Brothers Forbes

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Origin: Victoria, British Columbia, 🇨🇦
Biography:

After the September 11th horrific disaster, we felt one way to express our patriotism, to wave our own little flag, would be to put these two songs onto a disk. Many of the pioneers of Vancouver never had the opportunity to tell their story, as they didn’t have the same medium we have today. Our Dad laboriously typed up his memoirs on an old ribbon manual typewriter. Today we can express ourselves and communicate rapidly through the Internet,email,cellular phones and the like. We can now take all the old photos and scan them into a computer, take digital shots, make videos and transmit them any where in the world in moments. I wish my Dad were alive today, as he would have loved all these toys that we take for granted. Pioneers like my Dad had a story to tell, but no one was really listening. I’m sure this has happened to numerous families. If anyone is listening now, here is my Dad’s story, in his own words.

The Vancouver Story: as told by Reginald S. Forbes (1907-1989)

My grandfather, Richard Smith Forbes, from Albermarle, Bruce County, Ontario, arrived in Port Moody in 1897 on the first train this far west. He proceeded by trail further west to the Gastown area, now Vancouver. There were approximately two thousand people in the community when he arrived. On April 22, 1888 my father, Andrew Milton Forbes, age 15, (1873-1963) arrived on the first train west of Port Moody to the gastown area. My father used to sell to Gassy Jack who owned the only hotel in the area. My Dad got a job sacking coal for ten cents a long ton. He eventually got a job in Tom Dunn’s Hardware Store, working his way up to Manager of the store at a salary of $75 a month. One day he saw a young lady pass by the window, and said “that’s the girl for me”. He knew the lady she was with, Mrs. Sarah Powell, thus an introduction to her younger sister, Blanche Oakley was in order. This was the summer of 1883. He then decided to open up his own hardware known as “FORBES & VAN HORNE”. As Andrew Forbes was so well known, it didn’t take him long to establish a flourishing business. He sold most of the equipment and tools for the great gold rush to the Klondike in 1898. He then moved his store to 508 West Hastings, across from the old Woodwards store. Sometime later he moved to 538 West Hastings beside Spencer’s Department Store. When I was 6 years old, my Dad would take me to the store on a Saturday morning to sweep the floor and do odd jobs. I was most fascinated with the 5 & 10 cent counter in the rear floor. It was about 5’ wide by 20’ long, with every size of nails, screws, hinges, door knobs, nuts, bolts, and whatever have you. This was the first 5 & 10 counter in the city. After we had lunch, Dad would give me 50 cents and I would head for the Rex Theatre at Carrall & Hastings to see William S. Hart, Tom Mix and the galloping cowboys. The admission was 15 cents, and of the remaining 35 cents I could buy 7 Lowneys Milk & Chocolate bars to nibble for the three hour show, with the big pipe organ playing fantastic music as the horses went galloping by. In 1896, my father , Andrew Milton Forbes, married Blanche Beatrice Oakley, youngest daughter of Samuel Oakley, who was the Master Car Builder for the railroad, eventually moving to Winnipeg. Blanche and Andrew spent their honey moon at the Empress Hotel in Victoria. My father owned a flat or block just west of Cambie, on the north side of Broadway, close to Gundry’s tire shop. Further down the line was a huge warehouse and business facing 8th Avenue. My Dad had several teams of horses and dray type wagons for a delivery service. There were no trucks in those days. There was also a tinsmith shop where they manufactured cans until the American Can Company moved into Vancouver and bought the franchise from my Dad. There was a lacrosse team in those days sponsored by Tom Dunn’s Hardware and my Dad played on the forward line. There was also a hockey team called the Vancouver Millionaires, with Tommy and Newsy Lalonde, winning the Stanley Cup in 1915. My Dad used to rave about Newsy the “flying Frenchman”. The Pacific Coast Hockey Association played on the coast from 1911 to 1926. Hockey “Hall of Fame” players Lester and Frank Patrick started the League in 1911, bringing players from the east. Two artificial rinks were constructed; The first which became the Denman Arena in Vancouver at the corner of Denman and Georgia called the Denman Street Arena, which seated 10,500 people,. The other arena was the Willows Arena in Victoria. The Hockey League and the Stanley Cup on three occasions: The Vancouver Millionaires in 1915, The Seattle Metropolitans in 1917 and the Victoria Cougars in 1925. The league was noted for being the innovators of its time. Many of today’s rules in hockey were started by the Patrick Brothers, namely the “forward pass”, “Bluelines”, “penalty shot”, “assists”, “farm systems” and many more.

