Gibsons restaurant Molly鈥檚 Reach is a living museum dedicated to The Beachcombers, the hit CBC television series that aired for nearly two decades starting in the 1970s. A new photograph of one of its minor characters has been added to the collection.
Hanging on one of its walls is a black and white still from an episode starring Frank Wade, known to fans as Colonel Spranklin. Wade鈥檚 grandson John Wade, who moved to Gibsons in June, donated the photograph. 鈥淵ou come into this place, it鈥檚 a museum, it鈥檚 part of Canadian history,鈥� Wade said.
Wade presented the photograph with Coun. David Croal to restaurant owner Diane Twohig on Nov. 16. Croal worked as an art director on the show, starting in 1979. 鈥淪adly, some of the best characters had the smallest parts,鈥� Croal said.
Frank Wade was in his 70s when he started with The Beachcombers and performed in 23 episodes from 1972 until he retired in 1979. 鈥淗e loved it, because it was his last little bit of fame,鈥� said Wade of his grandfather鈥檚 role. 鈥淗e would be up to his 80s filming.鈥�
Spranklin lived on Keats Island, and was a 鈥渃rusty old army colonel,鈥� according to Wade. Frank Wade began acting in vaudeville in 1922 and worked as a freelance actor in radio dramas and Theatre Under the Stars in the 1960s. He was also a dog expert and appeared on The Bob Switzer Show with a poem about a different breed each week.
Twohig, who has owned Molly鈥檚 Reach since 2011, said donations of photographs or other memorabilia happen fairly regularly and are welcome. 鈥淚t鈥檚 always nice to have more pictures 鈥� we have so many people coming in, so many fans still, so the more the better,鈥� she said.
For Wade, putting the photo into the public realm also serves another purpose. 鈥淚t鈥檚 his legacy, really,鈥� said Wade of the donation. 鈥淚鈥檓 keeping whatever legacy that he gave here, keeping it alive for future generations.鈥�
Listen to an interview with Croal and Wade on
