Talk guide
Meeting New People – 2024
…
And she asked me about Seattle in the 60’s
And I tried to tell her
But I couldn’t remember the names
I wanted to mention
Quincy Jones Ray Charles
But today I’m remembering a few things
I wish I could have told her
How I went to a Dave Brubeck concert
1960? - 1961? – 1962?
At the Armory Building
Now known as the Seattle Center House
I was in the front row
No stage
All on the same level
Brubeck and Paul Desmond
Were about eight feet away
But behind me about a mile away
Up in the balcony
Were all the Black concert patrons
When I asked
What’s with that
I will not repeat what I was told
Yes that was the way it was
Pretty hard for a Canadian to swallow
And when I bought my first house
The real estate agent told me
It was an unwritten rule
No property north of the Ship Canal
Sold to Blacks
And if we had more time to talk
I guess I could have told her
Would have told her
How I met my first wife
At that time in Seattle
Early 60s
On Saturday afternoons
Some of the bars would have live jazz groups
It was cool and we thought ourselves sophisticated
And with it
Very pleasant
However, at one of these Saturday jazz events
There must have been about six of us cool people
Sharing a coffee table
Lounging on what I remember were grey leather
Soft easy chairs
I don’t remember how I got to be sitting with them
I didn’t know any of them
But one girl in the party
A Native American as it happened
For some reason
Left her seat to go outside
And when she tried to re-enter
The policeman at the door
Wouldn’t let her in
I asked the gal next to me
What’s happening
She said she’s my friend
It’s because she’s Indian
Well her Native American friend at the door
Brushed her way past the policeman
And came and sat down
And a few minutes later
Because apparently the policeman
Manning the door
Had called the police
Two policemen came in
And literally lifted her out of her seat
and took her away
Well I just didn’t think that was right
So I bailed her out of jail
And as they say
the rest is history
Jim Halliday (Canadian)
Mother
Circa 1961
Ramona, John, Eric, Jeff 1970
Ramona Bennett arrested at fishing protest, Puyallup River
1970
As pictured in the Seattle Times, Jeannie Thomas with son John Halliday, waiting on the courthouse steps for best friend Ramona Bennett
1970
Loren Halliday at AIM Wounded Knee Occupation 1973
John Halliday as teenager
John as Warm Springs police
John Halliday singing entrance song with Muckleshoot Canoe Family at 2023 Canoe Journey
Spirit bear 2021
My students paintings at ANT Gallery, next to my painting (below) 2023
A song to mother earth
Singing national anthem at Kraken game 2023
Dambo troll dedication at West Seattle Lincoln Park
Killer Whale by John ‘Coyote’ Halliday at Dambo compound, Denmark
