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Aaron Chapman

The historian Aaron Chapman discusses his new book, The Last Gang in Town: The Epic Story of the Vancouver Police vs. The Clark Park Gang (Arsenal Pulp, 2016), Vancouver then and now, and more, with Joseph Planta.


The Last Gang in Town: The Epic Story of the Vancouver Police vs. The Clark Park Gang by Aaron Chapman (Arsenal Pulp, 2016).

Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: The Last Gang in Town [1]


Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Aaron Chapman joins me again. The award-winning author, historian and musician has new book out, and it’s a great read. The Last Gang in Town: The Epic Story of the Vancouver Police vs. The Clark Park Gang is the book, and it’s a marvelous view onto this town coming out of the 1960s counterculture into the early 1970s. The city he writes about is very different than it is today. Gangs were also a lot different then, and the Clark Park gang was one of the best known. They were feared and notorious. They congregated at Clark Park which is on the east side of town, at around 14th Avenue from Clark to Commercial. I’ll get Mr. Chapman to tell us about this particular gang, its members and the Vancouver Police Departments reaction to it. The Clark Parkers as they were known had been watched by the VPD, and their relations were nothing less than hostile. There are some notable clashes including a riot outside a Rolling Stones concert in 1972. Aaron has some terrific previously unpublished photos and documents in this book, he has interviews with surviving gang members and police officers. He writes a hell of a book too, because it’s engrossing and well-plotted; Aaron is a terrific storyteller. This new book is published by Arsenal Pulp Press, which also published his two previous books: Liquor, Lust, and the Law: The Story of Vancouver’s Legendary Penthouse Nightclub, and Live at the Commodore: The Story of Vancouver’s Historic Commodore Ballroom. @TheAaronChapman [2] is the Twitter handle. Aaron, Caroline Adderson and Eve Lazarus will be participating in a Read Local BC event this Thursday, 03 November 2016 at 7pm at the Book Warehouse at 4118 Main Street. They’ll be reading and talking about their great Vancouver history books. Some people prefer history, some mystery and all three are great chroniclers of both. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Aaron Chapman; Mr. Chapman, good morning.