East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE

by Nick Marino

A sly, sentimental, and wickedly funny memoir about growing up at the local fair. The PNE (Pacific National Exhibition) is a Vancouver tradition, an annual fair started in 1910 that is famous for its farm animals, dog trick shows, and amusement park highlighted by Canada’s oldest wooden roller coaster still in existence. In 1980, when Nick Marino was twelve years old, he started working at the PNE and quickly learned that there was more to the fair than winning stuffed animals and eating mini donuts. He had to contend with belligerent bosses, unhinged carnies, and teenage hustlers. In this funny, charming memoir of fair life, Marino revisits the “wild west” of the city’s East Side, home to the PNE, sharing stories from his six summers working at the fair, where arcade bouncers went on midnight roller coaster rides, riots broke out at concerts, and local kids helped themselves to everything. With beguiling and at times poignant humor, he pulls back the curtain on the culture of carnivals and fairs, an unpredictable and eternally young world of players, scammers, and dreamers. East Side Story is the latest addition to the Robin’s Egg Books series, which features some of the freshest, smartest, and above all, funniest writing on a variety of culturally relevant subjects. Titles in the imprint are curated and edited by comedian, playwright, and author Charles Demers.

Genres: Canada, Memoir, Nonfiction, History, Biography

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2023

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.

Reviews

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part history, part memoir - Nick Marino relives his time working at the PNE (Pacific North Exhibition ) in the 80's.

I have attended many fairs in my lifetime ... but never anything with a polio exhibit and free chest x-rays in a tuberculosis tent. PARDON ME!?🤯 The 1940's were really ****ing weird.

I will admit that I go to the fair for the food. I don't do rides, they scare the crap out of me and my added motion sickness doesn't help. Every year I think I'll give it a try and then remember I'm getting too old for this. (Side note, I have been saying the same thing since my 20's)

I love the fact there are pictures throughout the book throughout the years of the PNE. So nice to put a visual with the history.

Chapter 13 is a REALLY hard read. I had to put the book down for a bit afterwards.

My takeaways:
▪️People do stupid and dangerous stunts behind the scenes
▪️Onion burgers are not a tasty treat
▪️Spitting or spilling drinks on people while you're on a ride can end with getting your ass kicked
▪️Free stuff? It's all in who you know!
▪️Elvis and The Beatles had super powers that made teens lose their minds.
▪️When running a race, don't ever look behind you.

Thanks to Arsenal Pulp Press and ZG Reads for this gifted copy. East Side Story is out now!

[Andriana Ristevska · Rating 5 out of 5]

,,It was where they played sports, met their heroes, and held the back door open to let their friends in. For many of them, it was also where they had their first job, their first kiss, and their first drink. And for a lot of East Van kids, the PNE was home."

In 1980, Nick was twelve years old and just started working at the PNE. And just like that all he knew about the fairs was changed. For the first time he was standing at the opposite side of the tents and he saw if from a different perspective. He learned that it's not just about the games and prizes, or the food. PNE is much more than the first impression.

Imagine something in your city/country that you feel connected to. It can be a place, bar, restaurant, market, bookstore, house, street, etc. You name it. A place that brings you nostalgia, that you like to see it and remember the memories that it brings you. Now imagine that place being tore down, renovated or upgraded for the modern needs. Imagine how many memories that would destroy. We feel sad, like an end of an era when places like this changes or disappear.

We all have a place like this and I would like to think of PNE as one. It may went through a lot of changes, mistakes and bad times, but It still stands strong. Many generations are reminded of better times, it warms their heart by just looking at it. How beautiful it is to see something that people in 1980 were seeing.

Unfortunately, I have never visited any place like PNE, but this book made me so happy, made me experience it without leaving my house.

But this book is not just about PNE, it's also about how it affected many, many people's lives. Workers, visitors, performers and people who simply lived around it. It's a story about family, friendships, empathy, kindness and how people back then had each other's backs. It may seem like a silly little book at first sight, but these stories contain a lot of life lessons. I have read and heard about so many fairs and amusement parks, however, I have to admit that I've never considered how the people who work there are a huge part of it. It gives us a different perspective of places like this. One line stood up for me, Nick himself mentions in the book:

,,At some point in my teens, I finally realized that other people were not just characters in my story, that each of them had their own perspective that was as valid as mine. It was like being shown how a magic trick works."

That's why I said it gives us a different perspective. It makes you think. Like, wait a minute. All these people have lives just like I do? I may be the main character in my story, but in theirs I'm just the side character, sometimes like the extras we see in the movies, for three seconds. Once we realize this, it will change our mindset.

Nick is sharing his experience and life story, but he also included many historical facts, photos and interviews with the workers, family and people who somehow were connected with PNE.

I absolutely loved this book. Beautifully written story, with a lot of humor and tears here and there. Before reading it I knew nothing about PNE and I'm glad that now I do. Thank you, Nick, for sharing your story. You made me laugh and cry, and you inspired me on so many levels. Your writing style is so good and you're so well-spoken. I really enjoyed reading this book, definitely one of my favorite reads this year.

And thank you so, so much ZG Reads for sending this book to me. I've never faked a review, everything that I write is my honest opinion, but you have no idea how happy I am that I only have nice things to say about the first book I got from you. You're doing an amazing job!

[Saije Rusimovici · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a humerous, exceptionally written book that made me feel like i was having a conversation with an old friend. it's like Marino is speaking directly to you about his experiences. the similarities between Nick's personal recounting of the PNE is synchronous with the way my mom described the PNE growing up, and made me super nostalgic to my own childhood experiences there. it was a true window to
the past (without not leaving out some of the darker histories I never knew were associated with the PNE grounds). im not a non-fiction reader so i really appreciated the blend of history, personal experiences, and the narrative style writing that made the books so unique.

[Joel]

really fun!

[Liz Kalt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nostalgia for those who grew up in Vancouver in the 70’s and 80’s. I loved the Wild Mouse ride! Still trying to win the PNE house too, no luck yet.

[Neil · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connections…

This book was all about connections for me. I am acquainted with Nick through teaching and am friends with his brother. Some of my distant relatives and my grandparents' and parents' friends were incarcerated at Hastings Park during WW II.

Reading the book also brought back many fond memories of visiting the PNE during the early 1970s. We lived in the Interior of BC and always visited Vancouver at the end of summer to visit my grandfather. This coincided nicely with PNE time. Here are some of my memories:
- always receiving free children's PNE tickets included with our June report cards though this seems quite improper now
- my younger brother was really enthused with the demolition derby
- going on the bumper cars
- always watching the Lumberjack Show
- I, being a nerd, liked viewing the hobby/craft competition in the BC Pavilion
- I did not like the livestock building due to the smell
- the smell of frying onions and eating footlong hotdogs and cotton candy
- in our car following elderly grandmas running down alleys to lead us to their crowded backyard parking (I think we left our keys with these strangers so they could move our car around if needed)
- in the 2010s, my daughter really wanted to see the SuperDogs

[Melly Mel - Shelf_ishly_lit · Rating 5 out of 5]

EAST SIDE STORY: Growing up at the PNE, Nick Marino
Out now!!

Vinyl cafe - but make it carnie 🎢 🤡 🎡

“It’s not nostalgia if it’s still happening, and that’s the real magic”

While I am not from British Columbia, I can almost see, hear, smell and taste the marvels of the PNE as a regular visitor in my youth to its kin - the CNE in Toronto, Ontario.

While both are unique, there is something quite special about the 17 day extravaganza that is a National Exhibition that can’t be found at larger amusement parks. The PNE brimming with it’s own eco-social microcosm of visitors and attractions.

I loved the annual summer exhibition and can relate to Marino’s wonderment and appreciation for the experiences only held within its gates. Man, I wish I still had my Billy Idol fan mirror! 🪞

Marino deftly pulled back the curtain of the PNE as a past and present visitor, and former summer employee.

