MONSIEUR GASTON'S SOUVENIRS

"THE AMATEUR'S CONTEST"

It was not the talent that was missing in our group of friends.

Paul Turgeon* was to become one of our best actor after a few years as a radio announcer. Very talented, he could impersonate just about any artist on local radio, news announcers, anchor man, or comedians that were playing in the soaps of the time.

Jacques Lachance* used to like to take the center of the stage. He was the darling of all the girls. He kept telling them and us that he had a bad heart and that he was diagnosed by doctors to have only a few years to live. All the girls were pitying the beau Jacques and were covering him with fondness that was not always only maternal and we were suspecting that he was getting favors that were , more often than not, refused to us, because, we, we were not in danger of death.

I met Jacques several years ago on a special TV show:

"Avis de Recherche"

where all the friends and schoolmates of Paul Turgeon had gathered together. It was very emotional, because we also could meet friends and acquaintances that we had lost from sight for many years.

Jacques was then in his early fifties and I am wondering how his heart could hold out so long. He is still alive and he is now around sixty-five. He also was a very good impersonator and was specialized in Charles Trenet's repertoire, who was in those days, at his peak.

We were not yet TV slaves, and parish activities were somewhat of a cure for our boredom.

Bingo on Wednesday, Thursday, it was a play by the "ARTISTES" from the parish and Friday, it was

"THE AMATEUR CONTEST."

The Piaf, Patachou, Chevalier and other French singers from France were very popular and were visiting us regularly. Only a few Québecois were starting to make their way, Alice Roby, Jen Roger, one of the only French Canadian talent was making a hit in Montréal, but not yet in Québec City. He was from Montréal. Small towns rivalries...

At these amateurs contest, the applauding and yelling decided who were the winners, the heroes of the day. That particular Friday, we were about fifteen in our group of friends to support our stars.

It is now Paul Turgeon's turn to do his favorites imitations. Very enthusiastic, we are fifteen of us, applauding and yelling:

"Bravo Turgeon, Bravo, Bravo"...

And Turgeon to salute very low in front of his admirers.

Then follows Jacques Lachance, who imitates a Charles Trenet, such, that should Charles Trenet have been there, he would have been embarrassed to be but himself. The other contestants, even with all the talent that they may had, had absolutely no chance in front of our gladiators.

Paul, with our applauding, deserves the first prize: $15.00

Jacques, gets second prize under our passionate applause: $10.00

The evening was organized by

"THE TEMPERANCE LEAGUE"

and we found the perfect way to spend that money.

We were to

"DRINK IT".

And, there we are, six of us.

In those days of almost prohibition, there were restaurants that were serving more liquor and beer than food. They had a license, permitting them to serve beer and wine, but it had to be ordered with a meal. And the same sandwiches were coming and going from one customer to another, whenever they were ordering beer or wine. I don't think anyone would have dared to eat them.

But it was the law, and restaurants had to comply with it, as stupid as it was, or take a chance to loose their permit to sell liquor.

Le Charest* was one of these restaurants. It was named that way, because it was located on the boulevard of the same name. Very original . It was almost a home for prostitutes, but at our age, we knew nothing or very little about it.

And we sit at a table, the six of us. The waiter comes to us and I am sure that he will ask us for ID's which he should have done, because none of us was yet eighteen years old, the legal age to buy beer in a restaurant.

«Bring us beer for $25.00...

-Guys, that's fifty large bottles of beer. Are you joking?»

(Beer was still cheap in these blessed days, as it was before governments decided that drinking was a sin and that it had to be excessively taxed)

«We asked for $25.00 worth of beer. Are you deaf? Are you afraid you won't get paid? Here is our money.»

Impressed by that treasure, he salutes very low.

«O.K. Gentlemen, at your service.»

Two trips he had to make... Fifty bottles on the table...

There was not even enough room left for an ashtray.

And we start drinking, first in glasses, then, from the bottle. It was not our first encounter with beer, but eight large, tree quarters of a quart bottles, that was a lot of liquid. At a table nearby, two ladies, aggressive red lipstick and make-up, certainly in their early or even late fifties soon realize they may have clients in perspective.

«Gentlemen, may we join you?

-Certainly, you are welcome.»

And they sit at our table.

Waiter, two more glasses.

Jacques Lachance our Don Juan is fast to let them know that he is interested and he and André Boudreault* soon leave us , holding the women by the waist.

They could have been their grandmothers...

We found out only the next day how they spent the rest of the evening. A shabby hotel on Les Remparts and

«Bye bye virginity.»

André made it O.K. He saw his doctor about a week later and a few injections of penicillin soon releases his itching and his yellow bleeding.

But it was not so easy for Jacques. It is only three or four weeks later that he opened up to André:

«It leaks yellow and it is burning like hell.

-You did not see a doctor? Are you crazy?

-I did not have enough money.»

This was before the Clic-Clic of the government health insurance...

And André took an appointment with his doctor, who accepted to see Jacques right away at his consulting room. André had to pay for the doctor's fee and antibiotics.

The two of them were glorified and kept telling us:

«That's the way you become a man, guys.»

*Names have been changed because these persons are still alive and I don't think that they would appreciate these souvenirs of mine on the street...

Hope you enjoyed...