The most notable players from the era were Fred “Cyclone” Taylor, Mickey McKay, Hugh Leman,Ernie “Moose” Johnson, Dick Ervin, Barney Stanley, Tom Dunderdale, Si Griffiths and the Patrick Brothers. Newsy Lalonde just played the 1911-1912 season. Cambie Street was a dirt road down to the Cambie Bridge, but not very wide. Property was being bought and small stores were put up. My Dad put full page ads in the newspaper petitioning to make the roads at least 100 feet wide. Broadway was a dirt road about 80’ wide. Moore’s Drugstore on the SE corner was the only building on that side almost to Yukon Street. The rest of the property to 10th avenue was bush, with big fir trees standing 100 to 12 feet in diameter. That’s where all the neighbourhood kids played cowboys and indians. In 1907 my father built a bigger house, buying two lots on the corner of 10th east of Cambie,. It was a big house with ten rooms. When I was 4 years old, I used to see a tall young man walk by every school day on his way to King Edward High. He used to say hello to almost every morning. I later found out his name was Dal Grauer. They lived at the corner of 10th and Yukon. Cambie Street going south ended at 10th avenue. There was a big gully with water running down it. The Normal School was already built and they needed access to the small firs. The competition flights were carbon-arc hanging arm lamps strung in threes, or with a thousand moths flying around it as the day faded into the darkness. Of course we shot pellets or small stones at it to see who was the best shot. At Broadway, on the SW corner, in the winter there was a big pond with lily pads growing, and according to noise an estimate, there must have been 600 frogs. Directly across the street from our house at 467 West 10th Avenue, was the steps leading to a beautiful park, up towards where the City Hall now stands. I think it was called Strathcona Park after the British Lord. At age 6, I became a carpenter, or least I helped my father by pounding nails, We had a Province paper route starting at 16th and Granville, just 5 miles from where we lived at 10th and Cambie. That was a long haul pulling our home made and speed cart constructed with apple boxes and baby buggy wheels. When war broke out in 1914, the paper bags were about 2 ½” thick, multiply that by our 72 papers, which made a pile 12” high. It took us about 8 hours before we arrived home that night. The City Engineers worked on the Cambie road, also known as Bridge Street, and by about 1913, it was paved from 12th to about 16th. In 1912, my Dad bought a brand new Russell-Knight minicar with a Daimler motor. It had acetylene gas headlights, a big fancy horn with a rubber ball at one end, which made a loud honk. He used to take the whole family to Stanley Park on a Sunday afternoon for a picnic and a romp. The playground for monkeys was quite a sight for eagle eyes. We have a picture of this big car driven through the big tree, with my Dad and all his fancy driving togs. There was usually a big band playing marches and overtures. On some weekends, in the summer and winter, my father would dress up all the kids to go and see Grandma and Grandpa Forbes on their 10 acre farm at #2 Road and Railway, just behind Lulu Station, where the interurban trams ended. We would sometimes visit our Aunt and Uncle Will Mellis at their home near the fish cannery at Terra Nova. Uncle Will raised fine steeple chase and horses that travelled from Vancouver to Old Town in Island. Granville Street was just a narrow dirt road from 25th Avenue and Bueve or Marpole through the bush. There was one year in the early days when the Fraser River was frozen so solid, that you could drive and wagon across it to the south side. To get over to Sea Island, where there was a big store and market, Rudolph had the big General store, Carl ran the meat market, and Jake Grauer had the big dairy farm called Fraser Farms Dairy. I have ridden on a big pig of his from Grandfathers farm, all the way in to Jake Grauer Senior’s delicatessens near the front of the market store. I guess I was about 8 years old at the time. One Sunday we rode to the Methodist Church at River Road and Cambie Street in the two seater with the fringe on its buggy horse. That church is now a Heritage Church on Gilbet Road. In 1917, the Bank bought the corner property at Hastings and Seymour, so my father was forced to move from that location at 508 West Hastings. Instead, he found a new site to move his hardware store, he sold all his stock to Seamans Hardware. His health wasn’t too good at the time, and he needed a rest from business, so he bought Grandfathers farm at Lulu Island and our grandparents continued to live with us for several years. It was a happy time for our young family, living down on the farm.

Footnote:
In 1921, Reg Forbes attended Bridgeport High School and onto UBC.
He played piano and numerous instruments, including the BC Electric Band, Irish Fusiliers,the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band during the war, with well known Vancouver musician Lance Harrison. He also played on the radio in 1949 with Evan Kemp and the BC Ranch Boys, plus numerous other groups. Reg was also a Piano Technician looking after the Burnaby and Richmond School Board contract for years, besides tuning for artists and thousands of happy piano owners.

The History of the legendary "Brothers Forbes"

Prior to 1968, "The Brothers Forbes", John and Larrie had a very productive career in the Royal Canadian Navy as musicians in the Naden Band, stationed in Esquimalt. They were also performing in separate groups playing dance music. Larrie played drums,trumpet and vocals with "The Classics" along with Gabby Bruner, George Lovic and Bert Botten. John was playing piano with "The Jays", including Jim Ryan, Fred Watt and Terry Totzke. On the classical side, both John and Larrie played for many years in the Victoria Symphony Orchestra. In the early spring of 1968, John and Larrie decided to put their talents together and called themselves "The Brothers Forbes". They put their show together rehearsing in John's garage before venturing out to play "casual gigs". Larrie played drums,flute, trumpet, trombone and vocals. Brother John playing piano, organ, trombone and harmonizing. In May of 1968, the boys were approached by Clare Anderson, owner of the Oak Bay Marina Restaurant. Their regular organist, Bevan Gorelangton was taking four months off, and they needed a replacement act. Thus giving the brothers their first "steady gig", launching what was to be a long and successful career in Victoria. After a great summer, the Brothers finished at the Marina in September. The Manager of the Empress Hotel heard the boys at the Marina and thought they would be perfect for the "Empress Room", playing for dining and dancing, and backing Cabaret Shows, six nights a week. September 1969 saw the boys leave the Navy, and invited by Ken Wooded and to travel to Tokyo, Japan, sponsored by the British Columbia Tourism Ministry, to represent British Columbia, playing in a House suite at the American Federation of Travel Agents and International Tourism Convention. On the flight over to Japan, they wrote the words and music to their BC song "The Happening BC", performing it in Tokyo, and returning to the Empress Hotel on a full time basis in October. Larrie also acted as Entertainment Manager for the hotel, looking after booking music for conventions. Springtime 1970 saw the brothers looking forward to a busy summer with their beloved dance floor to be covered with rows of tables to feed the throngs of chefs expected during the summer tourist season. They were offered a gig at the Banff Springs Hotel for the summer, but the hotel manager of the Empress convinced them to stay, and promised to open a room for dancing. Hence "The Paint Cellar" was created as a night club in the hotel lobby to the music of Fred Hendricks the group playing guitar, bass and vocals. He was the first musician of many over the years, to be added to the group. The "Paint Cellar" and "The Brothers Forbes" became the hottest item in town with weekend lineups out the door and down the block. John continued to play the grand piano for the dinners in the early evening in the Empress Dining Room, then later went down to rock "in the Cellar". In September 1970, a plan was made to record their BC song "The Happening BC", as their contribution to the upcoming BC Centennial in 1971. Because of the popularity of the "Paint Cellar", another club in the vicinity, "The Old Forge" had been effected with the lack of business. The brothers had been approached a couple of times by the management of the "Forge". After some serious soul searching, they were eventually convinced this would be a wise career move. Saturday the 29th of March 1971 saw "The Brothers Forbes" part company with The Empress Hotel, and Monday, March 31st, 1971 saw them launch a career at "The Old Forge", in the Strathcona Hotel, that would span 12 years, replacing the existing group of talented musicians, which included the incomparable David Foster. The big weekend lineup moved with them, and they never looked back. Crowds of up to 1000 people would pack the place on some of their busiest nights. Business was great, and after their first New Years Eve, the boys won an all expense paid trip to Las Vegas for Keith Olson sent the band for a little R and R. In the spring of 1974, a female singer was added to the group.

