Celebrities Love Canada, except maybe the Ghost of Vancouver or the King of the Silver Screen

Celebrities Love Canada, except maybe the Ghost of Vancouver or the King of the Silver Screen.

Live Chat With James July 30, 2025

Why celebrities and the world's elite love vacationing in Canada. Also a deep dive into the Phantom of Vancouver and the Death of a Hollywood Legend that was not as bazaar as what happened in the coroner's office after the autopsy. Also how a paparazzi flew into the side of a hotel trying to get the biggest scoop. A fun and entertaining episode you will be sure to remember.

#celebrities #Elite #Wealth #Exclusive #ErrolFlynn #howardhughes #Aviator #Vancouver #travel #Tourism #Westinbayshore #historic #Hollywood #businessTitan #Film #Television #RobinHood #PhantomofVancouver #GhostofVancouver #Funny #Crazyevents #ExploreCanada #TourismVancouver #ExploreBC #HollywoodStories

Episode Transcript

(00:02):
We're all good evening ladies and gentlemen.
We are doing an early live chat with James tonight.
We are going to forgo the traditional headlines that we
usually cover at the beginning of the show and we're going to
jump right in to some intriguingstories going back in
Vancouver's history. And that is the ghost of Errol

(00:24):
Flynn. Yes, say big time Hollywood
actor that was known around the globe back in the 30's, the
40's, the 50s and 60s. So we'll cover as some of that
and the mystery and intrigue andwhy people say his ghost still
wanders the West End of Vancouver.
We'll also take a look at the way in which Howard Hughes, the

(00:46):
eccentric billionaire, came to Vancouver, spent six months but
was seen by nobody. He was virtually a ghost in the
city and you won't believe what he got up to at the Westin
Bayshore Hotel. We will cover both of those but
let's take a look 1st as of course you know world of

(01:09):
limitless luxury where the wealthy and the well known can
go anywhere and do anything is surprising.
Trend has emerged once again from the Hamptons to Saint Barts
in traditional playgrounds of the elite are facing a quiet
revival of vast, wild and I'm assuming sanctuary to the north.
Yes, here in Canada, in a world that never stops watching, why

(01:31):
are the people who are always seen choosing to disappear in
Canada? Well, it's take look at that as
we continue tonight on the on live chat with James here at the
Pearl Pics TV studios in Vancouver, BC Once again, I'd
like to thank tonight's program sponsor and that is of course

(01:54):
Kerry Movers KRY movers.com. You can find them online for all
of your Metro Vancouver and Fraser Valley moving it needs
locally or for your long distance relocations throughout
Western Canada. Once again, that's Kerry Movers.
You can find them online at KARYmovers.com.

(02:17):
Now, welcome to the show. Tonight, we're pulling back the
curtain on one of the biggest untold stories in luxury travel.
Yes, we're gonna talk about why a lot of people are coming up to
Canada. And when I'm talking about this
particular story tonight, we're gonna be talking about
celebrities and people of high worth.
And then we're going to get intothe fun and the nitty gritty of

(02:40):
the visit of Howard Hughes back in 1970 do when he was a
germaphobe bins and took up two floors of the Western Bayshore
Inn, which is now the Westin Bayshore Hotel.
And of course, we'll talk about the death of Errol Flynn in
Vancouver and other celebrity that was world famous and how it

(03:02):
came to be that he passed away in Vancouver.
So we'll get to those in just a bit.
But let's first start with the Canadian attraction to the
celebrities in the ultra rich. Now it's not just about the
stunning scenery or the friendlyfaces.
They'll Canada has those in spades.
It's about a powerful trifecta in this country offers like

(03:24):
nowhere else on earth. It's unparalleled privacy, the
raw soul, stirring nature and a unique brand of quiet luxury
that is redefining what it meansto truly escape.
We'll take you from the legendary lakeside estates of
Ontario, where Hollywood royaltysummers in secluded splendor, to
the architectural marvel, marvels at the end of the world.

(03:48):
Or at least the edge, anyway. We'll even journey to a place
you'd never expect, a quiet Prairie city that serves as a
secret getaway to some of the most exclusive rural retreats on
the continent. Yes, this is the story of the
Canadian appeal, now the foundation of freedom, privacy,
security and quiet luxury. To understand why a star like

(04:11):
Tom Hanks or a family like the Beckhams chooses Canada, you
first have to understand what they're trying to escape.
It's not just work, it's the constant unblinking eye of
public scrutiny. And that's where Canada's first
and perhaps most important offerings comes into play.
A deep culturally ingrained respect for privacy.

(04:33):
Now we of course have what some would call the paparazzi proof
haven and of course we do have some paparazzi here, but it is a
lot calmer than in the US as a lot of us journalists in Canada
do not agree with or take part in that type of journalism.
For example, Propex TV was offered a very substantial

(04:58):
contract to get some coverage and images of the Royals when
they first came up to Vancouver a couple of years ago.
That was Harry and Meghan. Regardless as to the amount of
money that that was being offered by one of the rag
magazines, as I call them, we turned it down just simply

(05:18):
because it goes against our ethics and against our practices
and what we have in written policy.
We do not participate in any type of paparazzi style news
stories and coverage. If celebrity wants us to take
photos or video of them, then they can call us themselves and
they can afford to pay for it themselves.

(05:39):
They don't want to be bothered with being chased down the
street by the cameras and the idiots behind them.
So again, it's, you know, a lot different here than many parts
of the world when it comes to the paparazzi.
But there are still some. Now, the difference between the
celebrity experience in the United States and Canada is
night and day. In the US, the 1st Amendment

(06:00):
provides broad provisions for editorial photography, creating
high stakes, aggressive paparazzi industry where a
single photo can be worth a fortune.
In Canada, the environment is fundamentally different.
While photography in public spaces is legal, the culture
surrounding it is a far less intrusive.

(06:21):
Now, the cultural tendency is bolstered by a robust legal
framework. Provincial laws like British
Columbia's Privacy Act empower individuals to sue for invasions
of privacy, including acts of surveillance where a person has
a reasonable expectation of privacy.
And we'll talk about that a little later in the show as well

(06:41):
when we bring up about a paraglider that crashed into the
side of a hotel trying to get photos of a celebrity.
And we'll talk about that later.You'll get a kick out of that.
Now, of course, as I said, the the cultural tendency is
bolstered by that robust framework that we were just

(07:02):
talking about and that really gives a higher level of privacy
for every person in Canada. Now, this legislation, though
not frequently tested in celebrity cases, creates a
significant legal deterrent to the kind of relentless hounding
seen elsewhere. The result is a place where
public figures feel that they can live relatively undisturbed

(07:26):
lives. Now, a photo of Demi Moore and
Ashton Kutcher skiing in Whistler that came up as several
years ago. And then they were at A at a
coffee shop that they visited and such.
Now, when we take a look at thatstory, the ski trip to Webster,
their guide recounted how when they stopped for coffee, there

(07:46):
were certainly recognized staff came out for a peak, but no one
really approached them. No one asked for a photo, they
were simply allowed to be. It's this culture of respect and
distance that is, for many, the ultimate luxury.
It's not about being invisible, but about being treated as a
person first and a personality second.

(08:07):
This is reinforced by Canada's approach to the right of
publicity, which is rooted in unfair competition law, creating
a less commercially frenzied environment around celebrities
image compared to the US system based in privacy law.
So again, you know, it's some would say a fortress of Canada,
Yes, security for the elite, butit's covers everyone.

(08:31):
Now as we look at this further, for high net worth individuals,
privacy is intrinsically linked to security in the 21st century.
That means that building a fortress that is both physical
and digital. The physical side is what you
might expect, a sprawling secluded properties but layers
of protection barriers like fences and natural landscape

(08:54):
features are the first line of defence, followed by controlled
access gates, motion activated lighting and sophisticated
intrusion detection sensors, infrared ultrasonic that create
an invisible perimeter. Inside the homes are often
hardened with reinforced doors, windows and may even include a
self-sufficient safe room with their own communication systems

(09:17):
and power source. Now, when we look at this, the
modern threat is often silent and invisible.
Successfully in Canada, people are just hanging out and you
know they, when they're in high public visibility, they can be

(09:38):
unfortunately targeted by cyber criminals as opposed to people
on the streets or breaking into homes and such.
Now Lee told me addresses, travel itineraries and even
photos of new art acquisition can provide an entry point for a
sophisticated attack. These aren't just financial
threats. Their reputational hackers can

(09:58):
take over your social media accounts to post offensive
content or use deep fake technology to damage a person's
character. To counter this, an entire
industry has emerged offering digital risk assessments, family
wide training and cyber hygiene,and crucially, specialized cyber
insurance policies. These aren't standard policies.

