Gould locations

[Allan MacLeod <allan.macleod@usask.ca>]

Gould frequented two of Fran's restaurants in Toronto, both still in
operation.  One is on College at Yonge, opposite the old Eaton's College
Street store which was the site of the Eaton Auditorium where he did so
much of his recording.  The other, which he must have used more
frequently, was opposite his apartment at Yonge and St. Clair.  Both
were all-night eateries.  It is strange that no one has ever talked to
waiters or managers about him.  So, one of those Fran's, most likely the
one at St. Clair might be an ideal place, especially late at night.
The best venue of all if it were possible would be a car with the radio
on, with the signal fading in and out and the music constantly
changing.  I am thinking of Gould's own description of his experiences
of driving in Northern Ontario and listening to Petula Clark.  One could
also include the sound of screeching breaks and car crashes as other
cars sought to avoid this rather maniacal driver.
He had a studio in a room at the Inn on the Park, but that must be gone
by now.  It was there that he suffered his stroke.  But I believe that
the public archives may have a mock-up of the room; in any case, one was
included in their exhibition on Gould about a decade ago.
There is, of course, also the Toronto zoo.
In any case, whatever the choice, there should be multiple media sources
playing in the background, the use of the telephone and an occasional
break to check out the blood pressure or take yet another pill
        Allan