Michael James Walsh (January 6, 1945 – January 3, 2024) was a Canadian film critic and print journalist. In addition to newspapering, Walsh has been a broadcaster and public speaker, published works of film history and run for a seat in Canada's Parliament. Walsh died on January 3, 2024, at the age of 78.[1]
In April 1969, following his graduation from the University of Toronto (1968), Walsh joined the editorial staff of The Province in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a copy editor and entertainment features writer. In 1972, he became its movie columnist, occupying that position until 1995. Within a year of becoming a full-time film critic, Walsh was being cited as "the city's best movie reviewer."[2] In addition to contributing articles to Vancouver-based magazines B.C. Business Week (1978–79), Influential Business (1980–81) and Plus (1987–88), he served as B.C. correspondent to U.S. show business weekly Variety (magazine) (1978–1982). From 1995 until his retirement in 2010, he worked as production and design editor in The Province Money (finance) department.
In October 2013, Walsh launched Reeling Back: Everything Old Is News Again, a website designed as an archive of his extensive film journalism.
Broadcastingedit
While covering film for The Province, Walsh made weekly television appearances reviewing movies on The Vancouver Show, CKVU-TV (1976), and The 10 A.M. Show on BCTV (1977–79). Later, he participated as a co-host and interviewer on the weekly Arts Rational, broadcast on Vancouver's CFRO Radio (1999–2008).
Court appearancesedit
Between 1972 and 1983, years of change in the arts and in society, Walsh made four court appearances in defence of free expression. In 1972, when obscenity charges were brought against a Vancouver East-Side after-hours club that featured nude dancers (R. v. Cafe Kobenhavn), he was sworn as an expert witness on contemporary community standards.[3] Presiding Judge David Moffett dismissed all charges. In 1974, a downtown club faced similar charges (R. v. Gary Taylor's Show Lounge).[4] Again the judge on the case, Jack McGivern, found for the defence.[5] In 1981, Walsh testified on behalf of the motion picture Caligula (film) in Edmonton, Alberta (R. v. Towne Cinemas Ltd.)[6] and in 1983, defended four sexually-explicit feature films released on video (R. v. Red Hot Video Ltd.) in Victoria, B.C.
Politicsedit
In 1998, Walsh joined the now defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada (PC Party) to support the leadership bid of Saskatchewan political activist David Orchard. Walsh became a director of the PC party's Vancouver East Riding Association and was its candidate during the 2000 federal election. Running as "a Red Tory with a Green agenda," he finished fourth in a field of 10 candidates.[7]
Science-fiction fandomedit
His reporting on the first Vancouver SF Convention (1971)[8] introduced Walsh to what would become a lifelong association with the British Columbia fan community. He covered the second through fourth VCONs (1972–75) for The Province, thereafter attending as a panelist and program participant. He was the event's toastmaster on six occasions (1982, 1985, 1987, 2006, 2007, and 2008) and chaired Canvention (the Prix Aurora Awards) in 2006.[9]
Bibliographyedit
In a natural progression from his film journalism, Walsh has chronicled B.C. and Canadian film history for publication in book form.
