Hotel Saskatchewan in Regina, Saskatchewan

Opened in 1927, Hotel Saskatchewan is one of Canada's grand railway hotels and is located prominently on the edge of Victoria Park in downtown Regina, Saskatchewan. Constructed by the Canadian Pacific Railway, Hotel Saskatchewan was the fourteenth hotel in the CPR's nationwide chain and has maintained its standing as one of Regina's most luxurious accommodations. 

On their visits to Saskatchewan, the Royal Suite at Hotel Saskatchewan has hosted world leaders and celebrities like the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Queen Elizabeth II. 

Hotel Saskatchewan in 1930.

As a teenager I moved to Regina to attend the film school at the university here. While staying at Hotel Saskatchewan was out of the question back then, on this recent travel shoot back I thought a suite would be a nice way of upgrading my nostalgia for 'the Queen City'.

Archival postcard of Hotel Saskatchewan.

 

FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

Even if you've never heard of Muscle Shoals, FAME Recording Studios, or Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, you've undeniably heard the hits that have come out of this small town in northern Alabama. After watching the Muscle Shoals documentary that came out in 2013, and after exploring iconic studios in Nashville, Memphis, and Detroit, I specifically took a detour on my road trip through the American South to see this place in person. 

From Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding, and Aretha Franklin to Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones and Paul Simon, there's some incredible music history in this unassuming town. FAME (Florence Alabama Music Enterprises) Studios was founded in the late 1950s, followed by Muscle Shoals Sound Studio which broke away from FAME in 1969. Both of these studios brought the Muscle Shoals sound - a mix of soul, R&B, blues, and southern rock - to the forefront of popular music. 

To truly recognize the significance of Muscle Shoals, in addition to the hours of music you'll likely get lost in if you look it up, I highly recommend checking out the Muscle Shoals documentary. Check out the trailer below to get a taste.  

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

I was alone as I walked under the iconic arch that marks the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. It was in that moment that it struck me what an interesting contrast it was to be looking across a sea of empty seats and reflecting on the hundreds of thousands of people who had been here and done this before me. Although some may see it just as a stadium, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is one place in the city that seems truly historical. 

Artists like the Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, U2, and Pink Flloyd have all played massive concerts here. Two Super Bowls (I and VII), one World Series (1959), the 1976 Bicentennial Spectacular, and a visit from Pope John Paul II in 1987 were also monumental events. However, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has the even rarer distinction of being the only facility in the world to play host to two Olympiads (1932 and 1984). 

Site of the 1932 Olympic Games - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Opening ceremonies of the 1932 Olympic Games.

Site of the 1984 Olympic Games - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Opening ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Stone from the Altis Olympia Greece - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

Stone from the Colosseum in Rome - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum