The band Gates of Dawn was playing nightly in the Regal Room of the Harwood’s Moose Jaw Inn and Friday evening entertainment in the Starlite Lounge of the Union Centre was Country Squires.
The Year was 1973 and the month was October — do you remember these? — as the Statler Brothers once asked.
My memory was jogged by a very yellowed newspaper entertainment section that for some reason I had saved from Oct. 19, 1973. Even after looking through the pages, I could not fathom the reason it was important enough to be stashed away for 42 years.
But today it provided some interesting tidbits about life in Moose Jaw in that era. It didn’t, however, indicate whether Gates of Dawn was the Gothic rock band from Germany by that name, or a provincial group of the same name. Nor did I learn whether the Country Squires came from Wyoming, or from Medicine Hat.
A few blocks north on Main Street, at the Westward Motor Inn (previously and now again The Grant Hall) Luis Dimas was performing nightly in the dining room. A cover charge of $1 was in effect Monday to Thursday with $2 requested Friday and Saturday. Reservations were also required.
Dimas packed the house most nights and was a highlight of the Moose Jaw entertainment scene, making return visits by popular demand. He was an easy person to interview, readily answering every question asked and even some that hadn’t been posed. Mr. Bojangles was my very favourite song that he performed.
In addition to the Harwood, Westward and Union Centre, the Royal Hotel had nightly entertainment; the Ensign Lounge at the Anavets Club had musical groups for dancing on Fridays and Saturdays as did the Royal Canadian Legion. They weren’t mentioned but the messes at RCAF Station Moose Jaw also had regular weekend entertainment.
Paper Moon with Ryan O’Neal was playing at the Capitol Theatre with five shows on Saturday and two shows on other days of the week. The theatre was closed on Sunday.
Thursday was seafood night at the Matador Inn on MacDonald Street, with prime rib or Hawaiian ham steak offered on Sundays. “Relax in the Old World charm of the Conquistador Lounge weekdays from 11 a.m. until half past midnight,” the advertisement said, encouraging guests to stay in the 24 luxurious and air conditioned units with colour TV and courtesy coffee in each room.
Fast family snacking was being offered at the National Cafe and Arbor Room where booth or counter service was available. The restaurant was closed Wednesday.
Anyone needing a rental car could obtain one at Scott Ford and pay as low as $7 per day or eight cents a mile. Or folks could book a nine day jet/sea cruise from Reidy Travel to visit five countries, leaving Bismarck, N.D. via air charter. Before leaving on holiday, ladies could receive a 20 per cent discount on $15 or $20 perms or get a curly cut for $7.50 at the Mona Lee Beauty Salon in Athabasca Towers.
For entertainment at home, Ashdown’s at 755 Main St. N. was selling 20 inch colour televisions for $429.99 or 13 inch TVs for $349.99, these having true to life colour reception.
Over at the Co-op hardware department, a 26 inch cabinet colour TV was going for $749. A feature selling point was the finest veneer cabinet with casters plus an automatic degaussing system (relating to magnetic fields.)
The jackpot was $750 in Game 43 of the radio and newspaper bingo game. Swingin’ Sam’s Tape City was expecting the arrival of Christmas stock any day now, and Paul’s TV Rentals was giving reduced vacation rates to customers renting televisions.
Charcoal broiled steaks were on the menu at the Ambassador Cafe, women could shop in air conditioned comfort at Heasman’s Ladies Wear, cowboy boots were selling for $25-$30 at Gemmell’s Shoes at 426 Athabasca St. E., and a great line of typewriters was available at Dowie’s Stationery at 471 Main St. N.
With six branches eager to provide service, Moose Jaw Credit Union was offering nine per cent interest on one to five year deposits.
Oh yes indeed, those were the days my friend, we thought they’d never end.
This Reflective Moments originally appeared in the Moose Jaw Express edition on May 27, 2015.
Joyce Walter can be reached at ronjoy@sasktel.net
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect the position of this publication.
