ON THE ROAD WITH BILL and SUE-ON HILLMAN
Photos to accompany the
 50-Year Musical Journey Book Project
www.hillmanweb.com/book
Our Hillman M.A.P.L.E. Series
Music ~ Archive ~ Photos ~ Life ~ Events
www.hillmanweb.com/maple

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Memories
Intro | Early Years | 60s Decade | 70s Decade | Recordings | UK | 80s and 90s | 21st Century |
Sue-On | RootsRoots2 | Roots3 | Guitar Roots | Gigs | Impact | Family | Travel | 1000words | Music
These hundreds of  photos were collated to illustrate the anecdotes in the
GIG NOTES Chapters of our +50-Year Musical Odyssey book.

Click for large full-screen panorama images

EARLY YEARS and 60s DECADE
.CONTENTS
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1. Hillman Wedding Day :: August 29, 1966
2. TWO WORLDS : Born a World Apart: Rural Manitoba ~ Southern China and Hong Kong
3. Brandon College I: 1906-1971
4. Brandon University II: Today
5. Where Were You When. . .? ~ November 22, 1963
6. JFK's Air Force One ~ November 22+, 1963
7. Meeting with The Ventures :: 50 Years Later
8. CKY Cavalcade of Stars 1964: Hillmans Open For Everly Bros, Roger Miller and Newbeats I
9. CKY Cavalcade of Stars 1964: Hillmans Open For Everly Bros, Roger Miller and Newbeats II
10. Bobby Curtola Winter Tour - 1964-1965 : with Brandon's Dovermen

11. The Country Gentlemen Years :: 1962-1966
12. Hillman Bar Wars and TV Series :: Gig Notes Archive
13. Federal Grain Train Years: 1966-1973 ~ With Russ Gurr and The Western Union
14. Jake Kroeger: Late '60s-Early '70s with Country Gentlemen ~ The Western Union
15. Hillman Dance and Performance Posters ~ Sampling from over 5 decades
16. Brandon's Historic Kennedy Building - Now Ja-On Hillman's Reactive Massage Centre
17. Where Were You When? . . . The First Men On The Moon
18. Hillmans' Western Union Album No. 1: Notes and Photos
19.  Bill Hillman's Brandon College Early Days Photos ~ 1961 . . .
20. Eugene Pirie Memories: Brandon College Days ~ Men's Res. & College Caps Football Team

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HILLMAN WEDDING DAY: AUGUST 29, 1966
Row 1: A Sunday off from music gigs and day jobs of house and school painting to visit St. Andrews ~ Bill and Sue-On arriving inn their old Rambler at Rivers United Church (location chosen because of it being the Band's hometown and the Minister Dr. Harland had recently been posted there after serving in Strathclair for decades) ~ Sue-On entering the church carrying her corsage ~ Bette Forman pinning on Sue-On's corsage ~ Best Man: Hant Choy (Sue-On's cousin) and Bridesmaid: Marcie Senko ~ The Bride and Groom ~ Signing the Register ~ Ducking confetti thrown by cousin Margie on way out.

Row 2: A kiss under a flurry of confetti ~ With Mom Louise and Dad Jerry Hillman ~ With Nannie: Grandma Katie Campbell ~ Mom in foreground ~ With Sister Bonnie and her friend Lloyd ~ With Bonnie and Lloyd

Row 3: Sue-On checking the ceremonial garter as Campbell cousins look on: Alex, Betty Lou (Liz), and Margie with Aunt Shirley Campbell ~ With Rivers bandmates: Jake Kroeger, John Skinner and Barry Forman (seated) ~ Mr. and Mrs. Bill Hillman ~ Wedding Banquet at Buddy Lee's on Brandon's Rosser Ave. ~ Cover of the book that Tells the Rest of the 50-Year Story.

