Doug Parker grew up in Grandview and was a graduate of Britannia High School. He graduated from UBC in 1945 after which he had a distinguished career which included many series on CBC radio and TV. He had the privilege of playing piano for Harry James and Ray Anthony as well as many other wonderful performers, and the family member who sent in this photo of him writes:
"Doug Parker and Bev, on the way to the CBC studios in the Vancouver Hotel for a rehearsal of The Pleasant Mr. Parker radio show. (app. 1954)"
The story behind the man who captured this photo? Well, from 1934 to 1979, street photographer Foncie Pulice set up his camera on Vancouver city sidewalks and snapped candid shots of people strolling by. For almost half a century, he took thousands of photos, unwittingly capturing moments in time, the history of a city, and the lives of British Columbians. Photo negatives of Foncie’s images do not exist. He destroyed most of them when he retired. Until recently there was no central archive or collection.
Documentary filmmaker Melanie Wood and British Columbia’s Knowledge Network changed that by bringing these photographs together – collecting them from albums around the province and giving them a public home online and in the film Foncie's Corner. The photos continue to stream in and Melanie shares them with us regularly so we can share them here on our blog.
This is a story about Vancouver, about British Columbia, and about it’s people... so they need your help. Visit Knowledge.ca/FonciesCorner to add your photos and stories to the collection.
