Vintage Vignettes
History

Vintage Vignettes 1-7

Come on board for the first season of Vintage Vignettes, a joint project of Cortes Community Radio and Cortes Island Museum and Archives, brings you “radio snapshots” of local life in simpler times. These brief episodes feature dramatized voices from the past with archive recordings of music from the “Old Timers”, a dance band that played locally for several decades. In Vintage Vignettes 1 -7 we focus on colourful characters and memorable events, from the first drive across Cortes Island to the 1946 earthquake.

Vintage Vignettes #1 – Hot off the press from the late 1940’s Whaletown National Enquirer! – Lost teeth
Vintage Vignettes #2 -The Wharf is Out: Penned by Peg Pyner, reporting for the Manson’s Landing Mirror, Nov. 5, 1954
Vintage Vignettes #3 – Escape the Anthill Ruminations from retired logger Elton Anderson, questioning the soundness of his decision to move away from Cortes Island and take up residence on the Vancouver anthill.
Vintage Vignettes #4 – Ken Hansen moving a Cow to Cortes From the typewriter of Mary Ward, reporting for the Cortes Grapevine 1964
Vintage Vignettes #5 – When an earthquake hit the islands in 1946, it left the islanders a little shaken up. Reverend RM Boas reports.
Vintage Vignettes #6 – Overland Route. The first overland drive the length of Cortes Island; a True Tale of Travel and Adventure as told by Frank Hayes.
Vintage Vignettes #7 – Women Loggers. Women loggers! Barbara Thompson looks back on her days of being a logger in Carrington Bay

Have you ever wondered what life was like in a small island community in simpler times? Imagine no ferries, no electricity, few roads or cars, no medical services, ambulance or firefighters. Back then life was what you made of it, with the help of your neighbours. Local self-reliance meant gathering and growing food, rowing and walking to get around, and generally having a great deal of practical knowledge and skills. And making your own entertainment. But that doesn’t mean life was dull. Not at all.

Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society’s Vintage Vignettes, a joint project of Cortes Community Radio and Cortes Island Museum and Archives, brings you “radio snapshots” of local life in simpler times. We focus on colourful characters and memorable events, from winter sledding to major earthquakes. These brief episodes feature dramatized voices from the past with archive recordings of music from the “Old Timers”, a dance band that played locally for several decades.

The Volunteers

Cortes Radio and Cortes Island Museum & Archives Society would like to thank the whole crew of volunteers who bring Vintage Vignettes to you:

  • Museum Research: Bonnie McDonald, Nancy Kendel, Lynne Jordan
  • Scripts: Brittany Baxter
  • Production: Greg Osoba, David Rousseau, Andy Vine
  • Voice Coach: Anne Wasyliw
  • Voice Actors: Elizabeth Anderson, Connie Brill, Andy Ellingsen, Bobo Fraser, Oriane Lee Johnston, Lynne Jordan, Patricia Leroux, John Nursall, Greg Osoba, Kim Paulley, Amy Robertson, David Rousseau, George Sirk, Sheryl Thompson, Anne Wasyliw, Rex Weyler
  • If you would like to sponsor a Vintage Vignette, please contact Cortes Radio at cortesradio@gmail.com, or call the museum at 250 935-6340.