Happy days in the past for Rube Band?

When I pulled into town in August of 1970 and showed up for my first day of work at The News Advertiser, the Kamloops Rube Band had just returned from a gig in Osaka, Japan.

It was Expo ’70, and the Rubes had proudly carried the Kamloops banner to international prominence with their goofy costumes, funny antics and feel-good music.

To Canadians at the time, Japan was still a mysterious land of tea houses, kimonos, temples and chopsticks. We really didn’t know much about the Japanese then, and it was the same in reverse — Canada was a far-away place of ice and snow.

The homecoming accorded the Rubes was akin to Caesar’s triumphant return to Rome from the pyramids, and band members had plenty of stories to tell — a lasting impression was the way they were gawked at because they were about a head taller than the average Japanese.

Twenty years later, Kamloops would forge a relationship with the Kyoto suburb of Uji, one that endures to this day and is stronger than ever.

The Rubes, in a very tangible way, set the groundwork. When the word “ambassador” is applied to this quirky group of fun-loving musicians, it’s not just an honorific — it’s a fact. They’ve travelled the world spreading the word about Kamloops.

They’ve been across the country, all over the U.S., to Mexico, Europe and the Orient. They’ve played Amsterdam and Aldergrove, Honolulu and Halifax and Hope, New Orleans and Logan Lake. They entertained at the anniversary of the Liberation of Holland, at the Highland Valley Copper open house, at the Kamloops Santa Claus parade and three world’s fairs.

Listening to their signature song, Happy Days Are Here Again, how could any stranger or local not be convinced that this, our home, is the best place anywhere?

Yet, well over half a century of service to community apparently isn’t enough, and it seems the glory days of the Rubes may be past. Though they retain their energy and old sense of fun, and are always there when called upon…. It’s not enough.

City Hall wants to charge them rent for using the Yacht Club for their weekly practices. Five bucks an hour — not much, but too much. It comes to $2,600 a year, knocking down their annual $6,200 City grant to $3,600.

It’s a little like having your OAS clawed back.

Byron McCorkell, the City’s director of parks, recreation and culture, employs this logic: “Council has not directed me to give them free rent.”

Council’s response this week was to send the matter to the services agreement committee to ponder the gentleman’s agreement that has characterized the historic relationship between the Rubes and the City.

The service agreement committee is an interesting choice — some within the cultural community view it as the place where arts groups go to die, like old elephants to a boneyard.

The committee is charged with laying out what local arts and culture groups must do to earn their keep. It came into being about 50 years after the Rubes started entertaining folks, mostly for nothing in return.

If there is still a pulse in that heart of leather at 7 West Victoria St., is it possible City Hall could consider the Rubes’ rent paid in full, for good services properly rendered? Isn’t it pretty much the least that should be done?

mrothenburger@kamloopsnews.ca