Keeping the Past Alive

presented by
The greater Vernon Museum & Archives

The question has frequently been asked: How, when and why Ogopogo? The origin of the application of this name to the unidentified creature sometimes seen in Okanagan Lake, is simple.

In Vernon there has been since the War, and organization of amateurs, who, under title of "The Kalamalka Players," have raised several thousand dollars for charitable purposes. In one of their "Folly" performances, the writer sang the Ogopogo song originally created by Davy Burnaby of the "Co-Optimists." Perhaps a word is necessary here, as to who the "Co-Optimists" are.

For many years the late Mr. Pellissier was, with his "Follies", looked upon in London, England, as furnishing to the lovers of musical and light comedy, much the same type of refined humor that "Punch" affords its readers. After the Great War, it may be said, his mantle fell on Davy Burnaby, who with his company of Co-Optimists, soon captivated England and now hold a wide and most enviable reputation. A program presented by them is the epitome of good taste and good fun.

Some months afterwards, on the 23rd August 1926, to be exact, a luncheon for the Vancouver Board of Trade was given at the Kalamalka Hotel by the Vernon Rotary Club and the Vernon Board of Trade. L.M. Richardson of Vernon, presided, and the writer was asked to sing. As it has been well received on the former occasion, he decided to sing the Ogopogo song again. At the time there was considerable talk about the mysterious creature in Okanagan Lake, and the possibilities of making a little fun were recognized; indeed the Secretary of the Kalamalka Players, H.F.Beattie, who was ex-Secretary of the Vernon Board of Trade, wrote a parody of the original for local use.

On the occasion of this luncheon, the name and tune caught on, and the guests left the Kalamalka Hotel to spread the fame of Ogopogo far and wide. Recently some of the coast newspapers have been using the word as a common noun to designate any unidentified creature in any of the lakes in the interior of B.C. So that we are now in a fair way of having a new word added to the English language.

On occasion, near Peachland, it was swimming along parallel to the lake shore and not far from it. The late J.L.Logie of Okanagan Centre happened to be on the road at the time and saw it, and he chased it for some distance. It was then rushing through the water at a tremendous speed and he was on the road in his automobile, and chased after it along the road which at that place follows the lake shore. The report of this chase with an automobile after making the rounds of the B.C. newspapers, eventually found it way into the columns of "Punch". After that, of course, no one could say the Ogopogo of the Okanagan Lake was not famous.

The song as written by Davy Burnaby ran thus :

"One fine day in Hindustan, I met a funny little man
With googly eyes and lantern jaws; with a new silk hat and some old plus-fours
When I said to that quaint old chap; Whey do you carry that big steel trap
That butterfly net and that old gun? He replied, Listen here my son.
'I'm looking for the Ogopogo. The funny little Ogopogo.
His mother was an earwig, his father was a snail
I'm going to put a little bit of salt on his tail
I want to find the Ogopogo, while he's playing on his old banjo
The Lord Mayor of London, the Lord Mayor of London
The Lord Mayor of London wants
To put him in the Lord Mayor's show.'"

And the parody by H.F.Beattie :

"Oh! Vancouver Board of Trade
Gird up your loins; be not dismayed
Crusaders stalwart from the coast
Fill each his glass, and hear Vernon's toast
Ante-deluvian or B.C.
A monster you may chance to see
a D--- sight more up-to-date you will say
Join the chorus with a Hip-Hooray
I'm looking for the Ogopogo
The bunny-hugging Ogopogo
His mother was a mutton* and his father was a whale
I'm going to put a little bit of salt on his tail
I'm looking for the Ogopogo
As told me by Harwood (Joe)
The Lieutenant-Governor The Lieutenant-Governor
The Lieutenant-Governor wants
To put him in the B.C. show."

*An allusion doubtless to the statement sometimes made that the creature has a head like a sheep.

The Ogopogo song
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