Gloria Baker added a new scope to their already versatile sound. Gloria sang with the group through the summer, and then moved on. In October 1974, a lead guitarist was invited to the group, which added yet another new dimension in sound. Len Knoke was to stay with"The Brothers Forbes" for the duration of The Old Forge gig. In the New Year of 1975, Fred Hendricks left the group. The Hotel Management gave the brothers two weeks off to regroup. The next few weeks were filled with long days of rehearsals, changing songs, costumes and lighting. Gloria Baker was brought back into the group, and Ken Garland was added on tenor sax and flute. It was decided to change the name of the group to "The Brothers Forbes and Friends". During this period, brother Larrie was also having some difficulty with his throat, having to have some nodes removed from his vocal chords. After his operation, he could not talk for 30 days, and another month before he could sing. This posed some problems, as Larrie was the lead singer. But, with the talents of the other members of the group, they pulled it off.

After a couple of months, they gradually worked Larrie's songs back into the repertoire. In the early fall of 1975, Ken Garland left the group, and was replaced by Gordie Vlemick on saxes and flute. Gordie was in the music program at the University of Victoria at the time, and had to go to school all day and work with us every night. Gordie was with the group for over two years. Here is where they started some overlapping of personnel in the group. Gloria sang with the group for another year after Gordie came along. The next female singer was Jill Galt, who had come to the group from a large showgroup called "Stratisfaction". This takes us into 1976. In the spring of 1977, Gordie left the group, as he was graduating. He was replaced by Russ Botten on sax for a temporary period of time. The plan was to eventually take Larrie off the drums, and put him out front as lead singer, combined with playing sax and flute. They would then hire another drummer. In the fall of 1976, Gerry Adoplhe was hired to play drums. Gerry and Jill had worked together in "Stratisfaction", Gerry stayed with the group for about a year before moving on. In the fall of 1977, Brad Clarke filled the drum position. The following year Jill hit the road. At this point they had a stroke of luck. Larrie heard of a girl singing at a club in Nanaimo, who, as it was, looked perfect for the group. In the fall of 1978, Hahna Cope was hired to take Jill's place, at this point, there was John Forbes on keyboards, Len Knoke on guitar and vocals, Hahna Cope on vocals, Larrie Forbes on tenor sax, alto sax, soprano sax, flute, trumpet and vocals, and Brad Clarke on drums and vocals. They remained with this combination until brother Larrie decided to pull the plug in the early summer of 1980. The next sax player was Mike. Unfortunately, there was a personality conflict between he and Hahna, so it was decided to replace him after a couple of months. Alan Toporbec became the next sax man. Alan had a great musical background and fit right into the group. End of summer 1981 saw Hahna bid the group goodbye, and back to Washington State to be with her man, Jimmy Johnson. The groups' next female vocalist was Lee Adams, whose talent added to the still great sound of the band. After about a year, in 1982, Lee moved on, and was replaced by Leslie Kent in late summer of 1982.

