Town “Greeters” in front of Palace Grand Theatre circa 1952
In the 195Os, tourists who arrived in Dawson City on steamships were greeted by small groups of locals dressed in 189Os costumes. The Klondike Tourist Bureau, as it came to be known, wanted to give people a sense that they were entering a special place. The appearances were such a hit with the visitors that the group expanded its activities to include escorted tours of the town and the Klondike Gold Fields. Dances were held at the Palace Grand Theatre, or the Nugget Hall, as it was called. Gambling tables were set up and special play money was “minted” to keep visitors entertained.
The organization continued to grow, as did the number of visitors to the area. In the 1960s it became officially called the Klondike Visitors Association, and undertook a number of projects to promote Dawson City as a great place to spend a vacation. The casino nights were moved into the Arctic Brotherhood Hall, now known as Diamond Tooth Gertie’s. The casino was the first in Canada, and continues to be a major attraction in Dawson, a place where visitors and locals alike gather to try their luck, enjoy a drink, and watch Gertie and the Gold Rush Girls perform nightly.
The Palace Grand Theatre, reconstructed by Parks Canada in the 1960s, was home to the KVA’s Gastlight Follies for a number of years. The KVA maintains attractions and hosts special events, such as the Jack London Centre, the Berton House, the Yukon Gold Panning Championships, the Great International Outhouse Race and a free gold panning claim on Bonanza Creek. Through its activities, the KVA injects over two million dollars a year into the community, and works in partnership with many organizations to promote and preserve the history of the Klondike, making a visit to Dawson City an unforgettable experience.
For more information, visit the KVA website.
