Whistling Bernie Smith and the Penthouse Nightclub

Known for decades as Bernie “Whistling” Smith because he whistled while he patrolled the streets for the VPD

Bernie Smith once told me a story about busting Strathcona bootlegger Wally “Blondie” Wallace in the 1940s. Blondie was a neighbourhood hero, dodging the cops by night and teaching local kids to box in the basement of his house during the day. He operated a thriving bootlegging business from his house at 446 Union Street.

“We’d stake the place out and grab the cars as they came out,” Bernie told me. “He’d have four or five drivers, and they’d be at all different places and they’d have cheap cars in case they got caught.”

The first time a bootlegger was caught they were fined, the second time they went to jail. Caught with liquor in the car, both the booze and the car became the property of the Crown.

Blondie Wallace:

“In about 1950, Blondie Wallace had a brand new Chrysler and he got arrested for bootlegging from the car. The car was seized and he gets three months in Oakalla,” said Bernie. “Hugh Christie was the warden and when they seized the car, they gave the warden the car and there’s Blondie Wallace watching the warden drive his car.”

I was thinking of this story while I was at the Penthouse on Thursday night for the launch of Aaron Chapman’s Liquor, Lust, and the Law.

Known for decades as Bernie “Whistling” Smith because he whistled while he patrolled the streets, Bernie started work for Joe Philliponi in 1937 when he was just 14. Philliponi owned Eagle-Time Delivery Systems, and Bernie said Joe called him “Speed Ball 21.” Later, when Bernie told him he wanted to be a cop, Philliponi encouraged him.

The Penthouse:

Bernie joined the VPD in 1947 the same year that Philliponi opened the Penthouse Nightclub on Seymour Street. Despite a series of set-backs including its closure in 1975 by the vice squad, Philliponi’s 1983 murder in a botched robbery at the club, and a fire last year, the Penthouse continues to be a Vancouver institution run by Joe’s nephew, Danny Filippone.

Bernie died November 14 aged 89 or I’m sure he would have been at the Penthouse Thursday night. He would have enjoyed knowing that both swing-band leader Dal Richards and punk rocker Randy Rampage of D.O.A were part of an eclectic audience packed into the club for the launch.

There is a celebration of life for Bernie at 1:00 pm Monday November 26 at the Croatian Cultural Centre, 3250 Commercial Drive. Bernie was a charming, fascinating individual, and my bet is that his service will be just as packed.

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