I chuckled at the shenanigan’s, was caught up in the renegade organization within the organization, and was touched by Marino’s interviews of the many faces of the PNE. It’s hard to believe some of the main attractions and spectacles, and turn of phrases were once common practice. Many (if not all) would be found to be offensive and oppressive today. While there has been progression a retro feel remains. Just like those mini doughnuts 🍩

East Side Story is a remarkable memoir of growing up alongside one of Vancouver’s beloved landmarks and the community found within its gates. A living Time Capsule, Marino sheds light on the various changes brought about through social, cultural and political shifts that would go on to impact the PNE’s practices and vision in a effort to remain relevant and continue to thrive.

Thank you to @zgreads and @arsenalpulp and @nickanthony100 for my gifted copy.

[Maggie (Magsisreadingagain) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I did not grow up on the west coast, and I have not attended the PNE. But after reading East Side Story: Growing UP at the PNE, I feel like I have been there. Marino was able to evoke the smell of the fair, the popcorn and hotdogs, the sounds of people laughing and enjoying the rides, the feel of riding the roller coaster. Marino has brought his memories of growing up near the PNE to the page in an eloquent and descriptive manner. He tells of friendships and family, summer jobs and warm summer evenings. A great testament to the lost days of summer.

Many thanks to ZG Stories and Arsenal Pulp Press for gifting me a finished copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Tim Covell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joni Mitchell sang "you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," but I might add "or until you move away." I discovered the PNE when my family moved to Vancouver in the late 1970s, and spent a lot of time there, including working one summer on the roller coaster crew in the early 1980s (and a couple of awkward high school dates). I moved to Toronto in the mid-1980s, worked one summer at the CNE, checked out Canada's Wonderland (built as one of Taft parks), and travelled to other modern theme parks including King's Dominion (also Taft) and Cedar Point (which now owns Wonderland and King's Dominion). By the late 1980s, I'd realized the PNE was a throwback to gritty and even dangerous amusement parks before Disney reconceptualized them as family-friendly theme parks.
As Marino explains, the PNE is actually the annual two-week Pacific National Exhibition, but the name is widely used for Hastings Park: the exhibition grounds, which include a horse track, an arena, and used to include a stadium. The name is also used for Playland, a permanent amusement park located within Hastings Park (it generally operates from May to September).
Playland is like an overgrown fair midway, consisting largely of trailer mounted rides on asphalt, but with a few permanent structures for games and food, and several permanent or semi-permanent rides, including an impressive roller coaster (built in 1958, but itself a throwback, with many rare design elements common to roller coasters of the 1920s). During the annual fair, Playland swells with additional rides and games from travelling midways. As far as I know, nowhere else in Canada has a permanent midway associated with their fall fair, and from what I have seen, it's not common in the USA either.
All of this to say I was very much looking forward to reading this book, since it appealed to nostalgia and celebrates the PNE. I was not disappointed.
Marino is just a few years younger than I, and worked games at Playland for six years, starting in 1980. He provides a wealth of information about the petty scams and questionable activities of the workers, much of which I suspected or heard of, but little of which I saw first-hand. (A ride operator has no opportunity to skim cash or trade prizes or food, and the roller coaster crew was somewhat isolated from other employees). He also provides many anecdotes of other events in the park, from sneaking into hockey practices to sneaking into concerts to sneaking into the fairgrounds.
Other episodes illustrate daily life in East Vancouver in the 1970s (then a more working-class area) and how PNE was part of that, and a few glimpses of the lives of his parents and other family there (which illustrate how much society has changed in sixty years).
Historical chapters explore or note long-gone attractions such as the 'freak shows' and strippers, and early shows and concerts. A dark chapter delves into the use of Hastings Park as a place to incarcerate people with Japanese ancestry during World War II. Marino notes that Hastings Park had no control over this use of their land, but they made the decision to keep the amusement park open, and reminded everyone that dances would be held as usual. In 1987, PNE management opposed a memorial plaque. In 1993, a plaque was erected in a small garden, which Marino describes as small and hard to find.
Marino is writing largely about his memories, but he's done ample research and interviewed people from his past. He's also looking at his teen years from his perspective of a parent and teacher.
Part of my fondness for this book is personal - it celebrates and fleshes out a chunk of my teen years. But it's also a great snapshot of working-class life in the 1970s (and earlier decades) in Vancouver (and likely elsewhere), and a reminder of what amusement parks were like before Disney.