(10:20):
They're crisis management tools providing access to public
relations and legal experts who can work to remove false
information from the Internet and restore a damaged
reputation. And yes, Propex Media does have
a division that monitors a eye and does exactly that.
We respond. We have mitigation and response

(10:43):
plans for certain individuals that that are our clients in the
in the world of online security and media monitoring.
Now as we continue on, that brings us to the core
philosophy, the very soul of theCanadian appeal, the concept of
quiet luxury. The world of high end travel is

(11:03):
undergoing A seismic shift. The old definition of luxury,
opulence, extravagance being seen in the right places is
being replaced by something moreprofound.
The new luxury, sometimes calledsilent luxury is about
understated elegance, authenticity and deeply personal
experiences. It prioritizes quality
craftsmanship and a connection to place over flashy branding

(11:27):
and conspicuous consumption. Candy is the physical embodiment
of this ethos. Its luxury isn't found in gilded
halls, but in serene and ambience of a private villa
overlooking A pristine lake or abespoke adventure tailored to an
individual's desires. It's a philosophy that resonates

(11:47):
deeply with those whose lives are a constant performance.
For them, true wealth is the ability to disconnect.
Psychologically, the appeal is powerful.
The vast remote landscapes of Canada offer more than just a
beautiful backdrop. They provide a mental reset, the
experience of awe, of standing before a glacier or under a sky

(12:09):
filled with stars. And it's proven to increase
happiness and shift one's perspective on life.
It's a journey inward, an escapefrom the noise of the world to
the foreign lands of ones own mind, fostering resilience and a
renewed sense of self. The country's very geography,
it's immense, sparsely populatedwilderness.

(12:31):
It's the ultimate enabler of this escape.
Now, this physical conclusion naturally enhances privacy,
making it difficult to an economically unviable for
persistent paparazzi culture to thrive on the same scale as it
can elsewhere. This geographic advantage is
then amplified by the legal and cultural framework that
prioritizes personal space. It is the seamless integration

(12:56):
of place, law and culture that creates a self reinforcing
sanctuary. The environment allows for
privacy, which in turn fosters aculture of quiet, experience
based luxury. This attracts individuals
seeking precisely that combination, further cementing
Canada's reputation as a haven where the focus is not being

(13:19):
seen, but on the freedom to simply be.
Now, as we have a bit more to this report, I think that we
will take a break from that and let's go to our first other
feature story. And we'll start with Errol
Flynn. Yes, the legendary, legendary

(13:41):
Hollywood actor, dancer, entertainer.
He was in dozens, if not a / 100different films and television
shows like Robin Hood and many others.
Now, Errol Flynn of course, was known around the world, but he
came to Vancouver for various reasons on various accounts.

(14:05):
But let's talk about this particular one.
And this is of course, somethingthat is part true crime mystery
and part bizarre black comedy isthe story of an ending.
Not just any ending, but the final strange chapter in the
life of cinemas most enduring icons.
Yes, Errol Flynn, the end of theline.

(14:27):
An unlikely final scene for him.Yes, the story doesn't end on a
glittering Hollywood sound stageor in a lavish Beverly Hills
mansion. It ended here in Vancouver.
Yes, at 1310 Burnaby St. in Vancouver, BC is is a quaint and

(14:48):
unremarkable 2 story walk up nestled in the city's quiet West
End. But on October the 14th, 1959,
this building became an unlikelyand Macruby landmark in the
annals of Hollywood history. Yes, inside in the bedroom of
Apt 201, a man was dying. But this wasn't just any man.

(15:11):
This was Errol Flynn, the definitive Captain Blood, the
quintessential Robin Hood, the swashbuckling hero who had
laughed in the face of death andcharmed millions on the silver
screen. Yet here he was, far from the
spotlight and his face reportedly turning a deathly
blue and then black as he collapsed on the floor of a

(15:32):
stranger's bedroom. How did it come to this?
How did one of the most virile, celebrated in seemingly
invincible movie stars of the golden age end up here, broke,
ravaged by illness and dying andignominious death so far from
the glitz and glamour he had so once completely embodied?

(15:52):
To understand the end, we have to go back to the beginning of
his final journey. It was a fading stars last
gambit. Flynn, stripped of Vancouver,
wasn't a vacation. It was a desperate last ditch
effort to save himself. It was a story of profound
decline, financial ruin and a one final ill-fated roll of the

(16:13):
dice. Now when we look at the man who
arrived in Vancouver, yes, when Errol Flynn arrived in Vancouver
on October the 9th 1959, he was a ghost of him for of his former
self. People who encountered him were
reportedly appalled by his disheveled and bloated
appearance. Had just 50 years old, he looked

(16:33):
decades older, his body a testament to the life lived
without limits. His career, once meteoric, was
now flagging, tarnished by yearsof scandal and a series of best
devastating financial blows. The key catalyst for his
financial desperation was the disastrous, never completed

(16:54):
production of The Story of William Tell.
Flynn had poured his own money into the film and when the
project collapsed mid shoot it left him financially shattered.
This ruin was compounded by a body in open revolt.
Flynn was suffering from the effects of two previous heart
attacks, reoccurring bouts of malaria and a persistent

(17:16):
intestinal infection. Not to mention he also suffered
from chronic debilitating back pain which had at times he
treated with heroin. Most critically, he was
afflicted with advanced portals cirrhosis of the liver, a
condition that doctors warned would likely kill him within a
year even if he survived anotherheart attack.

(17:38):
Just one month before his trip to Vancouver and ECG had
prompted his doctor to give him a stark warning, scale back
their lifestyle or face the consequences.
He was, as one observer noted, aticking time bomb.
His physical and financial estates were collapsing in
tragic, perfect parallel. The very lifestyle of excess

(18:02):
that is fame had enabled was nowdestroying his body while the
same hubris and poor judgment had annihilated his fortune.
His trip to Vancouver wasn't merely a business venture, it
was the inevitable collision point for these two tracks of
self destruction. He was fleeing creditors while
his body was running out of time.

(18:22):
The eventual coroners ruling of natural causes was it clinical
term that belied the stark reality.
This was a death by lifestyle. Is that darling, woodsy Beverly
Adland? Yes, Sir.
Flynn did not arrive in Vancouver alone.
By his side was a 17 year old companion, Beverly Adland.

(18:44):
Their relationship was already apublic scandal.
Upon landing, Flynn was asked bya Vancouver Sun journalist why
he preferred such young women. The paper noted his reply was
brief, succinct, direct and detailed A crude public
admission of his tastes. The affair had begun when
Beverly was just 15 years old, lured to a mansion for sham

(19:06):
audition that was merely A presence for seduction.
This was familiar territory for Flynn, who had been famously
acquitted on 2 counts of statutory rape in 1942.
A critical and disturbing figurein his predatory romance was
Beverley's own mother, Florence Adland, described by or

(19:29):
described as a fame worshipping an uncultured stage, mother
Florence actively encouraged theillegal relationship, viewing
the aging alcoholic star as her daughters had taken to fame.
Her tell all memoir memoir, aptly titled The Big Love, is a
grotesque chronicle of Hollywoodexploitation.

(19:51):
By 1959, however, the dynamic had shifted into something more
complex. It was a deeply unhealthy yet
mutually dependent arrangement. Flynn's physical and emotional
wreck, who had alienated most ofhis friends and family,
desperately needed a caretaker who wouldn't judge his
catastrophic decline. Beverly, in turn, still clung to

(20:12):
hope that Flynn could deliver onhis promise to make her a star,
a promise that resulted in a disastrous self produced film.
Cuban rebel girls. Yes, that was the film name.
He was her last best chance at acareer.
She was his last source of comfort and care.

(20:32):
The strange symbiosis explains why she, and only she, was by
his side at the very end. It was the final codependent
relationship of the life definedby exploitation and transaction.
Now we'll look at the deal for the Zaca.
The official reason for Flynn's trip was to negotiate the lease

(20:53):
or sale of his most prized possession, the magnificent 118
foot schooner, the Zaca. This is where a new character
enters our story, and that wouldbe George Caldwell, a dapper 30
year old Canadian described as aself styled boy promoter.
All those plan was far grander than a simple yacht charter.

(21:17):
He pitched Flynn on a fantastical scheme, a publicity
funded treasure hunting expedition off the coast of
Spain with the legendary Errol Flynn at the helm of the Zaka.
For Flynn, who was desperate forboth money and a return to the
glorious adventures of his past,the idea was irresistible.
He reportedly took the bait hook, line and sinker.

(21:39):
But George Caldo was not the successful entrepreneur.
He appeared to be contemporary newspaper reports in later
accounts reveal him as a schemerand a boiler room crook.
Just two years after Flynn's death, Caldo was convicted of a
huge international fraud scheme and sentenced to six years in
prison. The contract he signed with

(22:00):
Flynn was almost certainly a worthless piece of paper, part a
larger con, and Flynn's estate never saw a dime from that deal.
Now this contest casts the entire trip in a new, tragic
light. Flynn's final journey was
predicated on a lie. He wasn't meeting the legitimate
business partner. He was being courted by a con

(22:23):
man. He died in the company of
someone who was actively exploiting his fading fame and
profound desperation for a fraudulent scheme.
The ultimate irony is that the man who built a career playing
the world's most charming roguesdied while playing being played
by a small time Canadian crook. His death was not just a medical

(22:46):
misfortune, it was the pathetic culmination of a final sad
swindle. Now the final performance.
Yes, let's look at that 24 hour timeline.
What follows is a countdown to the end.
A chronicle of the last day of Errol Flynn's life on Wednesday,
October the 14th of 1959. It was a detour to destiny.

(23:10):
After several days of Kairos carousing and repeatedly missing
a scheduled flight to New York for a TV appearance, Flynn,
Advent and Caldo were finally ontheir way to the Vancouver
airport. But on route to Flynn was
suddenly struck by an agonizing severe pain in his back and legs
and demanded that cold will findhim some help immediately

(23:32):
instead of driving to the nearest hospital.
Hospital Caldwell made a fatefuldecision at around 3:45 PM.
He diverted the car to a West End penthouse apartment of his
friend Doctor Grant Gould, located at the 1310 Burnaby
Street address that we discussedearlier.
In a fascinating historical footnote.

(23:54):
Dr. Gould was the uncle of the legendary Canadian classical
pianist Glenn Gould. Now that last party.
Yes, Doctor Gould, who had nevermet Flynn before, examined the
star. He reported a misdiagnosed the
severe symptoms of a heart attack as being related to
osteoarthritis and administered a shot.
Some sources say it was the painkiller Demerol which seemed

(24:17):
to revive at Flynn Spirits. What happened next is almost
unbelievable. Instead of insisting on rest or
hospitalization, and impromptu party began to form in the
apartment. Flynn, ever the performer,
propped himself up against a wall, he is a pain in his back
and began to hold court, regaling this small group of gas

(24:38):
with stories from his Hollywood days.
Among the guests was Art Cameron, the manager of the
nearby Sylvia Hotel and establishment of Flynn was known
to frequent. And just as a note, that
historic Hotel still stands to this day in English Bay, even in
what must have been excruciatingpain that Flynn's instinct was

(25:00):
to perform, his identity was so fused with the persona, the
charming storytelling bond viviant, that he kept the mask
on until the very end. The topic of his stories is
particularly telling. He spoke of his old friends, the
legendary Hollywood hellraisers John Barrymore and WC Fields,

(25:22):
both of whom drank themselves into early grades.
He even recounted the ghoulish prank where he and who stole
Barrymore's corpse from a Funeral Home and propped it up
in a chair in his house for a final magary laugh.
In that moment, he wasn't just telling stories.
He was pure, perhaps subconsciously eulogizing

(25:42):
himself by recounting the fates of his spiritual predecessors.
This was his final, defiant performance.
I shall return. Yes, that's what he said as he
collapsed. After holding court, Flynn
announced he was gonna lie down for an hour, promising he would
take everyone out for a grand dinner.
Later, he reported his purportedly last words to the

(26:05):
grouper. I shall return.
He then walked into Doctor Gould's bedroom and laid down on
the floor. About 15 minutes later, Beverly
Adland went to check on him. The scene she found was
horrifying. Flynn was on the floor,
trembling and unresponsive. His face had turned a deathly
shade of black or blue. Her terrified screams brought

(26:25):
Doctor Cooled running. They desperately tried to revive
him, first with animal nitrate and then a shot of adrenaline
injected directly into its heart.
In the chaos and historical Adland began smashing her head
against the railing of the apartment's balcony before being
restrained by others. Guests.
Emergency crews worked on him for 90 minutes upon their

(26:47):
arrival, but it was too late. Errol Flynn, the man who had
cheated death on screen 100 tons, was pronounced dead.
The swashbucklers great adventure was finally over, but
it doesn't end there. Let's take a look at the
coroner's tail, warts and all. Yes, that death of a star of
Flynn's magnitude was an immediate international

(27:09):
sensation. But the story that unfolded
next, in that quiet of Vancouver's coroner office was
more bizarre and revealing than any tabloid headline.
The official autopsy, conducted first in Vancouver and then
confirmed by a second one in LosAngeles, painted a devastating
picture of a body utterly ravaged by decades of hard

(27:32):
living. The cause of death was a massive
heart attack. But that was just the final
event in a systemic collapse. Let's look at the clinical
facts. This table breaks down the
official findings from Flynn's death certificate and autopsy
reports. It shows the heart attack wasn't
an isolated incident, but the final domino fall in a body that

(27:55):
had been pushed far beyond its limits.
Now, we'll take a look at the medical condition and then the
description and source citation here.
Myocardial infarction, Yes. The immediate cause of death?
The fatal heart attack, reportedly to be his third or
his fourth. And then there was coronary
thrombosis, a blood clot lodged in a coronary artery which

(28:18):
triggered the heart attack. Coronary coronary after
disclosed this and I probably mispronounce it.
My apologies as have you ever. Hardening and narrowing of the
heart's arteries due to extensive plaque buildup and
from the years of abuse. And then he had the portal
cirrhosis of the liver. Advanced errors irreversible

(28:40):
scarring of the liver, primarilyfrom chronic heavily alcoholism.
The organ was described as degenerate.
This condition alone was so severe it likely would have
killed him within the year. And then there was the that he
degeneration of the liver as well as severe buildup of fat
within the liver cells and otherdirect consequence of his

(29:01):
lifestyle. And then there is diverticulosis
of the colon. Yes, the presence of abnormal
pouches in the wall of his colonand that is a chronic intestinal
ailment. But again, the coroner who had
examined him noted that Flynn had 50 had the body of a much
older man. Some reports stating his

(29:22):
internal organs were the equivalent of those of us 75
year old. Now the clinical details are
grim enough, but what happened next pushes this story into the
realm of the truly bizarre. The initial examination was
handled by Vancouver corner Glenn McDonald and Chief
pathologist Doctor Tom Harmon. As they conduct sorry conducted

(29:44):
their work, they made an unexpected discovery, several
large veneral warts on the end of Mr. Flynn's penis.
In a moment of astounding and macari judgment, Doctor Harmon
decided that these were two interesting to leave behind.
He surgically removed the warts,placing them in a jar of
formaldehyde with the intention of using them as a souvenir or

(30:08):
teaching specimen for a student.When Corner McDonald realized
what had happened, he was horrified.
He knew Flynn's body was being sent back to LA for a second
autopsy, and it had to be complete.
After a heated argument that reportedly descended into
hysterical laughter, McDonald convinced Harmon to return the
specimens. But how to reattach them?

(30:30):
There's solution was as coolish as it was absurd.
And they use the good offices Scotch tape.
Yes, they use Scotch tape to try.
But the warts back on the end ofBarrel Flint's penis.
Yeah, Now this grotesque anecdotes source directly from
the Learner's own published memoirs, serves as a powerful

(30:50):
and pathetic final metaphor for Errol Flynn's life.
His most private failings and his indiscretions were
constantly being exposed, pickedover, and turned into a public
spectacle. Even in death, his body was not
his own. It became an object of morbid
curiosity, professional gossip, and even clinical plunder.

(31:12):
The image of this final, undignified act, his body being
patched together with office supplies for its final journey,
is the ultimate symbol of the loss of dignity that marked his
last years. It perfectly encapsulates the
warts and all that nature of histragic legacy.
Sorry, but that's just funny. Errol Flynn was dead, but the

(31:34):
story was far from over. The shock waves from his death
in the Vancouver apartment rippled through the lives of
those he left behind and added afew final iconic twists to the
legend. Now the key players in Flynn's
final days met their own distinct fates.
At George Caldo. The con man saw his treasure

(31:56):
hunting schemes collapse. He was soon arrested and
convicted for his fraudulent activities and sent to prison
for six years, his brief association with the Hollywood
legend becoming a mere footnote in his own criminal career.
As for Beverly Adland, her life spiraled into further tragedy.
The Hollywood career Flynn had promised her never materialized.

(32:18):
In 1960, her then boyfriend was shot and killed during a
struggle in her apartment and event that led to her being made
a ward of the court. She eventually married twice,
had a daughter and passed away in 2010 at the age of 67 from
complications of diabetes and congenital congestive heart
failure. And one of the Zaca though yacht

(32:41):
that started it all. It's journey after Flynn's death
is a saga in itself. His estate was tied up in
probate for a staggering 14 years.
During this time, the Zacha, this cosign was consigned to an
English Playboy who stripped it of everything valuable.
Excuse me, stripped it of every valuable component and abandon

(33:03):
it in a Marina in the cell to France in 1965.
For decades it sat as a rotting mass disco ship, kept afloat
only by pumps. The neglect The neglect was so
profound that 1979 local villagers reportedly had the
vessel exercised after hearing phantom party sounds coming from

(33:25):
its derelict deck. Finally, in 1991, the Hulk was
rescued by an Italian businessman by the name of
Robert Onemo who undertook a massive multi year restoration.
Today the Zaca has been returnedto its former glory in sales
than Mediterranean, a testament to survival.
The odd story serves as a fitting mirror for Flynn's own

(33:48):
legacy. After his death, his reputation
was stripped for parts by sensationalist biographers and
left to rot by serious critics who remembered him more for his
scandals then his screen artistry.
But just as the Zaca was eventually rescued and restored,
Flynn's work and his status as atrue cinematic icon had been

(34:08):
reevaluated and appreciated oncemore, surviving decades of
scandal and neglect. Now, no discussion of Flynn's
legacy is complete without addressing the most sensational
claim made against him that was as a Nazi spy.
This theory was popularized in Charles Higgins 1980 biography

(34:32):
and has been revived in recent fiction like David Phillips
thriller The Errol Flynn Conspiracy.
The accusation is based largely on Flynn's long and undeniable
friendship with a man named Doctor Herman Urban, who was in
fact an agent for the Nazis. However, it is crucial to note
that these claims have been widely discredited and

(34:54):
convincingly repudiated by othermore scrupulous biographers and
historians. The case against Flynn remains
entirely circumstantial, a matter of guilt by association
with no conclusive evidence. Furthermore, the accusations run
contrary to Flynn's known political activities.
He was a vocal supporter of the Republican side during the

(35:16):
Spanish Civil War and later became a journalistic supporter
of Fidel Castro's revolution in Cuba.
Actions that suggest leftist sympathies, not fascist ones.
And the final resting place in the end, the story of Errol
Flynn as one of profound and tragic contradictions.
The invincible hero of this screen died a pro company Krupt

(35:39):
man, a victim of his own insatiable appetites and in his
final days the predict the predation of others.
His body was flown from Vancouver to Los Angeles for
burial at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, CA.
It was a final, quiet indignity.Flynn reportedly detested

(36:00):
Hollywood cemeteries and had expressed A wish to be buried at
his beloved ranch in Jamaica. His estranged wife, Patrice
Wymore, made the final decision,but his friends would have the
last word. In a final fitting tribute to
the man they knew, they made a special request.
And so Errol Flynn was buried with six bottles of his favorite

(36:23):
whiskey. It was a perfect, defiant
epitaph. Alas, toast to the wicked,
wicked ways that had defined hislife, fueled his legend, and
ultimately led him to that quietapartment in Vancouver.
He lived as he died, outrageously, tragically, and
right up to the bitter end, entirely on his own terms.

(36:46):
Yes, that was the legend of Errol Flynn and his ghost that
still haunts the ship that he that brought him to Vancouver.
Just an amazing story. Errol Flynn.
Yes, in Vancouver that is a popular story that many people
know of and if you didn't know about it then you do now.

(37:10):
So amazing turn of events in that era.
Now let's continue on with our look at why celebrities tend to
come to Vancouver and the rest of Canada to hide away and have
that quiet escape. Before we go into the story
about Howard Hughes and his crazy days in Vancouver.

(37:34):
Yes, the one and only Howard Hughes.
And you're going to get a few laughs.
I would think about about some of this stuff that comes up in
that story. Now, of course, we know that
looking at Toronto from the fromthe point of view of
celebrities, we've seen many redcarpet events from the Toronto

(37:57):
International Film Festival, like Angelina Jolie, Nicole
Kidman and Amy Adams posing for cameras.
But Toronto, without question, is the epicenter of Canada's
celebrity ecosystem. As a thriving hub for film and
television production, it's a place of business for many of
the world's biggest stars. Even September, this city,

(38:17):
sorry, every September the city transformed into a global stage
for the TIFF more Toronto International Film Festival,
also known as TIFF. It's drawing an incredible
concentration of a list talent every year.
It is on the map now. This constant exposure is pretty
unique urban culture, one that is accustomed to and largely in

(38:39):
phase by celebrity presence. This is very similar to
Vancouver now stars who need to work in a major city.
Toronto offers an ideal blend ofworld class amenities and
respite from the intense scrutiny of Hollywood Were they
choose to live, even temporarily, speaks volumes for

(39:00):
the ultimate opulence and privacy.
There's the Bridle Path. Known across the country as
Billionaires Row, it's an enclave of palatial mansions on
sprawling multi acre lots. This is where you'll find Drakes
custom built 50,000 square foot Manor, a marvel of limestone and
bronze, and where icons like Prince and Céline Dion once

(39:20):
owned estates. For those who prefer urban
sophistication, there's a Yorkville.
Yes, this is Toronto's and 3rd to 5th Ave. or Rodale Drive, a
chic neighborhood of elegant Victorian homes, luxury
condominiums and the city's finest boutiques and
restaurants. It's a favorite for stars who

(39:41):
value privacy but also walkability.
Mark Wahlberg, for instance, owns a penthouse suite at the
exclusive Hazelton Hotel, right in the heart of it all.
And for a more serene, established atmosphere, there
are neighborhoods like Rosedale and Forest Hill.
These are Toronto's old money bastions and characterized by
grand historic homes. Quiet, tree lined streets

(40:03):
offering a lush green escape just minutes from the downtown
core. These communities have all along
been home to Canada's cultural elite, from author Margaret
Atwood to actress Rachel McAdams.
For the constant stream of visiting stars, the city's five
star hotel is like the Ritz Carlton, a haven for guests like

(40:24):
George Clooney and Leonardo DiCaprio during TIFF or the
boutique Hazelton provides the Holy Grail of service,
impeccable attention to detail combined with absolute
discretion. Yes, some people would refer to
an area called Muskoka as the Hamptons of the North.
A stunning transition from the city to the country.

(40:45):
And yes, absolutely beautiful asyou go up towards the areas of
Lake Joseph and others where you'll see grand multi building
cottage compounds nestled amongst the Pines.
In that along the shoreline. Now just a 2 hour drive north of
Vancouver lies that place that'sbeen a sanctuary for the elite

(41:06):
for nearly a century. It's called Muskoka.
This isn't your typical cottage country.
Known as the Hamptons of the North, this region has been a
retreat for icon since the days of Clark Gable and Ernest
Hemingway. Now the heart of Muskoka is the
Big Three lakes, Lake Rosseau, Lake Joseph and the eponymous

(41:27):
Lake Muskoka. The shorelines here,
particularly on Rosso and Joseph, are dubbed millionaires
role for their staggering collection of multi $1,000,000
waterfront estates. These are not rustic cabins,
they're architectural statements, often sprawling
compounds with main lodges, guest cabins and elaborate

(41:47):
boathouses. With rental prices reaching
upwards of $50,000 a week, this is where Hollywood truly
unwinds. Actors Goldie Hawn and Kurt
Russell have long owned their beloved family cottage on Lake
Russell, a place their daughter Kate Hudson has spoken of
fondly. Comedian and Canadian icon

(42:08):
Martin Short is another long time resident.
Tom Hanks is a regular present on Lake Joseph, while Steven
Spielberg, Jim Carrey and Simi Liu have all been spotted and
joining the regions idyllic scenery.
Most recently it has become a favorite of global superstars
like Cindy Crawford and the Beckham family who often

(42:29):
vacationed together at the estates of Canadian billionaire
Jamie Salter. The lifestyles unique blend of
rustic Canadian tradition and extreme luxury.
Days are spent boating, fishing and playing golf at exclusive
courses like the Lake Joseph Club, known for its rugged
granite topography. It's a world away from the red

(42:52):
carpet in a place where the biggest status symbol is the
vintage of your wooden boat and the tranquility of your view.
Now when you look at Montreal and Quebec, it is a taste of
European charm. The cobblestone streets in
historic 19th century architecture of Old Montreal is

(43:14):
something that is of great beauty and historical
significance. If you've watched some of my
other videos, you would see the great Notre Dame Cathedral in
Montreal, as well as a lot of Old Montreal, only cobblestone
streets, the old impressive historic buildings and much
more. So, yeah, you can look back in

(43:34):
the archive videos for those. Now, for those seeking North
American escape, escape with a distinctly European flavor.
That is where Quebec offers a compelling alternative.
Montreal, in particular, provides a rich tapestry of
history and modernity. Yes, the city's traditional seat
of power is the Golden Square Mile, a neighborhood that is in

(43:59):
its heyday home to an astonished70% of in Canada's entire
wealth. Yes, that was back in its
heyday. Today, it's Grand Victorian and
Boards Mansion stand as a testament to that legacy now.
Yeah, interspersed with luxurious modern residences
offering the unique atmosphere and prestige in addition to the

(44:21):
history. Now the historic grandeur is
balanced by the city's vibrant contemporary culture, trendy
neighborhoods like Griffin Town and those are hubs of art,
design and world class dining, with hotspots like Lee Richmond
drawing a sophisticated crowd. And nothing captures the city's
international allure quite like the Formula One Grand Prix and

(44:43):
annual spectacle that attracts aglobal jet set clientele,
filling the city with a palpableenergy of glamour and
excitement. From exclusive wine tastings in
the Eastern Townships to the Artline streets Of Montreal, QC
offers a journey that seamlesslyintertwines natural beauty with
cultural sophistication. And I might add, if you've never

(45:06):
checked out a Maple sugar shack,check it out if you are in the
Quebec region, something you will not regret now.
Vancouver, of course it it's appeal lies in the extraordinary
duality, is a bustling cosmopolitan metropolis
metropolis and a gateway to untamed wilderness all at the

(45:29):
same time. This seamless integration of
urban elegance and outdoor adventure has made it not just a
major film production centre, the original Hollywood North as
we say, but also a cherished home for stars who craved a
balance lifestyle. Canadian born A listers like
Ryan Reynolds, Michael Blue, Buble and Seth Rogen all have

(45:50):
chosen to maintain deep roots here, drawn to the city's unique
blend of cultural vibrancy and natural beauty.
When the Hollywood crowd is in town for work or pleasure, they
gravitate towards well established circuit of luxury
dining. Hotspots like the award-winning
Blue Water Cafe have reportedly hosted everyone from Uma Thurman

(46:14):
and Catherine Zeta Jones to Pierce Brosnan.
For accommodations, the cities legendary five star hotels are
the preferred choice, such as the Rosewood Hotel.
Georgia, a landmark since 1927, is steeped in celebrity history.
It's guest list reads like a who's who of the 20th century,
including Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Katherine Hepburn, The

(46:37):
Rolling Stones, they've all sought refuge within its walls.
The hotel's most exclusive suites, like the Rosewood and
the Lord Stanley Suites, offeredthe ultimate privacy with
private rooftop terraces and a plunge pools as well as secluded
gardens. And it is a true urban Oasis.

(46:58):
We have done a full story in ourDid You Know series about the
amazing was when Hotel Georgia and some amazing history that
you may not know about it in theworld of radio communications
and radio broadcasting. So I strongly suggest again you
take out some of the archives for the Did You know a series

(47:20):
that featured the Georgian Hotel.
And once again, you can check that out and sorry, it's now
that Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Alright, so two hours north of
Vancouver Lines, a destination that competes on the world stage
with the most exclusive ski resorts in Europe.
Whistler Black Home is in North America's largest ski resort

(47:42):
across all winter playground with over 8171 acres of skiable
terrain. While it offers the same scale
and challenge of resorts like Scene Moritz, it does so with a
distinctly relaxed, welcoming North American charm.
But for its most discerning visitors, Worcester Experience

(48:04):
transcends the public slopes. The pinnacle of luxury here is
the private chalet. In exclusive ski in ski out
neighborhoods like Kadenwood, which boasts its own private
gondola, you'll find architectural masterpieces that
redefine mountain living. These estates, which can rent
for over $15,000 a night, come complete with every conceivable

(48:26):
amenity. Private hot tubs with mountain
views spawn spired bathrooms, home theatres and fully catered
services including a dedicated private chef, Butler and driver.
And for the ultimate thrill seeker, there is Hella Skiing at
Whistler Heli Skiing operates inan exclusive tenure of 432,000

(48:47):
acres in area 50 times the size of the resort itself, containing
over 173 glaziers. It's an experience of pure
adrenaline and absolute seclusion.
A carving first tracks and untouched powder surrounded by
dramatic jagged peaks. This, a potent combination of
world class adventure and unparalleled luxury, has drawn

(49:10):
an incredible cluster of visitors from royalty like
Princess Prince William and Harry, just superstars like
Arnold Schwarzenegger, Seal and Heidi Klum.
The Rockies are a postcard perfection in Banff and Lake
Louise if you head out of British Columbia towards Alberta
or into Alberta, yes, absolutely.

(49:30):
Deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, lines of
landscape so pristine, so overwhelmingly beautiful, it
almost defies belief. This is Banff National Park,
Canada's first National Park anda UNESCO World Heritage site.
The primary attraction here is nature in its most majestic
form. Towering mountains that pierced

(49:51):
the the sky, rivers of ancient place and lake so brilliantly
coloured they seem unreal. Now if you follow me, of course,
you've seen that many times where I've visited Banff,
Jasper, Lake Louise and brought you along with videos and
images. So I hope you've enjoyed those

(50:11):
and of course, we will have morecoming to you over the next year
on those regions as well. Now the luxury experience in
this natural paradise is anchored by two of the most
iconic hotels in the world, the Fairmont Banff Springs.
And that one is known as the legendary Castle in the Rockies
and its sister property, the Fairmont.

(50:33):
Chateau Lake Louise are more than just hotels, though, they
are natural treasures. The Chateau, a masterpiece of
Renaissance Revival architecture, has graced the
shores of Lake Louise for over acentury, evolving from a simple
log cabin for alpinists into a 539 room, 5 star resort.

(50:54):
Their history is interwoven withthe visits of the world's elite.
Both have hosted royalty, including Queen Elizabeth the
2nd and King George. Winston Churchill also stated
the band springs in 1929 and in the summer of 1953, Marilyn
Monroe made the hotel her home while filming the movie River of
No Return, her presence forever cementing its glamorous legacy.

(51:19):
For today's high profile clientele, these hotels offer
exclusive hotel within a hotel experiences like Fairmont Gold,
which provides access to a private lounge, dedicated
concierge and the finest suites such as the Chateaus Belvedere
Suite, a split level marble withtwo private terraces offering
ultimate views of the lake and the glacier.

(51:42):
And again, the Bamp Springs Hotel just in a beautiful piece
of architecture. That's where we do or where I go
almost every year to the Banff International Media Festival and
the Rocky Awards. Check it out.
If you're in the film and production industry, check out

(52:04):
the Banff International Media Festival.
It is a very important event forfilm and television production
every year. Now, let's move on down here
folks, and we'll take a look at the radical solution.
Seclusion, yes, what some refer to as the edge of the world.

(52:24):
When we look at that, we're talking of course about Tofino
and the clock with sound, and that is a rugged luxury on the
Pacific edge. Now on the wild westernmost edge
of Vancouver Island lies to Phenol, a place where the
continent meets the full force of the Pacific Ocean.
This is the heart of the CloquetSound UNESCO Biosphere region, a

(52:48):
dramatic landscape of surf sweptbeaches, hidden coves and
towering rainforest blanketed shores.
The luxury here is not about glitz, it's about immersion in
one of the planet's most powerful and pristine
environments. There you can take a float sign
in or you can look at other waysof getting there, but again, you

(53:10):
can get some beautiful just veryisolated spots for total privacy
and really immerse yourself in the experience that is now.
You can also go out in that region and take part in the
whale watching adventures that happen all the time and there
are different tour companies that offer them.

(53:32):
And it is an amazing experience to see the beauty of an Oracle
whale jumping majestically out of the water and diving back in.
It's just beautiful. Now, the absolute pinnacle of
this experience is the ClarkwoodWilderness Lodge.
This is not a hotel. It's a remote luxury outpost
accessible only by float, plane,helicopter or boat.

(53:53):
It's named as one of the 50 greatest luxury hotels on Earth.
It offers an experience that hasbeen dubbed and glamping, but
that term hardly does it justice.
Guests stay in one of just 25 luxuriously appointed safari
style canvas tents complete withantique furnishings and a modern
amenities set within the 600 acre Wilderness Conservation

(54:17):
area. The entire experience is curated
to connect guests with the surrounding nature.
Days are filled with giant adventures at whale and bear
watching, horseback riding, canyoning, as well as taking
helicopter to remote glacier fedlakes for a swim.
Evenings are for gourmet, locally sourced meals and

(54:39):
Wellness treatments at the waterfront spa.
It's the perfect balance of rugged, refined and encounter
with the wild without sacrificing one ounce of
comfort. Now, of course, if clock wood is
about immersion in the wild, thenext destination is about
finding beauty at the end of theworld.
This is a Fogo Island, a remote outpost off the coast of

(55:02):
Newfoundland, the place geographically closer to
Greenland than it is to Toronto.And this is Fogo Island Inn,
arguably the most unique luxury hotel in Canada, if not the
world that we're going to be talking about.
This is a minimalist as Scandinavian inspired design.
The floor, ceiling, windows, panoramic ocean views.

(55:23):
Local artisans are shown go there, where's the handcrafted
furniture and quilts used in therooms.
So again a showcase of the localartisans worked and creations.
Now it was designed by Newfoundland born architect at
Todd Saunders. The end is breathtaking piece of

(55:43):
contemporary architecture that'sstill honors the islands outport
traditions. But it's true uniqueness lies in
its philosophy. The Fogo Island Inn is a social
enterprise, a community asset. 100% of its operating surpluses
are reinvested directly back into the Fogo Island community
through the Shore Fest County orShort Sorry Shortfest

(56:07):
Foundation, helping to preserve the culture and economy of one
of Canada's oldest settlements. A stay there is an act of
regenerative, regenerative tourism.
It's a luxury with a purpose. The all inclusive guest
experience is designed for deep cultural immersion.
Rates include all meals which feature hyperlocal ingredients

(56:30):
foraged from the island and a fish from the surrounding areas,
as well as half day island orientation with the community
host. Not a hotel employee, but a
local Islander who shares their home with you.
Guests can enjoy can join localsfor a boil up in a remote cabin,
or go on iceberg and whale watching tours, or simply sit by

(56:53):
the wood burning stove in their suits and watch the dramatic
North Atlantic weather roll in. It's a place of profound quiet,
designed for contemplation, connection and a complete
disconnection in the noise of modern life.
Now, we'll also take a look at Lethbridge.
Yes, a beautiful part of Canada,in the Prairies, in Alberta to

(57:17):
be specific. And of course, we've explored
the glittering cities, the legendary lakes and the remote
coastal frontiers. But for the truly discerning,
for those who have moved beyond the need for a recognizable
brand or a famous address, Canada offers one final,
ultimate form of luxury, and that is anonymity.
And the key to this world can befound in a place you would never

(57:40):
expect. Yes, as I said, it is a
Lethbridge, AB thriving city of over 100,000 people with the
university of rich agricultural heritage and a vibrant local
culture. What you won't find here are
five star resorts or Michelin star restaurants.
And that is precisely the point for a certain type of high net

(58:03):
worth individual. Lethbridge's greatest asset is
that it's completely off the global luxury map.
It's a place to land a private jet and pass through without
raising a single eyebrow. It is the perfect discrete entry
point to ghost entry to a regionof stunning natural beauty and
some of the country's most private rural retreats.

(58:26):
The very lack of a traditional luxury infrastructure is what
makes it a priceless asset for this clientele.
It represents an evolution in the mindset of the ultra famous
that graduation beyond the need for the validation that comes
with being seen at well known resort.
Here are the priority is that the experience of complete and

(58:47):
total privacy, and that begins with arriving in a place no one
expects you to be Now. The first of these hidden worlds
is the Canadian Badlands. 75,000,000 years ago, this was a
subtropical paradise roamed by dinosaurs.
Today it is a stunning moonlike landscape that contains some of
the largest deposits of dinosaurfossils on Earth.

(59:10):
It's a place that feels ancient as cinematic and profoundly
empty. Next to just a short drive away,
the landscape transforms again and this is a watered and lakes
National Park that we speak of, a UNESCO World Heritage site
that marks the stunning collision of the prairies and
the Rockies. It's a place of incredible

(59:31):
ecologically diversity and of course Hong to more than half of
all Burroughs plant species and a dense concentration of
wildlife, all within a relatively small accessible area
for those in the know. Watered in operas of the
grandeur of the Rockies with a fraction of the crowds, Pam
providing a more intimate and serene experience, especially in

(59:53):
the fall and winter when it's a destination renowned for its
peaceful solitude. Now we can look at other true
destinations, such as the Thanksgiving Ranch and other
beautiful private routine retreat in the far southwest
corner of Alberta. And you can also look at East

(01:00:20):
Slope Adventures, yes, remote fly fishing lodge on the banks
of the Waterton River. Here guests stay in beautiful
4000 square foot log lodge and receive expert guiding through
the beautiful fishing of the wild trout.
Yes, it is amazing what you can find in Canada folks and that is

(01:00:43):
where we'll end up that part of the reason why the celebrities
and high worth net worth individuals like to call Canada
as one of their best favorite and vacation locations.
Now let's go back to the top stories that we were talking
about earlier and yes, that is the amazing Howard Hughes and

(01:01:06):
his secret six months in Vancouver, it was dumped the
Phantom of the Penthouse. Yes, they called him the
Phantom, and when they talk about him, they also call him
the Ghost Vancouver. So as we look at this, the Ghost
arrived in March of 1972, and itwas still more than a decade

(01:01:27):
away from the global spotlight of the World Expo in 1986.
But on a rainy Tuesday morning on March the 14th, 1972, it
became the unsuspecting stage for one of the 20th century's
most bizarre disappearing acts. An older man, tall and frail,
with long hair and a beard, shuffled into the lobby of a

(01:01:50):
hotel. He was wearing an old bathrobe,
pajama bottoms and sandals. Surrounded by a fellow Dickson,
burly, silent men, he looks around the murmurs.
Yeah, this is pretty nice. That man was a ghost.
The ghost of a Titan of industry, a Hollywood legend, a
daredevil aviator. He was Howard Hughes and he was

(01:02:11):
about to check in and vanish completely for the next 6
months. Now is setting the stage the man
who fell to earth. Let's take a look at that.
Yes, of course. To understand what happened in
the city, you first have to understand who Howard Hughes was
in 1972. At 66 years old, he was a shadow

(01:02:32):
of his former self. The dashing pilot who broke
aviation records and the film producer who dated Hollywood's
biggest stars was gone. In his place was a man ravaged
by decades of chronic pain from near fatal plane crash,
increasing deafness, tender crippling obsessive compulsive
disorder. He was a fugitive from his own

(01:02:53):
life, hopping from hotel to hotel around the world, the
Bahamas, Nicaragua, London. And this was to avoid legal
troubles and most of all avoid taxes in the United States.
Hey, robbed in Vancouver from Nicaragua, seeking a new
sanctuary, a place to hide. His choice of Vancouver was not

(01:03:13):
a random pin on the map, Insteadhis movements across the globe
in his final years that followedA distinct pattern.
After fleeing Las Vegas in 1970,his itinerary the Bahamas,
Nicaragua, the Vancouver revealsA calculated strategy, each
location offered to a degree of seclusion and more importantly,

(01:03:33):
a legal and tax jurisdiction outside of the reach of the
American government he so profoundly distrusted.
Vancouver represented a specificstrategic choice.
It offered the modern infrastructure of a major city,
including a luxury hotel on the water, perfectly suited for a
man arriving by sea plane pride,while still providing the

(01:03:55):
critical buffer of being in a different country.
His arrival was not an impulse. It was a deliberate chess move
in his lifelong game against theUS government and the tax man.
Now let's take a look at this hostile takeover.
Use didn't just check into the Bayshore Inn, he commandeered
it. Arriving unannounced in the

(01:04:15):
early morning, his staff made a simple, staggering demand to the
bank bell man stand Yip, and to the hotel management.
They wanted the top two floors of the hotel.
Some reports even suggest the initial demand was for the top
four floors. The manager understandably
informed them that the hotel wasfull and there were no
vacancies. For any other guest, that would

(01:04:37):
have to bend the end of the conversation.
But for Howard Hughes, he was not quite any other guest now
was he? No, his response has become a
cornerstone of Vancouver legend.His staff relayed the
billionaires blunt message. If I don't get the rooms, I'm
buying the hotel. But this was no idle threat.

(01:05:00):
The management of the Bayshore was well aware of Hughes
history. Just a few years earlier, on
Thanksgiving Day 1966, he had moved into the penthouse of the
Desert Inn in Las Vegas. When his reservation expired and
the management tried to evict him, Hughes refused to leave.
Instead, he simply bought the hotel for $13.2 million, and

(01:05:22):
that was far more than it was worth at the time.
Faced with a man who treated hotels like chess pieces, the
Bay Shores management knew the threat was credible.
They relented. Howard Hughes had his sanctuary
now the moment he moved in and Iron Curtain of secrecy fell
over the top of the Bayshore Hotel, at the time known as the

(01:05:43):
Bayshore Inn now, the takeover of the space was absolute and
immediate. The windows of the penthouse
suite, which offered stunning views of Cohort Harbour, were
probably blacked out with tape and heavy curtains to prevent
any glimpse from the outside. Guest elevators were shut off to
his floors, rendering inaccessible to anyone but his

(01:06:03):
personal staff who possessed a special key.
Security cameras were installed to monitor the hallways,
ensuring his isolation was complete.
No hotel staff, no maids, no bellman, no managers were
permitted anywhere near him. Only his hand picked personal
entourage had access. For the next 6 months, Howard
Hughes would be a complete phantom in his own penthouse.

(01:06:27):
Now, this dramatic seizure of the hotel's top floors was more
than just a whim of an eccentricbillionaire.
It was a perfect microcosm of his entire late life operational
strategy. The process was a clinical
execution of his will. First, he identified a need, a
secure, isolated place to live. Second, he applied overwhelming

(01:06:48):
financial force to bypass all rules and social norms,
encapsulated in the raw power ofthe by the hotel ultimatum.
This demonstrated his core belief that money could solve
any logistical problem and bend reality to his desires.
Finally, he established an immediate, total, and
impenetrable, I'm sorry, impenetrable control over his

(01:07:12):
physical environment. This wasn't just about a desire
for privacy, it was a desperate attempt to create sterile,
predictable world that he could dominate a fortress against the
chaos and the outside world and the germs he so pathologically
feared. The Bayshore Takeover was the
template for how he managed his entire existence with money,

(01:07:34):
intimidation and the creation ofa hermetically sealed reality.
Now the different phobias and different, you will see, just
oddities of Howard Hughes were vast and of course rumoured.
So what was life actually like inside that blackout gilded

(01:07:56):
cage? Accounts from his aides and
hotel staff who dealt with his entourage paint a portrait of a
man utterly imprisoned by his own mind.
His Miss Phobia of fear of germswas the stuff of legend and
dictated his every action. The sweet was reportedly filled
with countless boxes of Kleenex.He used layers of tissues to

(01:08:18):
touch door knobs and other objects and demanded his aids
use paper towels or Kleenex to hand them anything.
The space itself was transformed.
Most of the hotel's furniture was removed and sheets of
plywood were brought in to blockoff parts of the rooms, creating
a sterile, customed Warren that bore little resemblance to a
luxury suite. Now his eating habits were just

(01:08:40):
as bizarre and ritualized. He would go through phases,
obsessing over one type of food for extended periods.
A former chef at the Bayshore Inn famously recalled the time
when he was demanded that all cakes be perfectly square.
The kitchen staff went as far asto keep a ruler on hand
specifically to measure the cakes and ensure they met his

(01:09:00):
exacting standards. All his food had to be cut into
specific uniform cubes and it always was tasted by his
personal guards to ensure it wasn't poisoned before it ever
reached him. He subsisted on these strange
diets and a tranquilly bottled Poland water imported from
Maine. Yes, this wasn't the life of

(01:09:22):
luxury seeking billionaire, it was the daily exhausting ritual
of fear and control. Now we can look at what was
known as the Mormon Mafia. Yes, this extreme manufactured
isolation was only possible because of the small oil group
of men who surrounded them. They were known both in the
press and internally as the Mormon Mafia, a cadre of AIDS,

(01:09:46):
almost all of whom were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter Day Saints. Hughes, a notorious womanizer
and drinker in his youth, now prized them for their clean
living. Ethels.
He believed that because their religion banned alcohol smoking,
they made more more trustworthy employees.
They were as combination nurses,cooks, bodyguards, and most

(01:10:08):
importantly, as gatekeepers to the outside world.
They never talked. As one reporter described them,
they were men without mouths. They controlled everything.
The group was assembled and led by Frank William Bill Gay, a
senior Vice president the of theHughes Tool Company who became

(01:10:28):
the CEO of this super corporation.
This inner circle included men like Georgia Frankum, A devoutly
religious former Air Force medic, John Holmes, the only non
Mormon and a former tobacco salesman, Livar Miller, a former
mechanic for Hughes wife Jean Peters, Jim Rickard, a former

(01:10:49):
fighter pilot and Clarence Children, a one time cabinet
maker. They worked an 8 hour shifts
attending to Hughes every bizarre need and critically
filtering his every interaction with the outside world.
They're absolute power during the Vancouver stay was the
direct result of ruthless corporate corporate battle that

(01:11:09):
had concluded just two years earlier before he was flood Las
Vegas in 1970. This group, led by Gay,
successfully engineered the ousting of Hughes, longtime
Chief of Nevada operations. Robert Mahal, male formidable X
FBI and CIA operative and run Hughes's massive casino empire

(01:11:30):
for years, communicating only byphone and memo, having never met
his boss face to face with Mayo gun bill, Gay and the Mormon
Mafia had exactly what they wanted, direct, unlimited and
completely unopposed access to the King.
The profound seclusion he was experienced in Vancouver cannot

(01:11:50):
fully be understood without the context of his power shift.
Robert Mayhill while serving as Hughes while serving Hughes
interests. It was a man of the world, of
his own power base and deep connections to the CIA,
politicians and even the real Mafia.
He represented a link, however tenacious and fraught, to the

(01:12:12):
outside world of influence and deal making.
Bill Gay and the Mormon Mafia represented the complete
opposite of philosophy, of a total inward retreat.
Their victory in the power struggle was not just a
corporate reshuffling, it was anideological, A coup.
They replaced a strategy of external influence with one of

(01:12:33):
internal fortification. Therefore, the subsequent events
fleeing to the Bahamas, Nicaragua and ultimately the
hyper isolated existence in Vancouver were the turret and
logical consequences of his change in command.
The Vancouver episode was the ultimate expression of the
Mormon Mafia, Mafia's philosophyof total control and isolation

(01:12:56):
and existence that would have been impossible under the Mayo
regime. Now here lies the great paradox
of Howard Hughes. In 1972, while he was living
like a germaphobic hermit hidingfrom the world in a blacked out
room, he was simultaneously executing one of the biggest

