CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

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CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Mike Cleaver » Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:48 pm

To many of the people who worked there, you might like to know the 'QM building on Burrard Street in Vancouver now is behind blue fencing, about to be demolished, from the looks of things.
Most recently, it had been a drop-in centre for homeless youth.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Howaboutthat » Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:18 pm

And now, here's Jon! ;-)
Houston, We're dealing with morons!.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby radiofan » Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:36 pm

It's got to be almost twenty years since QM occupied the building on Burrard. QM-FM moved into the CFUN building at 1900 West 4th in the early 90's, an d I assume AM went down to 70th Avenue and Oak around the same time. I wonder what ever became of the wrought iron wall of Q's that were at the front entrance?
Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who couldn't hear the music.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby jon » Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:41 pm

Weird as this is less than 2 weeks after I found out that the house my parents bought before I was born, and I lived in until I was 16, is also being demolished.

Here is the house from slightly happier times, when Google StreetView last drove past:

Image

And here is 1134 Burrard taken just over two years ago by Google:

Image
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby PicturesForYourEars » Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:16 pm

Damned if I can remember the year, but I was actually the last person to turn out the lights at QM.
The last song was played, probably a Spitfire Band Cancon instrumental to time out to 'Broadcast News' at the top of the 9 o'clock hour and then the switch went to Cantonese (as it had every night 9pm for quite a while).
...LEFT PLACES I SHOULDA STAYED,
STAYED PLACES I SHOULDA LEFT...
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby jon » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:48 am

When I started work at CHQM, I was still working for my father in the basement of the Old Spaghetti Factory in Gastown. OSF didn't need the whole basement, so they put up a wall and rented the other half to a business associate of my father. They both manufactured "stuff" there. Or, more accurately, they hired people like me to do the manufacturing, as there was no automation in those days.

Well, that makes three "homes" that have been demolished recently. I just (yesterday afternoon) talked to the Manager of the West Edmonton Mall OSF, who worked on the other side of that basement wall when I did in 1970 and 1971. He was in Gastown a couple of days ago and the OSF building is still there, but the basement has been replaced with a parkade that extends to the new condo that occupies what used to be the OSF surface parking lot.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Mike Cleaver » Thu Apr 05, 2012 10:22 am

The former 'QM building site now is a vacant lot but there's no sign saying what will be built there or whether it'll just end up as another overpriced parking lot.
That entire strip along Burrard is undergoing re-development.
The Commercial Electronics building is about to be razed as well and replaced by condos.
A lot of radio stations bought equipment from Commercial over the years.
They have moved over to Fairview Slope on the south side of False Creek.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby jon » Thu Apr 05, 2012 11:32 am

I too loved Commercial Electronics. I had always been a big fan of 1 1/2 mil mylar/polyester 7" reels of tape. At Commercial, you had to buy a dozen reels, but the Ampex tape you got was actually only a little more expensive than the "junk" -- sometimes used video tape that was cut down to audio tape -- sold at your local retailer.

I just stumbled upon a lot of those "junk brands" in a cache of about 50 demo tapes from the early 1970s that a broadcaster had kept from those he had received from radio job applicants at the time. Funniest situation was one letter that was still attached to a tape reel, asking that it be returned. Wouldn't it be fun to track down the fellow and return it to him now, 39 years late?

It will be a while before these tapes see the light of day as many will turn out to have a severe case of squeaky tape syndrome.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby hagopian » Thu Apr 05, 2012 12:17 pm

Commercial Electronics was where I always bought my Sennheisers.
Memories, and the Condo development will stiff. Nothing is selling, despite the hype from cretins like Cam Good.
What makes me sad is the old CFUN building. A junk store now.
It was home for many years,and, I just cringe, when I drive by.
Odd, eh?

Think we all loved our business and us old dudes, have so many great memories, that when the inevitable changes come, I, for one realize that it all flew by.

Why didn't I take more pictures?

It is still in my head...but I would give nearly anything to have a book full of the faces that were part of my days.

Wistful, not sad, because life is change.

I was lucky to meet and work with a lot of you. It was a great life, if a little stressful. Fired for no reason, ratings, 6 day weeks, public appearances, etc.

45 years flew by.

Make your memories last. Feel like I am re playing "Old Friends" - from Bookends, by Simon and Garfunkel..

"Preserve your memories, it's all that's left you".
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Anotherwpgguy » Thu Apr 05, 2012 2:49 pm

Yup Hag old bean ... what I wouldn't give for a roll of 36 pictures of the people, facilities, antics, and times at 1900 West 4th.

Well, I still have the memories of my five years in that building which will have to do for now.

I sure hope I don't end up with Alzheimer's to erase my "memory stick."

Dementia may be preferable, because that state of mind would be similar to some of the things I now look back at as "the good times," although with today's sense of values and responsibilities, I sure wouldn't repeat them today.

Still .... it sure as heck was a lot of hilarity "back in the day."

http://youtu.be/BPTOY8FrvNw
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby hagopian » Thu Apr 05, 2012 5:29 pm

AWG - ah, yes, you said it all. I was lucky enough to have shared so many laughs. I also had the joy of a visit from you many years later, at my then home, in a certain small Nova Scotia town.

At least we didn't blow our brains out at a certain pub, that contributed to the early demise of a guy that shoulda stayed outa trees.

Thanks for the YouTube link.

Ahhhh, takes me back to the summers I spent working at Chateau Lake Louise.

Sweet memories. I was so blessed. I appreciate the thoughtfulness.

Fly safe, amigo.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Paul P » Thu Apr 05, 2012 9:58 pm

Ugh.
Being nice is my resolve - in 2012
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby Jack Bennest » Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:08 am

jon wrote:I too loved Commercial Electronics



I worked there, briefly after my stint at CBC Edmonton. Anyone else?
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby J Kendrick » Sat Apr 07, 2012 4:41 pm

jon wrote:I too loved Commercial Electronics.


Now in the 1500 block of West 7th... and run by founder Henry von Tiesenhausen's 40 year employee, Susanne Adam.
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Re: CHQM Vancouver building on Burrard to be demolished

Postby czarcasm » Sat Apr 14, 2012 7:35 pm

J Kendrick wrote:
jon wrote:I too loved Commercial Electronics.


Now in the 1500 block of West 7th... and run by founder Henry von Tiesenhausen's 40 year employee, Susanne Adam.


Hey Kendrick, long time no see! Rah Rah Rasputin!
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