Item AAAB1089 - Imbert Orchard interview : [Reimer, 1978]

CALL NUMBER: T0990:0003
SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Introduction to aural history
PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1961
RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Orchard's background in the study of history and English. Orchard's developing interest in local history in Ontario, ca. 1931. The strong first impression of B.C. on Orchard. The "compression" of B.C. history. The "epic" quality of pioneer life in B.C. "Variety" in B.C. Orchard's war work in the field of camouflage. Spent nine years in Alberta in the field of drama. Began as a script editor for CBC radio and TV. Orchard's first recordings with Constance Cox, 1960. Comments on CBC bureaucracy. TRACK 2: Orchard's first radio series on the Skeena with John Edwards as producer. Orchard's first interviewing trip to the Skeena, 1961. The selection of subjects. Recording techniques. Ian Stephen as Orchard's technician. More on the first Skeena River trip. Recording with Wiggs O'Neill, Sara Bourgon.

CALL NUMBER: T0990:0004
SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Recording the "Living Memory" of British Columbia
PERIOD COVERED: 1961-1967
RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Continuation of the story of Orchard's first Skeena trip, 1961. The second Skeena trip, 1962. Anecdotes about recording in the Skeena country. "River of the Clouds", Orchard's first big documentary program. Meeting Agnes Russ. Recording techniques and the routine of recording. Little preliminary research. More on Ian Stephen as Orchard's technician. Making the programs. The artist's eye and ear. "River of the Clouds" won awards. "Living Memory" a series of 15 minute sound programs. Recording the Victoria series of interviews in the spring of 1962. Recording in the Fraser Valley area, 1963. Meeting Martin Starret, 1963. Starret was Orchard's outstanding subject. TRACK 2: Continuation of the discussion of Martin Starret. Trip with Martin Starret to Babine Lake. Other outstanding interviews: Paddy Acland, Phyllis Bryant, Cornelius Kelleher. Major gathering trips in 1964 and 1965: Nicola, Cariboo, Boundary, Okanagan, Kootenays, Vancouver Island, Lower coast, Gulf Islands, etc. Orchard now able to do his own recordings. Anecdotes about Orchard's travels while recording. Orchard's new series, "People in Landscape".

CALL NUMBER: T0990:0005
SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Aural history in British Columbia
PERIOD COVERED: 1964-1971
RECORDED: Vancouver (B.C.), 1978
SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Canadian Centennial, 1967, a landmark in Orchard's broadcasting career. Discussion of new artist techniques used in the series of 1 hour programs, "From the Mountains to the Sea", 1967. Anecdotes about making the programs. Problems of separating "truth" from "myth" in the recordings. After about 1967, Orchard begins to do his own editing. Major journeys: the Chilcotin with Phyllis Bryant Kellis; the Parsnip River with the Boy Scouts, following David Thompson's route. About 2/3 of Orchard's recordings not yet made into programs. About 1/4 to 1/5 of the total material would go into programs. More on recording sessions. General reflections on aural history. [TRACK 2: blank. End of interview.]