Gig Notes Ch. 3 Reference: June 3rd . . .At Last . . . The Journey Begins

 

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ROOTS & INFLUENCES I
TWO WORLDS : Born a World Apart
Rural Manitoba ~ Southern China and Hong Kong

CHINA SONG | CHINA LADY

.Bill Hillman Early Years: 
www.hillmanweb.com/h100.html
www.hillmanweb.com/h101.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sue-On Choy Early Years: 
www.hillmanweb.com/princess.html
www.hillmanweb.com/soos
ROOTS and INFLUENCES I: TWO WORLDS : Born a World Apart
Row 1: 1. Bill and Gretsch guitar at Strathclair country home and birthplace ~ 2. Bill's early school photo at Strathclair school ~ 3. Aerial photo of Hillman Maple Grove home ~ 4. Choy family home in South China where Sue-On was born ~ 5. Early photo of Sue-On in Hong Kong ~ 6. Sue-On playing piano at her Newdale home.
Row 2: Music Influences: 1. Sun Records in Memphis ~ 2. Million Dollar Quartet: Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash ~ 3. Johnny Cash and Tennesse Three: Late '50s concert in Brandon Arena ~ 4. Hal Lonepine Show with son Lenny Breau and Ray St. Germain: '50s in Strathclair Bend Theatre || Sue-On was more exposed to British music in Hong Kong: 5. Lonnie Donegan 6. Cliff Richard and Shadows
Row 3: 1. Bill and Sue-On courting days in Winnipeg ~ 2. Hillman wedding photo August 1966 ~ 3. Early Pub Gig: Break time at Strathclair Hotel ~ 4. Pub gig: Jake Kroeger as 3rd guy ~ 5. Brandon Hotel pub gig
Row 4: 1. Our Western Union on W. Canada tour: North Battleford Exhibition ~ 2. Album #1 cover: CKX-TV with Barry Forman and Jake Kroeger ~ 3. Western Union Album #2 ~ Sue-On and Western Union: USA Grandstand Tour in NW States: State and County Fairs, Exhibitions, Rodeos.


BRANDON COLLEGE I: 1906-1971  ~  BRANDON UNIVERSITY II: TODAY
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BRANDON COLLEGE I: 1906-1971  ~  BRANDON UNIVERSITY II: TODAY
Back in 1906 this was the Baptist College - It later evolved into Brandon Collage.

I first enrolled in Fall of 1961 but left to teach high school on permit after a few years.
I'm in the Brandon College Caps Football Team: Front Row - Third from the Right
By 1971 the institution was accredited University status.
I received all my degrees from Brandon University after 1971:
B.Sc. ~ B.Sc. 4 Yr Hons ~ B.Ed. ~ M.Ed
After retiring after 30 years as a high school teacher,
I was drafted by Brandon University to serve as a professor in the Faculty of Education
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WHERE WERE YOU WHEN. . .? ~ Nov 22, 1963
Our CKX-TV Friday Noon Show on November 22, 1963 was interrupted by an important news  bulletin. US President John F. Kennedy was reported shot while appearing in a motorcade in Dallas Texas. He had been rushed to hospital. We were all shocked, but resumed our show. 

At 1 pm we rushed to the teletype room to read the news reports as they came in over the wire. The news was not good -- half an hour later the White House Press Secretary announced that the President was dead. I spent the rest of the day in the College dorm TV room watching the emotional television reports. 

WHERE WERE YOU WHEN. . .? ~ Nov 22, 1963
Row 1: 1. CKX-TV Logo ~ 2. CKX TV camera from 1963 ~ 3. Bill Hillman and Barry Forman: Noon Show ~ 3. JFK at Dalles ~ 4. Cross-hairs view from the Book Repository ~ 5. The Kennedy Assassination
Row 2: 1. Jackie Kennedy crawling back to the secret service man ~ 2. Breaking News in the Media ~ 3. Walter Winchell reporting the shooting ~ 4. Teletype machine
Row 3: 1. JFK death news comes over the teletype ~ 2. Newspaper headline ~ 3. Ruby shoots Oswald ~ 4. Kennedy gravesite and flame
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JFK'S AIR FORCE ONE :: 50 YEARS LATER
Fifty years later, Sue-On and I had cause to recall the events of that fateful day of November 22, 1963. Returning from a gig in the southern States we stopped at the Wright-Patterson Air Force base in Dayton to photograph the thousands of aircraft and artifacts on display at the USAF Museum. The most popular aircraft is the Air Force One which flew JFK on his final flights to and from Dallas in November of 1963. 