(01:13:16):
moves of his legendary business career.
In 1972, the very same year he was holed up in Vancouver, he
orchestrated the sale of the original Hughes Tool Company
tool division in a public offering.
He then restructured his remaining vast holdings, casinos
like the Sands and Desert Inn, Hughes Air, W TV stations and

(01:13:38):
real estate under a new holding company known as the Zuma
Corporation. From his sick bed in the
Bayshore, he was still the emperor.
A Time magazine report from 1976, published after his death,
noted that until as late as 1972, he retained overall
control of his empire. He did this by meticulously

(01:13:59):
pouring over company performancereports, peppering his aides
with a constant stream of memos,and reading a wide selection of
the nation's press to stay informed.
He remained an exasperating Hagler, orchestrating complex
business transactions down to the last detail from his
isolation. The man who couldn't bring
himself to walk out the door wasstill moving billions of dollars

(01:14:22):
around the globe from a darkenedroom in Vancouver.
Now as we look at this even further, you can see that the
city was actually transfixed on him.
Outside the fortified penthouse,the city of Vancouver was
completely captivated. As historian Erin Chapman noted,
for a figure of Hughes global stature and mystique to suddenly

(01:14:45):
arrive was a monumental event that made immediate
international news. The local newspapers said the
Vancouver Sun and the province were all over the story,
dedicating front page coverage to the mysterious guest.
But with no access, no sightingsand no photos, there were left
to grasp at straws. The most anyone ever saw of

(01:15:07):
Hughes during his entire 6 monthstay was A speculative sketch
published in the Vancouver Sun. A drawing that was based
entirely on rumour and imagination.
The only so-called image the public would ever get.
Now the media's desperation to get a picture, any picture, of
the reclusive billionaire led tosome truly wild and audacious
attempts. This is where it gets funny. 1

(01:15:30):
photographer reportedly tried tofly a hang glider past the
penthouse windows to snap a photo.
He misjudged the winds off the harbor, lost control and
embarrassingly crashed into the side of the hotel building.
But the most famous and elaborate attempt involved the
Canadian sporting hero. A publication hired George
Athens, Junior World champion water skier, to see if he could

(01:15:53):
parasail high enough behind a speedboat in Cole Harbour to get
a clear shot of the penthouse windows.
Athens was a national superstar at the time.
A2 time world overall champion at 10 time consecutive national
champion and recipient of the Order of Canada.
If anyone could pull off a daring stunt like this, it was

(01:16:14):
him. But as former bellman Stan Yip
recalled, his efforts were in vain.
The Phantom of the Penthouse remained unseen.
Now amid this media circus, there was quiet official
business to attend to. As a foreign visitor, Hughes
State was subject to Canadian immigration law.
In July of 1972, with his initial visitors at visa period

(01:16:39):
potentially nearing its end, he quietly revised Sorry.
He quietly received a one year extension on his visitors permit
from the Canada immigration officials, which at the time was
the federal department known as Manpower and Immigration.
And the minister responsible this brought, sorry, Bryce
Mackasey, is serving in the cabinet of Prime Minister Pierre

(01:17:03):
Trudeau. Yes, Justin's father, the
world's most famous recluse, wasfor the moment, a legal and
legitimate resident of Canada. You know, this detail highlights
a fascinating contradiction. On the outside, there was a
wild, almost comical media spectacle with crashing hang
gliders and paired sailing athletes, a public drama fueled

(01:17:24):
by methane rumour. Yet on the inside, completely
hidden from view, the mundane, quiet machinery of a government
bureaucracy was at work. An immigration official likely
followed standard likely stand following standard procedure.
You mean after being contacted by Hughes, lawyers processed the
permit extension for Mr. Howard Robard used Junior.

(01:17:46):
This juxtaposition reveals 2 parallel realities coexisting at
the Bayshore Inn. There was the public myth of
Howard Hughes which was chaotic,sensational and larger than
life. And then there was a private
reality which involved lawyers, accountants and government
officials interacting with this corporate empire in a
structured, almost panel way. It demonstrates that even in his

(01:18:10):
profound self-imposed isolation,here's existence was still bound
by the ordinary rules of paperwork and of course adhering
to state regulations and rules. Now Hughes departure from
Vancouver was just a sudden and mysterious as his arrival.
He stayed for almost exactly 6 months, disappearing just one

(01:18:32):
day shy of the 180 day threshold.
Why the sudden exit? Well, the answer is quite simple
and speaks to a phobia that may have been stronger than his fear
of germs. Yes, you got it, taxes.
If there was one thing Howard Hughes hated more than germs, it
was taxes. Staying in Canada for a full 6
months would have likely made him a resident for tax purposes

(01:18:55):
under Canadian law. This would have forced him to
declare his assets to the Canadian government and subject
his vast fortune to their scrutiny and taxation.
That was a non starter for the man who spent his life creating
corporate structures to outmaneuver the IRS.
So in early September 1972, he once again vanished.

(01:19:16):
No one from the hotel saw him leave.
He was spirited away in the deadof night, just as he arrived or
just as he had arrived. His next destination was another
hotel sanctuary, this time in Acapulco, Mexico, which would
turn out to be his second to last home.
But his departure from Vancouverleft behind one of the most
incredible and surreal stories of the entire 6 month saga.

(01:19:40):
Stan. Yet the night Bellman recalled
that the hotel staff who were hired to help with his departure
came back to the Bayshore with an unbelievable tale.
They claimed that when they got to the airport, they sell
Volkswagen van being loaded inside the plane that was
waiting to rescues away a Volkswagen van inside a
transport plane. It's a detailed so strange, so

(01:20:03):
utterly bizarre, it can only be part of the Howard Hughes story.
It was a final eccentric flourish to his Canadian
chapter, a lasting image of his wealth and his profound
strangeness. Now in hotel staff were finally
allowed back into the penthouse suite.
After the departure, they found a strange and desolate scene.

(01:20:23):
It was the abandoned nest of a phantom.
Most of the hotels luxurious furniture had been removed.
In its place where the sheets ofplywood he had used to partition
the rooms, creating his own sterile maze.
And everywhere there were empty Kleenex boxes, a testament to
his all consuming phobia. This sweet was sterile empty

(01:20:44):
shell that gave little clue to the billionaire that had
occupied it, except for the lingering aura of his deep and
profound eccentricities. Now for 179 days, one of the
world's richest and most powerful men held a major
Canadian city captain over with his mere presence, all without
ever being seen. He arrived as a ghost and he

(01:21:07):
left a legend. He would die just four years
later on April the 5th, 1976, fittingly on a medical plan on
route to his birthplace of Houston, TX.
He never failed a permanent homein his final years were a blur
of hotel rooms in different countries, just like the one at
Vancouver. But Vancouver hasn't forgotten

(01:21:28):
him. The hotel, now the luxurious
Western Bayshore, still pays homage to its most famous
invisible guest. The penthouse he occupied is now
officially named the Howard Hughes Suite, a top tier luxury
accommodation that can demand thousands of dollars a night.
And for years, the hotel featured A Sheikh Aviation theme

(01:21:48):
lounge, a direct tribute to Hughes and his love of flight
and his mysterious time at the hotel.
His ghost is become a permanent part of the city's lore, a
marketable piece of its history.Now the story of Howard Hughes
and Vancouver is more than just a quirky historical antidote.
It's a profound tale of contrast.

(01:22:09):
The immense power of his wealth versus the crippling power of
his illness. The global media spectacle
versus the silent, lonely reality inside a blacked out
room. It's the story of a man who
conquered the skies, Hollywood and the world of business, but
who ultimately conquered and imprisoned.
Who was conquered and imprisonedby the labyrinth of his own

(01:22:33):
mind. His secret?
Six months in Vancouver stand asone of the final and most
poignant testaments to that tragic self-imposed isolation.
Thank you for joining me once again on this extended version
of live chat with James. Once again, make sure that you
leave your comments below and share stories or thoughts that

(01:22:55):
you have on the topics that we've covered tonight or on
anything else that you'd like tosee us cover in the future.
Once again, you're watching Propex TV.
This has been another live chat with James.
Thanks for tuning in. Now we're coming to you from
Vancouver, BC and we'll see you again tomorrow night.