Matchbook Memories from our Cruisin' Days....

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You local Fort William and Port Arthur(ites) will fondly remember most of these businesses along our cruisin' routes back in the late 40's, 50's and 60's. Some of the buildings still exist to this day but most are long gone. Do you remember where they all were? I remember most of them.

The Flamingo Club is where our wedding reception was in the 60's. The place turned into a real dump throughout the '70's and 80's then was finally torn down to build an apartment building.

In Fort William, "Spuds Burger Major" was the next best place for burgers and fries after the long living A&W. The first A&W in what we now call Thunder Bay was on 10th ave. near intercity, which later became the Welcome drive-in and is now a hair dressing spa.

The Columbia Grille on May Street(now Norma Jeans) became famous for unknowingly harboring the infamous fugitive "Bambi" Bembenec, which took place about 20 or so years ago. Thunder Bay was put on the map because of a movie made of her escapades and the fact that she hid out at the Columbia. Click on comments below to get a final story on Bambi(Thanks for the input)....Dave.

Are you too young?...or too old to remember?

Intercity Drive-In

Hot rods and old cars were always synonymous with going to the drive-in theater. Fort William and Port Arthur was no exception. We had the Intercity Drive-In. It wasn't anywhere near what we call intercity now, but way up Oliver Road near where our new hospital is now. The theater and property were almost across Oliver Road from the then and present day Port Arthur golf and country club. The property was huge and held a couple of hundred cars, had a great concession, and a playground for the kids near the base of the massive screen. On many a Friday night you could meet your buddies and their girl friends there, and shoot the breeze probably more than watching the movies. This was a great place to see who was dating who, and how serious the relationship was by how steamed up the windows were. Some guys who had large trunks in their cars could even smuggle three or four extras in, or you could wait for the "car load one price" night, and pile eight or ten into the car. A great time was had by all. I can't remember how many times we drove off without unhooking the speaker, and handing it in at the office. Our drive-in ad as shown in the top left picture was taken from a September 6, 1953 newspaper, and at that time went many times with my parents. Our theater closed in the early 1980's, to make room for more important business and commerce in that area including our hospital. We sure do miss it. A number of cities in the US and Canada have resurrected a few so that the young people today can enjoy a bit of what we had. You haven't lived unless you've been to a Drive-In theater at least once. Check the menu. Does anyone know what a black cow was? Click on photos to enlarge.

The Great Old A & W drive-in

Here's a wonderful shot of one of the original A & W drive-ins here in Thunder Bay(very close to where I live). It was on the corner of James St. and Arthur St. exactly where the Metro(A & P) grocery store is now. The house and garage across the street in this picture is exactly the same today. The photo was taken in 1980. The music students from the high-schools around the area got together for a 50's tribute which was recorded and televised on cable 7 back then, and done right here at this famous drive-in before it closed. The cars are from left to right, Jerry McKenzie's green model "A" coupe, Art Lee's yellow '33 Ford coupe(which now belongs to Rick Stokaluk...seen in a prior picture), My red and black Hudson Terraplane, Gord Wall's black model "A" sedan, and in the front Dinger Bell's T-bucket. You can see the camera man on the left side of the picture, and all the students having a great time....what a great day!!