The Best Little Movie House in Vancouver

NOSTALGIC VANCOUVER Lots of people dropped by the Waverly. Lots of stock-market tough guys like Jimmy Hill. He was one of the “Howe Street Boys” — Harry Moll, Ted Turton, Murray Pezim, Lou Black, Basil Pantages etc. And Dave Davies (Big Dave). Jimmy Hill was a big guy very strong and a natural blond. They use to celebrate energetically at Moll’s Harry C’s eatery and Sugar Daddy’s, Charlie Brown’s and Sneaky Pete’s night spots back in the day. Hill barehandedly quelled three aggrieved motorcyclists. But his legendary feat came in September 1968, when he survived a reported three .38-calibre pistol shots to the body at the Georgia Hotel — Hill says five — from a Daniel Ceklay, who was later convicted of attempted murder. “He still has one [bullet] in him that gives him a slight limp,” says Hill’s long-divorced but still tender wife Beverly Hauff (In the words of Malcolm Parry). -excerpt from My Greek Barber’s Diary.

There was a huge stock promoter named Lou Black (Louie) who lived in Montreal. He had his hair cut by a stylist who knew me. “Do you know anyone in Vancouver who can do styles?” he asked the stylist. “I will send you to a guy who just moved to Vancouver. He is a way better barber than me.” Louie tried to find me here. He telephoned the barber’s association.
This guy was a promoter. He could promote anything. He liked my work. He sent me so many people from Howe Street, I couldn’t believe it! His former partner, Lou Wolfin, still comes in today at 82 years young. At that time Lou promoted a stock called Pyramid. He gave me an option on ten thousand shares. I was to pay him for the stock when I sold it. That is how much he thought of me. It was a lot of money. I had no knowledge of the stock market. The stock went from $.65 in three weeks to $3 so I sold. I made $20,000. I ran down to see Lou. “Here is your cheque.” “Where did you get the money?” “I sold the stock.” “Why did you do that? You should have called me first.” It wound up going up to $23 but I was happy to a certain extent because we make our own luck. –excerpt from My Greek Barber’s Diary.

Jimmy Hill came in another time while I was coloring Lou Black’s hair. “Can you do the same for me?” he asked after I finished. “I don’t think it is a good idea because you are blond and you want me to make your hair black.” “I want to look like an Italian partisan.” So I did his hair. I coloured it and gave him a haircut but it was definitely not that great. He was a nice guy to me. He never gave me any trouble. All the muscle boys downtown were nice to me. I don’t know why, they just were! I guess they felt they could be themselves with me. They didn’t feel like they had to be tough guys. I never interfered with anyone. I just did my job and that was it. Two or three days later Jimmy comes back. “George, can you change it back to my natural color?” “I don’t think so. I explained to you that it would be difficult but I will try.” So I put bleach on his hair. By the time I was finished (putting bleach on his hair) he was beginning to choke. He was allergic to the bleach. I should have checked before I gave it to him. In those days we washed client’s hair with their face down in the sink. He started to choke again and then turned red and then almost blue. I grabbed him and pulled him up. “George, if I had had to hold it another minute, I would have been in trouble.” I didn’t want him passing away in my chair. Once again I was lucky. –excerpt from My Greek Barber’s Diary.

Dining in the Old Stock Exchange District (past and present) Please come down and support Vancouver’s restaurateurs.