Not wanting to transport Kennedy's coffin down in the cargo area the Secret Service agents sawed at cabin entrance so that the casket could be angled through the door to the cabin area. We took photos of the repaired cut as we entered and walked through the aircraft. Among the other photos we took is the area in which Johnson was sworn in as the new president, as well as the cockpit, conference areas, galley, communication centre, and the seat where widowed Jackie had sat across from her late husband's casket during the flight back to Washington, DC. An incredible and very important page from 20th Century history.

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JFK'S AIR FORCE ONE :: 50 YEARS LATER
Row 1: 1. History of the JFK Air Force One ~ 2. US Air Force Museum sign ~ 3. Diagram of the JFK aircraft 
Row 2: 1. Museum display hangars ~ 2. Sue-On on the display lawn ~ 3. Museum entrance ~ 4. Flight statue in the foyer ~ 5. Top view of Air Force One
Row 3: 1. Lifting the Kennedy coffin up the passenger stairs ~ 2. Loading the coffin into the aircraft ~ 3. Sign describing the saw cut ~ 4. Display of saw cut made to accomodate the JFK coffin in the passenger cabin
Row 4: 1. Sue-On on stairs to front cabin entrance ~ 2. Sue-On with Presidential seal on aircraft ~ 3. Door today where coffin was loaded ~ 4. View from the rear door ~ 5. Location of coffin area ~ 6. Pilot's cabin 
Row 5: 1. Sue-on in aircraft corridor ~ 2. Lounge area where Johnson was sworn in ~ 3. Photo of Johnson swearing in ~ 4. Another view of coffin area ~ 5. Display of documents and memorabilia near Air Force One.


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Reference Pages: hillmanweb.com

Meet the Ventures On and Off Stage
View Ventures Classic Album Covers
Visit our Vintage Mosrite Site
Live Performances on YouTube
HILLMANS PLAY APACHE: 1971
MEETING WITH THE VENTURES 50 YEARS LATER
50th Anniversary Show at McPhillips Station Casino
Winnipeg ~ January 17, 2011

APACHE  |  TAMMY
* In the early '60s we were the house band at the Brandon Roller Rink. We had a chance to meet and perform with many top acts: Rockin' Conway Twitty with Al Bruno on guitar, Elvis's Memphis buddies Johnny and Dorsey Burnette, top Blues acts, Chad Allan and the Reflections, the Fireballs . . . and the VENTURES.

* Those were the days before we did many vocals and we often played guitar instrumentals for the whole gig. . . which led me on a constant search for guitar records:  Ventures, Shadows, Fireballs, Duane Eddy, Chet Atkins, Wes Dakus, Champs, Lonnie Mack, Link Wray, Spotnicks, and many one-hit wonders such as Jorgen Ingmann, String-A-Longs, Surfaris, Chantays, Rebels, Tornadoes, Pyramids, et al. I went so far as to import all the Shadows records from England and the band worked out synchronized steps to accompany the tunes.

* It was great to have the chance to meet again with the two surviving members of the original Ventures that influenced so many guitarists through so many decades.

HILLMANS MEEET THE VENTURES AFTER 50 YEARS 
Row 1: Collage of favourite Ventures Albums ~ 2. Autographed 50th Anniversary T-Shirt ~ 3. Autographed Album #2: Original band line-up ~ 4. Ventures Mosrite 12-string: Hillman Guitar collection
Row 2: 1. Favourite albums ~ 2. With Nokie Edwards and Don Wilson ~ 3. Ventures autographing albums and recalling old Brandon Roller Rink days 50 years before ~ 4. Mosrite guitar back
Row 3: 1. Ventures on stage: Winnipeg Casino 2. Current Ventures line-up ~ 