[Eva · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part memoir, part history of the Pacific National Exhibition in Vancouver, East Side Story shares the many hijinks of the teens working at the park, the culture of the east side folks who lived near the fair, the sports and entertainment that once dominated this part of Vancouver and how the park hasn’t changed much but still draws the families.

Author Nick Marino worked the fair in the summers during high school. There he met a colourful cast of characters that live larger than life on the page. He shares the great memories of sports events and meeting girls and making money. He has interviewed many people that worked the fair or were affected by the fair. He details the highs and lows of the fair and has captured the fabric of east Vancouver in his telling.

As someone who attended the fair and Playland every summer of every year in childhood and was one of those teens wondering if a cute boy was looking at me a certain way and then shared rides with them, this was a trip down memory lane and full of enlightening information.

Thank you to @arsenalpulp and @zgreads for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. east Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE is available on August 8, 2023.

[Melody Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

A LOVE LETTER TO THE PNE
This was a little gem. I AM an East Van girl - in fact when I lose my temper my husband says, "uh-oh East Van Mel is about to show up." I lived most of the first 30 years of my life in East Van. I don't live there anymore but as the saying goes, "you can take the girl out of East Van but you can't take East Van out of the girl." I have my own memories and stories of the PNE (I could swear the Pirate came out before 1984 - I was sure I was still in high school I graduated in 1983.)

This was a beautiful piece of nostalgia of my old stomping grounds and I knew or knew of many of the people that were written into this story. I will be recommending it to my old friends - many who I still know and keep in touch with (East Van loyalty!) You were tender and real and I appreciate the respect you gave our part of the city. I always refer to Expo as when we invited the world and they never left - and it is also when CRACK came to town and destroyed so much.

I consider myself extremely fortunate growing up when I did and where I did and would not trade that experience for anything.

Thanks for sharing Nick.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Igniting a connection to the past.
​
How did the book make me feel/think?

“East Side Story” by Nick Marino provides readers with a deeper understanding of the city’s history, both positive and dark moments, encouraging readers to appreciate the rich tapestry of life in the East Side of Vancouver.

Marino’s ability to transport readers through time and connect personal family stories with the significance of the PNE in Vancouver’s history is a testament to the power of storytelling. It’s important for residents and visitors alike to gain insight into the places they live or visit, fostering a greater appreciation for the community and its heritage.

The contrast between joyful memories of events like the PNE and the sobering historical reminders of injustices, such as the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II, underscores the complexity of a city’s history. It’s essential to celebrate the positive aspects and acknowledge and learn from the darker moments. Kudos to Marino for painting the whole picture without sugarcoating.

In “East Side Story” nostalgia will take hold, leaving readers anticipating their next visit to the local fair (PNE), igniting a connection to the past and the on hyper-drive present.

“East Side Story” is a valuable read for anyone interested in Vancouver's history and culture, as it offers a unique blend of personal stories and the broader context of the city’s development, with moments of laughter springing to life on many pages.

I can smell the onions and burgers frying, and I am looking forward to my next trip to the PNE, where I can ride the roller coaster into nostalgia. Sometimes, being trapped in time in today’s hectic world offers a refuge from the stresses of life.

WRITTEN: 9 September 2023

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"And for a lot of East Van kids, the PNE was home."

This was such a fun book to read!! I have never been to the PNE but grew up in Ontario and went to the CNE in Toronto every year. I found myself reminiscing over my own memories of the fair. That's what this book does - it brings these stories to life and places you right there at the fair.

The author does an incredible job of mixing his own memories with stories from those he interviewed. He included pictures which helped to draw you further into the stories. He shared the good, bad, funny and sad that goes along with this type of operation.

