Here are updated and improved scans of a 1982 photo showing the penthouse where Mr. Flynn departed this realm, Wednesday 14 October 1959. I have no idea what changes, if any, had been made to the structure in the intervening 23 years.
— daveboz
The End of the Line—1310 Burnaby Street, Vancouver, Canada.
12
Apr
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 4:41 am
Hi Dave;
Nice picture of a very sad place! The end of a line – indeed!
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 4:52 am
I have visited the apartment building at 1310 Burnaby many times and I thought I had posted serveral pictures here on the blog of the building! However, I can't find them anywhere so I must have been dreaming when I thought I'd posted them here.
I will put some of these shots up later on. The building has not changed much in all of these years and is now surrounded by taller buildings obscuring the view of the water that Flynn must have seen while he was there, his last look at a body of water…
I have also visited the soccer fields in the park where Flynn played with the Hollywood Cricket Club in his younger days, and visited The Sylvia Hotel where he stayed. Ironically, 1310 Burnaby St is not far down the beach from the Sylvia, and up just two short blocks (or three?) toward the city. You can walk into the alley to get a good view of the rooftop apartments in these photos. The neighborhood is a quiet place and makes a fairly decent sized walk if you care to take in most of the beach during your walk…
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 6:43 am
Regarding the Sylvia Hotel: can you tell me what your source is that Flynn stayed there? (I'm assuming we're talking about 1959.)
Contemporaneous reports indicate he stayed first at the Hotel Georgia, then moved in with the Caldoughs in North Van for the rest of his stay. I have heard the Sylvia rumour many times, and wonder if it got started because the Sylvia's manager, Art Cameron, was one of the guests at the last gathering at 1310 Burnaby. Cameron is reported to be the one who called for an ambulance.
Thanks for any light you can shine on this mystery—if it is a mystery!
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 7:10 am
Regarding Flynn's 1936 visit to Vancouver with the Hollywood Cricket Club: here's a photo taken the day of the contest, 4 July 1936:
reidfleming.com…
Next to Flynn in the picture is the great Nigel Bruce, and Sir C. Aubrey Smith is conspicuous in the front row. Just behind Smith (to the left in the photo) is Frank Lawton, a friend of Flynn. Lawton was on the ship with Flynn and Erben for the 1937 voyage to Europe; there's a photo of him with Flynn in Josef Fegerl's book, and Erben's diary indicates they spent time together in London. Lawton, the husband of Evely Laye, is best known for playing the title character (as an adult) in DAVID COPPERFIELD (1935).
Also a member of the Hollywood Cricket Club was Boris Karloff—sadly not in the photo!
This photo was published in The Courier, a local Vancouver paper, in 1985. I'll post the accompanying article soon.
A few years back that someone sold, on eBay, a bunch of candid photos of Flynn taken that day in 1936. I heard about it after the fact and never saw the scans. Perhaps some fellow Flynn fan has them?
I've thought that a good short film about Flynn in Vancouver, in 1936 and 1959, could be most interesting, but such a film would stand or fall on the strength and quality of the images—and there aren't many! I don't know if he visited Vancouver on other occasions.
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 7:33 am
CORRECTION: the 1936 photo of the Hollywood Cricket Club—Frank Lawton is to the RIGHT of C. Aubrey Smith, in the second row! Sorry for the confusion.
Anonymous
April 14, 2010 at 11:56 pm
Reminding me again of my infernal frustration at just having missed the opportunity of meeting the recently deceased Dr. Grant Gould. Oh, what a treat THAT would've been!
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 12:32 am
No, I am not talking about 1959. I was told at the Sylvia that this is where young Flynn stayed during the Cricket trip. But you hear a lot of things said about Errol that are made up, or innaccurate, so who really knows?
My friend C.Ernst Harth visited the Caldough's home when it was empty as part of research for a Flynn flick based on his last days in Vancouver – I think the home was slated for demolition some time ago… Ernst's Flynn site may have some more info!
Peter's E.F. Club
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 1:33 am
Thanks. Interesting to hear that detail about the 1936 visit. I wonder if the Sylvia has their old registries…
As you say, one hears a lot of things about Flynn that are inaccurate, or maybe true, and sometimes impossible. A local writer—no expert on Flynn—thought Flynn had stayed at The Bayshore during his last trip. Lots of people think he died on his yacht, right here in Vancouver. Information so easily morphs into its opposite—once people get involved!
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 3:29 am
Hi Dave;
You get all those details and all his sport interests on YouTube “Errol Flynn Tribute part 1 and part 2“,as a matter of facts his complete life including many details some people may not know. It's all there and made by me. Enjoy!
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 6:17 am
Ah! I see you used my scan of the cricket pic. Excellent!
A correction: in part 2, at the three minute mark: that's Flynn in 1936 with a model for CHARGE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE, not Mullholland Farm. The man with him in the photo is one of the art directors, but I haven't his name at the moment. This photo was published in Architectural Digest or Vanity Fair a few years back and I'm trying to find my copy. Fun!
Your efforts are appreciated.
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 7:36 pm
Hi Dave;
Thank you for this pointer, maybe you find the published article as you say! If it is not Mulholland – I am not able to change the video!
One thing in this news is puzzling me, why would Errol be involved in the building of this movie set? There is nothing in the line of his expertise he could offer? Furthermore, it does not look like a studio setting where they peruse the model, it looks like in his home.
Anyway, I am sure you will be able to find the proof, which would be great for added knowledge. Thank you!
Anonymous
April 15, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Look at the models. All sets from LIGHT BRIGADE. Standard publicity photos—it does not mean he was involved with the building of the sets.