
- The PNE Prize Home: Party like it’s 1957
- 10 Things You Won’t See at the PNE This Year
- The Livestock Building at the PNE
- Kitsilano in the ’70s
- The Nanaimo to Vancouver Bathtub Race
- Walks with Fred Herzog
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23 comments on “The PNE in the ’70s: A photo essay by Bruce Stewart”
Cool! Win a house, win a car!
Oh, the memories of the PNE. I remember those days especially the fun Summer Sunday concerts (so yes, I am aging myself here). Having a bit of a smile with many of the photos showing dark clouds. So typical to have rain during those two weeks but not any other time during Vancouver summers LOL.
Great pictures from Bruce! I did a similar photo essay myself in the mid 70s from a single day of shooting at the fair in b&w. Mine aren’t quite at the technical level of Bruce’s but some similar subjects. Catching people with their prizes etc always created fascinating looks. This has made me want to go find my binder and look at my own photos from back then! 👍
I probably went a dozen times back in the late fifties into the sixties, ferrying over from Nanaimo with my folks, staying overnight with tolerant relatives…the PNE was always magical, in a sticky hands, tired feet sort of way…a couple of times in the seventies I went with nieces…and then…hmmm…great memories though. Much appreciated…
My very first job was working during the PNE in the mid to late 1970’s! I did it for three consecutive years. I was at the entry gate just next to the Coliseum. I saw lots of very interesting people go through, looking forward to a fun filled time at the PNE!! I had a great time working there. The best year was 1977 when the RCMP Musical Ride was there for a number of shows. It was fantastic! Many years later both of my son’s first jobs was working at the PNE too! Both of them worked in the barns. Lots of hard work but they loved being around the animals. The PNE means lots of memories!!
I worked at Kiddie Land in 70. I had to load kids into the boat ride. By the end of the day I would be covered in cotton candy
Thought I’d see Honky Bill. This is where he got his start.
I used to visit his mother in Winnipeg & eat perogies there.
Yes, we always stopped at “Hunky Bill’s” for our fix of perogies while at the PNE! They were delicious! Sadly he passed away six years ago, but his business lives on.
As kids we would go with our Nana, a Brit, who forced us to spend a lot of time in the Food Pavilion. We’d have to line up for what seemed like hours which of course weren’t, but for our patience we’d receive teensy little cups of free food…soup and who knows what else….nothing memorable nor sufficient, as far as we were concerned. Hot dogs and cotton candy were what we wanted. Then we’d have to go to the ‘demo’ section of that building, where fast-talking hucksters would extoll the virtues of specialty veggie peelers or things that would grind food into bits….or so it seemed! Years later, as an adult, I liked to go to the building where the map of BC was, complete with molded mountains and depictions of rivers and lakes. It still exists….not sure if it’s still in a warehouse somewhere, or has been permanently resurrected.
Oh so many memories. The last picture of the gambling alley, the girl on the far right was my friend, Cheryl. Sadly she was killed in an accident at work at the long shoring terminals, approx. 20 tears ago. Still many good memories. Thanks.
To Lori – I am so sad to hear of your friend Cheryl’s tragic passing. Photographs do freeze an instant in time where life seems to stand still for the blink of an eye or the click of a shutter. I hope this was a happy memory ‘click’ for her. Often I wonder about the folks I photograph, now years ago. Be well.
My husband and I went to the PNE yesterday (Aug 17) and enjoyed it all. It was a sunny hot day and only $7 each to get in; we had to purchase our online tickets the day before for that price. The Market Place is vastly improved! I was pleasantly surprised; wider aisles and very nice stuff for sale. We bought a Plasma bed! (made in Canada) We enjoyed the 4H club and the kids with their animals. A new thing for $2 each is a train ride through the Sanctuary. Very nice too. The food is expensive but delicious; Jimmy’s hamburgers (now 95 years old) for lunch, and Henry’s chicken plus ribs from the rib place for supper.
I’m so happy to hear you had a good time, and very impressed that you bought a bed!
Our new Plasmabed arrived today; I think once I’m in it, I will never get up again…it is superb. It has massage for head and feet, and it elevates the mattress at the head and in the middle and at the feet; it is scrumptious! PS: I actually went on the wooden roller coaster way back in 1981 with my boyfriend (now my husband) and I survived. But I thought I was going to die….
I saw the Plasmabeds when we were at the PNE last week and thought of you. Happy sleeps!
😊”now 95 years old” Jimmy or the hamburger business?
‘Bingo’! I come from a bingo playing family. So interesting to sit around with a bunch of strangers.
Corn on the cob was a gooder along with the Candy Apple.
I always enjoyed riding the Caterpillar and the smell of the canvas roof that closed over us.
I miss the BC map! Love the photos & stories. TY
yeah i have many memories of the PNE my dad worked in the colosseum from 1982-2002 then he moved away… back then Canucks played there… but i worked there too 1999- till about 2009 in parking Gate 5 lol many great memories… it was great and as kid going there in the 1980s playland was the best! i haven’t been in years
As students living in Victoria in the 60’s, we would receive free tickets to the PNE along with our report cards. It was such a tease!
Great photos!
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Thanks for the amazing photos!