Many residents are still shedding tears after watching a young Wayne Gretzky meet his hero Tim Horton for an autograph in an emotional commercial that was mainly filmed at Brown’s Line Donuts in Alderwood.
“The Autograph” portrays a young Gretzky, played by Gordie Gilders, visiting a Tim Hortons location in 1968 in Brantford and getting an autograph from Hortons, the late Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman and restaurant co-founder.
The Great One would say he was inspired to become a professional hockey player after that meeting.
“They were filming here for two days last summer,” says Rina, who with her husband own the 744 Brown’s Line 1950s-style eatery. “Thousands of people have seen that commercial. It is very famous and people are still talking about it today.”
Many of the regular customers say they did not recognize their favourite restaurant at first.
“They (producers) did a great job transforming this place,” says Stan. “I come here every day and I still didn’t recognize the place. Someone had to tell me.”
The extras and actors in the commercial were dressed in 1960s clothing with ’60s hair and makeup, officials said.
The ad was shot “in an old diner off of Brown’s Line that they had converted into an original Tim Hortons with stools inside and tables. I couldn’t believe it,” one of those involved recalled.
Gretzky, or his dad, Walter, were not at the diner because their scene was filmed elsewhere.
At the end of the commercial, Gretzky is shown with tears welling in his eyes.
The story is an emotional tribute to Horton, who was one of the greatest defensemen of all-time. Horton spent 24 seasons in the NHL with the Toronto Maple Leafs, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Buffalo Sabres
His career tragically ended in 1974 when he crashed his sports car in St. Catherines. Horton, a member of the Sabres at the time, had played against his famous former team, the Leafs, the night before and was driving back to Buffalo. He died at age 44.
Horton opened his first doughnut shop in Hamilton in 1964. By 1968, Tim Hortons had become a multi-million dollar franchise. After Horton died, Ron Joyce, Horton’s business partner, bought the Horton’s family’s shares for $1 million becoming sole owner.
Today there are almost 5,000 Tim Hortons stores in Canada.
Alderwood’s Singing O’Connors a vaudeville hit
A City of Toronto heritage plaque stands outside a Connorvale Ave., home where the famous Alderwood Singing O’Connor Sisters vaudeville stars grew up.
The sisters, who were at one time billed as the Six Singing O’Connor Sisters, included Vera, Kathleen, Madeleine, Geraldine, Kathleen and Vera. They were the daughters of farmers, who never lost their roots, even as they became a hit at vaudeville dance halls and theatres in Canada and the U.S. from 1910 to 1937.
The six girls were part of nine children of John Jr. and Ellen, who both loved music. Ellen was a professional singer and John Jr. played the violin, so there was always music at the O’Connor home and it is said that harmony singing came naturally to the girls, who would often perform at area banquets and concerts.
It wasn’t until 1910 when they received a big break. A family friend arranged for them to sing for Michael Shea, the owner of the Shea Theatre Chain, who was so impressed with their singing that he signed them on the spot.
By 1912 the singers, who were dubbed ‘the only authentic six sister group ever in show business,’ were performing on stages across North America with stars of the day, who included Jimmie Durante, Al Jolson, Sophie Tucker and Eddie Cantor.
The group grew popular packing shows and receiving rave reviews. But by 1925, three of the girls had married and the group became a quartet.
The sisters retired in 1937, but continued to sing close to home for private parties and wartime benefits. They last appeared on stage in 1973 for a CBC show. In 1989, the last surviving sister, Geraldine, moved out of the house, and it was sold and demolished.
The plaque was installed in 2009 in front of a new house that now sits at 12 Connorvale Ave.
The Singing O’Connors became known as the “Greatest Singing Voices in Vaudeville,” and some of their earliest numbers were arranged by a young George Gershwin, who was just beginning his career as a composer.
Their 12-minute act featured comedy and fans loved the expensive costumes that they wore.
It is said the girls returned home every summer from touring to help with the family’s 80-hectare farm on the west side of Brown’s Line, between Horner Ave. and Lake Shore Blvd. W.
Problem-kid LeBron James want others to succeed
As students return to school, all eyes are focused on NBA basketball star LeBron James’ I Promise School in Ohio that feeds and educates for free 240 at-risk inner-city children.
You may like or hate the former Cleveland Cavaliers now Los Angeles Lakers star, but at the end of the day he stepped up to the court and using more than $8 million of his own money provided an outlet for success for kids in his hometown of Akron.
Jubilant residents of the hard-hit city are delighted as their vulnerable 3rd and 4th-Graders will no long have to walk the streets and be exposed to gangs and crime.
The school, a project of the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools, provides students with a slew of awesome perks; which includes free tuition, uniforms, breakfast, lunch and snacks, transportation, bicycle and helmet and more importantly, access to a food pantry for their families.
The students who graduate will be guaranteed tuition to attend the University of Akron. All they have to do is show up and study. Their parents also have access to higher learning.
James was a problem student when growing up and missed months of classes as a result. Education remained important to him and he was driven by a mission to help kids overcome what he faced as a low-income student growing up in the ‘Rubber Capital of the World.’
“The jitters before the first day of school are real right now!!! Tomorrow is going to be one of the greatest moments (if not the greatest) of my life when we open the #IPROMISE School,” James said in a Tweet.
“This skinny kid from Akron who missed 83 days of school in the 4th grade had big dreams…”
He recalled skipping school for months as he and his mom moved from one couch or spare room to another thanks to friends and family members. He credits mentors, some of whom he met at school, for helping him to turn his life around so he attended every day of 5th Grade, the first year he played organized basketball.
James, who has won three NBA championships and four league-MVPs, called the school opening the greatest moment of his career.
“Walking these hallways and seeing, when I was driving here, just the streets that I walked, some of the stores are still up when I was growing up,” he told ESPN. “It’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
The school’s curriculum was crafted with the help of Akron County educators, who say they’ve long seen their students underperforming in the classroom. There will be a focus on hands-on education, with an emphasis on developing problem-solving skills, according to the school’s website.
Students will also have a later start time for school days and more staggered breaks in order to promote year-round education.
The NBA champion has become increasingly active in social issues in recent years, often speaking out against instances of racism and other forms of inequality. He said that for him, this school is an opportunity to create change.
“For kids in general, all they want to know is that someone cares. And when they walk through that door I hope they know that someone cares,” he said recalling his early days.
Some 43 staffers will help run the I Promise School, including teachers, a principal, four intervention specialists, a tutor, English as a second language teacher, music instructor and gym teacher.
Other famous Black celebrities as Sean “Diddy” Combs, ESPN analysist Jalen Rose and a few others have also put their names and millions in funding schools for at-risk youths in the U.S.
See more at www.torontonewswire.com
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Viola on $10 bill
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