michael, walsh, film, critic, michael, james, walsh, january, 1945, january, 2024, canadian, film, critic, print, journalist, addition, newspapering, walsh, been, broadcaster, public, speaker, published, works, film, history, seat, canada, parliament, walsh, d. Michael James Walsh January 6 1945 January 3 2024 was a Canadian film critic and print journalist In addition to newspapering Walsh has been a broadcaster and public speaker published works of film history and run for a seat in Canada s Parliament Walsh died on January 3 2024 at the age of 78 1 Michael James WalshBorn 1945 01 06 January 6 1945Toronto Ontario CanadaDiedJanuary 3 2024 2024 01 03 aged 78 Alma materUniversity of TorontoOccupationsFilm critic journalist film historian authorYears active1967 2010 Contents 1 Journalism 2 Broadcasting 3 Court appearances 4 Politics 5 Science fiction fandom 6 Bibliography 7 ReferencesJournalism editIn April 1969 following his graduation from the University of Toronto 1968 Walsh joined the editorial staff of The Province in Vancouver British Columbia as a copy editor and entertainment features writer In 1972 he became its movie columnist occupying that position until 1995 Within a year of becoming a full time film critic Walsh was being cited as the city s best movie reviewer 2 In addition to contributing articles to Vancouver based magazines B C Business Week 1978 79 Influential Business 1980 81 and Plus 1987 88 he served as B C correspondent to U S show business weekly Variety magazine 1978 1982 From 1995 until his retirement in 2010 he worked as production and design editor in The Province Money finance department In October 2013 Walsh launched Reeling Back Everything Old Is News Again a website designed as an archive of his extensive film journalism Broadcasting editWhile covering film for The Province Walsh made weekly television appearances reviewing movies on The Vancouver Show CKVU TV 1976 and The 10 A M Show on BCTV 1977 79 Later he participated as a co host and interviewer on the weekly Arts Rational broadcast on Vancouver s CFRO Radio 1999 2008 Court appearances editBetween 1972 and 1983 years of change in the arts and in society Walsh made four court appearances in defence of free expression In 1972 when obscenity charges were brought against a Vancouver East Side after hours club that featured nude dancers R v Cafe Kobenhavn he was sworn as an expert witness on contemporary community standards 3 Presiding Judge David Moffett dismissed all charges In 1974 a downtown club faced similar charges R v Gary Taylor s Show Lounge 4 Again the judge on the case Jack McGivern found for the defence 5 In 1981 Walsh testified on behalf of the motion picture Caligula film in Edmonton Alberta R v Towne Cinemas Ltd 6 and in 1983 defended four sexually explicit feature films released on video R v Red Hot Video Ltd in Victoria B C Politics editIn 1998 Walsh joined the now defunct Progressive Conservative Party of Canada PC Party to support the leadership bid of Saskatchewan political activist David Orchard Walsh became a director of the PC party s Vancouver East Riding Association and was its candidate during the 2000 federal election Running as a Red Tory with a Green agenda he finished fourth in a field of 10 candidates 7 Science fiction fandom editHis reporting on the first Vancouver SF Convention 1971 8 introduced Walsh to what would become a lifelong association with the British Columbia fan community He covered the second through fourth VCONs 1972 75 for The Province thereafter attending as a panelist and program participant He was the event s toastmaster on six occasions 1982 1985 1987 2006 2007 and 2008 and chaired Canvention the Prix Aurora Awards in 2006 9 Bibliography editIn a natural progression from his film journalism Walsh has chronicled B C and Canadian film history for publication in book form Vancouver Films in The Vancouver Book 1976 ISBN 978 0888940841 The Canadian Movie Quiz Book 1979 ISBN 978 0772300218 10 Movies Made In Greater Vancouver in The Greater Vancouver Book An Urban Encyclopedia 1997 ISBN 978 1896846002 Filmmaking Industry in Encyclopedia of British Columbia 2000 ISBN 978 1550172003 References edit Michael Walsh Affordable Cremation amp Burial Retrieved 22 March 2024 Chuck Davis Chuck Davis s Guide To Vancouver J J Douglas Ltd 1973 p 72 Beki L Ross Burlesque West Showgirls Sex and Sin in Postwar Vancouver University of Toronto Press 2009 p 72 Margaret Dragu A S A Harrison Revelations Essays on Striptease and Sexuality Nightwood Editions 1988 pp 149 150 Becki L Ross Burlesque West Showgirls Sex and Sin in Postwar Vancouver University of Toronto Press 2009 p 78 Winnipeg Free Press Archives Oct 31 1981 p 38 31 October 1981 Thirty seventh General Election 2000 Official Voting Results Synopsis Table 12 British Columbia Science fiction convention draws fans back year after year the Ubyssey UBC s official student newspaper Archived from the original on 2013 10 08 Retrieved 2013 01 31 Robert J Sawyer Blog Archive on winning the Aurora Award Walsh Michael Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Michael Walsh film critic amp oldid 1216759901, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