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CKY CAVALCADE OF STARS 1964
Winnipeg Auditorium

LET IT BE ME | JOHNNY B. GOOD

* Opening Act: Brandon's Dovermen
* The Newbeats
* Roger Miller
* Everly Brothers
Our band, the Dovermen opened the show and backed the Newbeats 
after only a quick backstage rehearsal
The Band: 
Bill Hillman | Warren Hannay | DelKeith Dubbin | John Bishop
www.hillmanweb.com/h203.html
CKY CAVALCADE OF STARS 1964: WINNIPEG AUDITORIUM
Row 1: Bill Hillman with Dovermen: Opening Act ~ 2. Dovermen backing the Newbeats
Row 2: Headliners Everly Brothers newspaper review with Dovermen mention ~ 2. Everly photo and blurb ~3. Later version of Dovermen: Warren Hannay, John Bishop, Bill Hillman, Delkeith Dubbin, Cyril Stott ~ 4. 1974 Hillman letter to Andy Mellon's music column recalling the Everly concert 
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BOBBY CURTOLA WINTER TOUR - 1964-1965
WITH BRANDON'S DOVERMEN

PROMISED LAND | ROCK MEDLEY

A few scrapbook items from our Dovermen Western Canada tour with Bobby Curtola in '64/'65.
Photos here were from Portage. 
THE DOVERMEN:
Bill Hillman | Warren Hannay | Delkeith Dubbin | John Bishop . . .
More of our Curtola photos and memories at:
http://www.hillmanweb.com/curtola
and
www.hillmanweb.com/hbc1.html
BOBBY CURTOLA WINTER TOUR - 1964-1965 - WITH BRANDON'S DOVERMEN
1. Bobby Curtola photo dedicated to Bill Hillman after the tour 
2. Two Curtola set lists
3 - 5. On Stage at Portage La Prairie: Bill Hillman, Warren Hannay, Delkeith Dubbin, Bobby Curtola, John Bishop


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THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN YEARS : 1962-1966

CAJUN CHILD  | HELP ME MAKE IT THROUGH THE NIGHT
During my Brandon College years I played in quite a variety of bands: Rock, C/W, Old time, Jazz Combos, folk, but the longest lasting and best known was the Country Gentlemen. Barry Forman and I brought in numerous band line-ups and later did quite number of shows with Russ Gurr. We played a multitude of dances, pubs, car shows, live Provincial Exhibition broadcasts, Co-Op Neighbour Nights, barn dances, fairs, rodeos, military bases, etc. We also had numerous CKX TV and Radio Shows, including live daily noon shows and weekly half hours. 

After Sue-On and I were married in 1966, she decided she didn't want to be a stay-at-home musician's wife . . . so we worked up an act and she joined the group - necessitating a name change: THE WESTERN UNION


Reference Pages: 
www.hillmanweb.com/h201.html | www.hillmanweb.com/h201a.html
www.hillmanweb.com/russgurr | www.hillmanweb.com/forman | www.hillmanweb.com
..
THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN /EARLY WESTERN UNION YEARS : 1962-1966
Row 1: Austin Threshermen Reunion Grandstand with Hurleyville Hog Taxi: Bill Hillman, Barry Forman, Jake Kroeger, seniors driving the Taxi, Mr. Hurley, Russ Gurr and daughter Trish ~ 2. Dauphin Fair Grandstand: John Skinner, Bill Hillman, Jake Kroeger, Russ Gurr, Barry Forman ~ 3. Fair Grandstand Stage: Barry Forman and Bill Hillman
Row 2: 1. Barn Dance Poster ~ 2. Sue-On in Montreal Expo 67 Labyrinth Pavilion queue to see the featured Western Union film ~ 3. Labyrinth album featured Russ Gurr's Threshermen's Ball with full orchestra ~ 4. Part of our audience during our Western Canada Exhibition tour for Federal Grain ~ 5. CKX-TV logo: We performed countless shows from 1962 through to the mid-80s
Row 3: Media coverage of the signing of a long-term contract with Federal Grain Co. for Exhibition shows from 1966-1973: John Skinner, Russ Gurr, Sue-On Hillman, Bill Hillman, Barry Forman: The Western Union