"The Brothers Forbes and Friends" finished their gig at "The Old Forge" in January 1983. The final period of time saw brother John on keyboards, Len on guitar and vocals, Leslie on vocals, Alan on horns and Brad on drums and vocals. The group folded at this point when brother John embarked on a solo career. This ended their longest standing gigs for any one group, in the same night club, six nights a week, entertaining the thousands of tourists and conventioneers in downtown Victoria. Legendary, Fabulous Sounds to the Brothers Forbes and Friends. And as for today, 20 years later, we still have our memories, and photos of the good times, and what it was like to be in the entertainment industry. You can still hear John Forbes play, and catch up on the latest, over lunch at The Big Fork Cafe in Victoria, or have him play for dinner at The Four Seasons, or Sunday mornings for brunch, at Smitty's Restaurant, The Big Fork, and breakfast at Paul's Crown House.

Larrie Forbes

Joining Re/max in 1990, Larrie continues his career as a Realtor with Re/Max-All Points Realty Group in Coquitlam, BC.

After leaving "The Brothers Forbes" and The Old Forge nightclub at the Strathcona Hotel in Victoria, Larrie went to Montreal to work for a precious metals company in the stock exchange tower as a gold broker.

Returning to Coquitlam in 1985, Larrie went to work for cousin Terry Forbes and a major developer as a Project Sales Manager, marketing lowrise and highrise condominium apartments in the Lower Mainland, concentrating on the Westminster Quay waterfront, and then onto three highrise towers across from the Lougheed Mall in Burnaby.

Continuing in the real estate market, Larrie has achieved Master Medallion status with the Greater Vancouver Real Estate Board plus" Platinum Club" and "Hall of Fame" status with Re/max International, involved in selling residential and commercial properties.

In Victoria, Larrie's son Michael Forbes and his wife Lisa are active as radio announcers with "The Ocean" 98.5 FM,on the "Forbes and Marshall" program. They are blessed with two children, Noah and Adam. Larrie's daughter Janice is working with him as an Assistant in the Re/Max office, living in Burnaby with husband Tim and daughter Makenna.

Remarried in 1981, Larrie and Carol live in Coquitlam with their three children, Richard 17, Alana 13 and Blake 8.

John Forbes

After leaving the Old Forge in 1983, John pursued his musical talents as a solo lounge pianist and vocalist throughout British Columbia.

In 1987, John re-entered the Canadian Forces as a keyboard soloist and staff arranger, writing music for the Naden Band, concert performances. John also plays brass and percussion, when not performing as a concert pianist.

In 1994, the Naden Band fell victim to the many cutbacks, and John moved on to other various musical interests.

1995 saw John rejoin the forces as a reserve officer in the Air Force, instructing cadets. He became the Director of Music at the air cadet summer training centre at Albert Head in Victoria.

In 1995, John was also the Director of Music for the Greater Victoria Police Chorus, holding this position for two years.

In 1997, he became, and still holds the position of, Director for the British Columbia Cadet Honour Band.

After the summer session of 2001, John gave up the position as Director at Albert Head to become the Regional Cadet Music Advisor for Pacific Region and Province of British Columbia, a position he still maintains.

Since 1983, John’s wife Cathy worked as an RN at Victoria General Hospital in the endoscopy unit until her recent retirement.

David Forbes, John’s oldest son, attended UBC, graduating with a BSc degree in Pharmacology, and is married to a pharmacology student he met at University. Karen works in community pharmacy and David holds a clinical pharmacy position at a lower mainland hospital. They have two children, a son Krystyn and a daughter Ashlie. David also chased his lifes dream of composing and recording music, after completing a two year course and receiving his certificate as a sound engineer. He now operates his own recording studio in Surrey B.C.

Glen Forbes, the youngest son, graduated the University of Victoria with a BSc degree in Chemistry, where he met his wife Sandy. Glen took a position doing research in a large oil corporation laboratory, and after a year, went back to the University of Calgary and graduated with his Masters Degree. Glen and Sandy reside in Calgary with their four children.