What’s this? A ghost sign from an old Radio Shack, a firm that closed down in Canada over a dozen years ago, this one being exposed during renovations at Calgary’s Westbrook Mall. We’re looking at a time capsule here, a reminder taking us back to when the “Shack” was the defacto go-to outlet when one needed consumer electronics. Want a tv, record player, tape deck, computer, CB radio (big in the 70s), parts, batteries of all types or whatever? That’s where you went. They seemingly had everything. And the place was always busy.
Radio Shack stores came to Canada, it appears in the late 1960s, being known in the beginning as Allied Radio Shack. Owned by Tandy Corporation (Tandy Leather then), they were mirror images of US stores. It’s not exactly clear when the Westbrook Mall store was opened but this author remembers shopping at it in the latter half of the 1970s. Bought many bits there, dreamt of buying much more. For a techie wanna-be, it was a toy store of huge proportions. Had one of those 150 in one (or some number) electronic lab kits. One second it was a radio, another a disco strobe light. Oh, and the “battery of the month” club! Yes, recall that?
Times changed, new players came on the market and the stores fell out of favour with consumers, the chain sort of loosing its way in the process. In the mid-2000s, it closed up shop in Canada (but not US) all the stores being rebranded as The Source by Circuit City, similar in scope but with more emphasis on things like cell phones. While that firm still operates in Canada, this particular store didn’t make it and closed down a few months back.
Westbrook is Calgary’s oldest enclosed mall and is mere blocks from BIGDoer HQ. It’s the city’s premiere shopping destination. Or not. Most days now it’s dead. In the 1970s, I recall it being crazy busy. Hadn’t thought of the place until the sign was exposed. Fond memories rushed back…it was nice to know you. So long Radio Shack.
Short Subjects: reports that for any number of reasons are brief in nature. They might be updates to older articles, previews of posts planned or not yet published, brief snippets of things that don’t fit in anywhere else or subjects that are so obscure that information on them can’t be found.
If you need any more information on what we talked about here, by all means contact us!
Date of adventure: May, 2016. Location: Calgary, AB.
Worked on a TRS-80 model III at one time. Predated the 1000/2000 series. No arguments here about them focusing too much in cell phones. Westbrook already has too many of those places already.
I miss Radio Shack so much. It was a great place to go get those electronics parts you needed… or batteries. SO MANY BATTERIES.
When they became The Source, they went all USB-gadgety and now resemble those kiosks in the middle of malls that hawk cheap helicopters, cell phones and cases. Bleah.
Yes, the batteries. Every type, shape, form, use. Back then they were the only place to get the odd ones or large quantities of those that were common. Agreed, the Source morphed into something of a joke. Nothing like the old Shack.
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Thorsby Hotel, built in 1929 & a photo by the manager's 7 years old daughter. More below 👇
Agreema politely asked if she could shoot a few photos & we obliged. A dark environment like this is very unforgiving & the camera she used quite temperamental, so she did an amazing job. We're out of work as photographers! Great food at this place, BTW!
Beer Parlour Project Friday🍺: The Tofield Hotel, built in 1912 & patron Lana, shot on Rob's vintage view camera. More below 👇
She's a sweetie & met her late husband at the hotel. The building from the alley side hasn't changed much since being built but the front brickwork is now covered by siding.
Crossley slides (unrestored), an unnamed fellow snacking on Sun-Maid Raisins - mountains of BC - 1950s. More below 👇
The distinctive red box is instantly recognizable! The location is listed as the Whitewater Valley & we think it's in the Sandon area close to Retallack. Perhaps some of our friends out that way can confirm. Sandon B.C., would Hal know? Crossley frequented Sandon so the location makes sense. Note the (mine?) road cutting across the slope in back. The slide is dated 1955 in the catalogue but 1956 on the frame.
Shout out to: Jason Sailer. _______
Exploring history with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
An old section of Highway #6 (BC) in the 1970s & 2021 - it's the second most shared post in our entire history! More below 👇
The original photo shows the road about the time it was decommissioned. This was always a troublesome section & so it got replaced by a new route further up the hill. While it hasn’t seen a car in eons, it remains overall in reasonable shape, save for some rockfall in places like this. These came down about ten years ago.
Happy Holidays from Off the Beaten Path w' Chris & Connie. Thanks for your continued support & encouragement. More 👇
🎄 🎄 🎄
CPKC's Holiday Train from a few nights ago. Rather than fight the crowds to see it, we wanted something a little more intimate. A bit of hike, but we brought mulled wine to help us keep warm while waiting. It's not a great shot & originally we had no intent to share it here, but what the heck.
Trainspotting is like fishing. It's not about the catch but rather getting out. If a train comes by, great, but if not, we had each other & a chance to get away from the day's problems. That's a BIG win in our books...even if we did freeze our bottoms off. _______
Out exploring with Chris & Connie from Off the Beaten Path. Thanks, Chris.
Still have my Tandy 1000!! The Source was was a gloried cell phone store.
Worked on a TRS-80 model III at one time. Predated the 1000/2000 series. No arguments here about them focusing too much in cell phones. Westbrook already has too many of those places already.
I miss Radio Shack so much. It was a great place to go get those electronics parts you needed… or batteries. SO MANY BATTERIES.
When they became The Source, they went all USB-gadgety and now resemble those kiosks in the middle of malls that hawk cheap helicopters, cell phones and cases. Bleah.
Yes, the batteries. Every type, shape, form, use. Back then they were the only place to get the odd ones or large quantities of those that were common. Agreed, the Source morphed into something of a joke. Nothing like the old Shack.