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HILLMAN GIG NOTES ARCHIVE
BAR WARS and TV SERIES

GOODTIME JAMBOREE  |  LADY LUCK
Songbird of the North
For some time before we moved into Brandon to finish our university degrees we had been driving in to play the beverage room in the Cecil Hotel. Our move to the city coincided with all the city's hotel beverage rooms decision to hire bands... and strippers. We have the distinction of being the first Brandon band to supply live musical accompaniment for exotic dancers. At that time most of the girls were imported from fairly classy clubs in Europe, and tourist towns like Vegas -- some were quite well educated and all were entertaining. A popular stripper at the Cecil Hotel Beverage Room was called Frenchie. In 1968 her act consisted of bathing in a transparent plexiglass tub that we had to maneuver onto our stage during each of our breaks.  The splashing water was an occupational hazard. She had recently had silicone injections into her breasts, but things had gone wrong as one hung far below the other. She swore she was only going to perform long enough to earn money marry her Mormon boyfriend. The most popular song in her act song was Neil Young's Cinnamon Girl during which she invited a few lucky guys up to scrub her back. Management was impressed with Sue-On's vocals and one night billed her on a poster alongside the stripper ad, as "The Songbird of the North" Sue-On was so embarrassed by this that she made them take down all the posters.
HILLMAN BAR WARS and TV SERIES
Row 1: 1. Western Union Business Card ~ Sample Ads for Gigs: 2. Cecil Hotel with stripper ~ 3. Oak River Memorial Gardens 1968 band schedule 4. Political Rally and Dance in Shoal Lake ~ 5. 1969 Band schedule for Brandon Bars ~ 6. Brandon Viking Room ~ 7. St. Vital Hotel, Winnipeg
Row 2: Sample Ads for Gigs: 1. Band schedules for Brandon Bands (workin' our way through college) ~ 2. The Pas Kelsey Trail Room ~ 3. Gordon Hotels' band schedule ~ 4. Yellowhead Road Sign to hometowns: Hillmans at Strathclair and Barry Forman at Rivers
Row 3: TV Shots: 1. Bill on Telecaster, Sue-On on Hohner pianet and drums, Barry on fiddle and bass, Jake on acoustic ~ 2. Sue-On, Bill and Barry on first CKX-TV live colour broadcast.
Row 4: 1. Band promo shot ~ 2. Strippers we backed in the bars ~ 3. Bill and Sue-On at Maple Grove ~ 4. Sue-On on stand-up drums at Kinsmen gig 5. More band promo shots
Row 5: 1. Shadow shot ~ 2. Photo at our Maple Grove home for newspapers ~ 3. Backstage during bar break ~ 4. Bill, Sue-On, Kevin Pahl: Backing CBC's Al Cherney and Johnny Thorson at Brandon Winter Fair ~ 5. Promo shot for magazine feature 
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THE FEDERAL GRAIN TRAIN YEARS 1966-1973
ON STAGE AND TOUR
with
RUSS GURR AND THE WESTERN UNION

MUDDY MISSISSIPPI LINE  |  THE FRENCH SONG

Russ Gurr ~ Bill and Sue-On ~ Barry Forman
Jake Kroeger ~ Kerry Morris ~ John Skinner
In every summer during the '60s and early '70s we kept our calendar free of our regular bookings on military bases, TV, pubs, arena dances, etc. so that we could go on Western Canada tours for the Federal Grain Co. They supplied a motor home, vehicles, and a portable stage which also folded down to form a parade float. We played major fairs and exhibitions across the four Western provinces. The audiences were huge and we enjoyed the experience of meeting with a wonderful variety of grandstand performers and carnies.
 www.hillmanweb.com/train | www.hillmanweb.com/forman
www.hillmanweb.com/odyssey1
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FEDERAL GRAIN TRAIN YEARS 1966-1973 ON STAGE AND TOUR
Row 1: 1. Russ Gurr with our tour bus ~ 2. Russ Gurr and the Western Union on our mobile stage ~ 3. Western Union card and photo we sold off stage ~ 4. Early glossy photo of the band
Row 2: 1. First two Western Union albums ~ 2. Bill and Sue-On afternoon performance on tour ~ 3. Band on stage along with our little niece Cindy and fans waiting for autographs ~ 4. Sue-On and Bill hamming it up with Russ ~ 5. Hillman albums 3 and 4
Row 3: 1. Three photos of huge evening show audiences ~ 2. Grandstand performance
Row 4: 1. Bill, Sue-On, Jake and Barry album promo shot ~ 2. Band preparing to leave Brandon for another summer tour ~ 3. Newspaper photo of band at Hillman country home ~ 4. Newspaper photo of summer tour contract signing

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JAKE KROEGER
The Music Years: Late '60s - Early '70s
The Country Gentlemen ~ The Western Union
Rhythm guitarist and vocalist

www.hillmanweb.com/train
Western Union Album I
Western Union Album II
Gig Notes
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BAND BUDDY: JAKE KROEGER ~ THE MUSIC YEARS ~ Late '60s - Early '70s
Row 1: 1. CKX-TV Logo ~ 2. Photo in CKX-TV studio for album #1 ~ 3. Western Union TV show ~ 4. Album liner notes pose ~ 5. Album #2 cover 
Row 2: 1. TV show performance ~ 2. Band Bar Break ~ 3. Leaving on tour ~ 4. Exhibition audience
Row 3: 1. Newspaper photo at Hillman's Maple Grove ~ 2. Austin Threshermen Reunion with Hurleyville Taxi ~ 3. On stage at Dauphin Grandstand ~ 4. With Hillmans on their wedding day
Row 4: 1. Federal Grain Train group ~ 2. On Federal Grain stage on tour ~ 3. Westerm Union band reunion 2002: Kerry Morris, Jake, Bill and Sue-On, Barry Forman, Kevin Pahl, Russ Gurr 


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HILLMAN CAREER POSTERS
OVER 5 DECADES
A Sampling from 1962 -Present
SWINGING '60s: Community Clubs ~ High Schools ~ Barn Dances ~ 
TV ~ Riverside and Other Dance Halls ~ Winnipeg 
1970s - 2000s: Fairs ~ Kenora Arena ~ Thunder Valley Black Powder
 Festivals ~ Exhibitions ~ Tours ~ Bobby Curtola Sock Hops
CANADA: CFB Bases ~ TV ~ Tours ~ Arenas ~ Corporate Parties
USA: Grandstands ~ Rodeos ~ Exhibitions
UK: Working Man Clubs ~ Studios ~ Br. Legions ~ Military Bases

SAIL ON 747 ~ REELIN' IN SOHO ~ MONTANA
;
HILLMAN CAREER POSTERS OVER 5 DECADES
Row 1: 1. Flamingo Combo (Murray Bateman, Audry Lintott, Cyril Stott, Bill Hillman, Barry Norris) ~ 2. Blue Angels (Bill Hillman, Ken Blair, Doug Brolund, Alan Jones) ~ 3. Barn Dance with the Country Gentlemen 4. Blue Angels at Riverside
Row 2: 1. Kenora Funtier Daze (arena) ~ 2. Thunder Valley Black Powder Festival  ~ 3. Bobby Curtola Sock Hop Reunion 


Row 3: 1. Hillman canvas sign on Kevin Pahl's keyboards ~ 2. Hillman 8"x10" glossy ~ 3. Montana Grandstand poster with Hillmans and Jeannie C. Riley ~ 4. Bar B-Q show on UK tour ~ 5. Hillman Entertainers of the Year Award ~ 6. US Agents: Bardine Productions
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THE HISTORIC KENNEDY BUILDING
JA-ON HILLMAN'S REACTIVE MASSAGE CENTRE
Our son Ja-On's decision to expand his Reactive Massage Therapy centre into the fully renovated "Kennedy" building on Rosser Avenue triggered some fond memories of yesteryear. Back in the mid-50s, one of my consuming interests was music. I looked forward to our family trips to Brandon, which gave me a chance to purchase the latest rock 'n' roll hits on record. 

A favourite haunt was the P.A. Kennedy Music store, which featured a large display room of radios, music equipment and a great stock of current hit records. In fact, 25 years earlier CKX radio studios had been located upstairs in the building. The most intriguing part of the store for me, however, was the area containing listening booths where music enthusiasts could listen to records before buying them. My first listening experiences all came at 78 revolutions per minute, since 78s were all our old phonograph could play. 

More in our Gig Notes Section


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Where Were You When? . . . The First Men On The Moon
The July 21 afternoon of our 1969 summer tour saw us glued to our little Sony portable TV. NASA's Apollo 11 space mission had touched down on the moon the day before and now the world was about to witness man's first steps on Earth's only natural satellite. Since we weren't scheduled to do a show till that evening we were looking forward to the television coverage of the historic event. Unfortunately, our coach was parked on the North Battleford, Saskatchewan fairgrounds where TV reception was dismal. We moved the set to every part of the vehicle and impatiently adjusted the rabbit ears antennae.

Finally, we picked up images of a ghost in a snowstorm, but the audio came in loud and clear. We settled back to watch this world-shattering event unfold. Seeing US astronaut Neil Armstrong finally utter the words: "That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind" as he stepped onto this alien world was incredibly exciting. Considering the hazards of space travel and the state of technology and computers in the '60s, this was a major achievement.

We put on a well-received show that night, but the wonder of the scientific achievement of safely rocketing through space from the earth to the moon, to make a successful landing on the lunar surface, really eclipsed whatever success we had on stage.

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ALBUM 1: WESTERN UNION NOTES :: 1969
ROW 1: Album 1 cover photo taken by the CKX photographer at the CKX-TV Brandon Studio during one of our TV shows ~ Galaxy Records A-side label: 3 fiddle songs by Barry Forman and 3 vocals by Jake Kroeger ~ Galaxy Recording "Studio" location: The Winnipeg Grain Exchange building on Main Street ~ B-side label: 3 vocals by Sue-On: Mom and Dad Waltz, Silver Threads and Golden Needles, Tiny Bubbles :: 3 by Bill: Steel Guitar Rag and Hideaway Louie (guitar instrumentals) and Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy (vocal) ~ Album back cover ~ Decades Later: over a dozen albums recorded.
ROW 2: Western Union business card with Chinese font printed by our CFB buddy ~ Bill & Sue-On on a pub stage ~ Bill and Gretsch in Strathclair living room ~ Promo shot on tailgate at our Maple Grove home ~ Bill the teacher performing with his students' band ~ Sue-On in gold lame dress by our stone fence at Maple Grove ~ On tour stage in Alberta ~ On stage during dance at Strathclair Hall ~ Bill & Gretsch on TV ~ Bill & Telecaster on Dauphin Grandstand stage ~ On set of our TV show ~ Federal Grain Train stage ~ Silhouette shot ~ Card
ROW 3: Sunset shot of Sue-On, Bill, Jake and Barry ~ On CKX-TV western set during our live weekly TV series ~ Bar Years photos from our Gig Notes Collage archive - featured on this page.

19.


20. Eugene Pirie Memories: Brandon College Days ~ Men's Res. & College Caps Football Team

BILL AND SUE-ON HILLMAN: 50-YEAR MUSICAL ODYSSEY
www.hillmaneb.com/book

HILLMAN PHOTO ARCHIVE: M.A.P.L.E. POSTER MOSAICS

www.hillmanweb.com/maple

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Memories
Intro | Early Years | 60s Decade | 70s Decade | Recordings | UK | 80s and 90s | 21st Century |
Sue-On | RootsRoots2 | Roots3 | Guitar Roots | Gigs | Impact | Family | Travel | 1000words | Music

www.hillmanweb.com/book

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BILL AND SUE-ON HILLMAN