It was fascinating to learn the history of PNE and see how each generation held this fair in their memory. If you grew up near Vancouver or ever went to a fair, if you love reading nostalgic stories, pick this one up!

Thank you to ZG Stories for gifting my this book!

[Kim Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book in between my annual visit to the PNE in 2024. You forget about all the things you saw there in the past - crown and anchor, whack a mole, the wooden roller coaster. The PNE continues to change and evolve, much like we continue to age - without fanfare.
Interesting to read more about the inside goings on about the employees and the quantity and variety of scams going on. Gotta know that’s the reason the PNE is now cashless.
Fun read all around. Learned about Hastings Park being a Japanese interment camp. A very dark part of Canadian history.
On the fun side, great to read about many of the local kids, the athletes, the absolute East Van characters and Marino’s family and its 100 years of archives.
The last laugh in the book is that the author is now a school teacher. Karmas a bitch.
Highly recommend this book.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

East Side Story is such a fun summer read.
For anyone who has experienced the PNE (Pacific National Exhibition)/Playland in Vancouver, you're in for a treat with this book.
Thank you to Arsenal Pulp Press and ZG Reads for my gifted copy for review!
Author Nick Marino takes us through what it was like to work at the PNE as a youth in the 80s - he started out at the "balloon vs dart" game at age 12.
East Side Story is a quick and engaging read, part memoir and part historical documentation. Marino's behind-the-scenes look at working an amusement park is such great nostalgia, complete with photos from the era. Through his anecdotes we meet his coworkers and family, plus experience the park's rides and events.
It's a colorful set of tales throughout. Recommended!
Released on Aug. 8.

[Alexis]

East Side Story Growing Up at the PNE by Nick Marino

Thank you so much to Arsenal Pulp Press and ZG stories for this copy!

A great read to end the summer and close out the PNE season. For anyone who has visited the PNE/Playland this book was so fun to dive into some history. This brought me back to going when I was young riding the rides, trying new foods, watching the Super Dogs and walking through the prize home.

Marino shares his experience working at the PNE during the summer in the 80s as part memoir and part history of the PNE. I over that there were so many photos from the past which really elevated this book.

So interesting to learn about the PNE from Marino behind the scenes and see how much has changed and stayed the same.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved "East Side Story: Growing Up at the PNE" by Nick Marino. Having grown up near the PNE (Skeena and Pender), this book was a blast of nostalgia reminding me of so many things from my childhood and teen years. The author does a great job of researching the history of the PNE and all of the changes, good and bad, it has gone through. The best parts are the personal stories of the antics during the annual fair. I love the PNE. We could hear the concerts, roller coaster screams, etc. in our backyard. We attended the PNE. I worked at the PNE. It is one of my favourite places and it is in my blood. For all who lived near there or worked there, you have to read this book. You won't regret it.

[Steve Tripp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part memoir, part history. Full marks though to the author. He really captured the history of the fair, and its location and both changed with age. I didn't grow up in the east end of Vancouver but I had my share of fun in the PNE grounds. not as an employee (so no shenanigans there) but as an attendee at the fair and buckets of sporting events and concerts. Also -- I learned tons about the fair's history related to the WW2 Japanese internment camps .. something I was naively unaware.

I'm glad Nick put this all into words. It will stand the test of time ... a must read if you've lived in Vancouver sometime in the past 50 years.

[Ron Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

"East Side Story: Growing up at the PNE" by Nick Marino is a nostalgic, enjoyable narrative that both native Vancouverites and others can easily connect with their adolescent years.

The writer offers an honest account of genuine experiences growing up in what was then a close-knit neighbourhood. Anecdotes are humorous, endearing and sometimes sad. Humility is apparent throughout.

I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of events and locations that were known to myself; however, I am certain that the text will be equally enjoyable to all.

I wholly recommend this book to any reader keen on a well-written, thoughtful memoir that touches both the funny bone and the heart.

[Tim Ubels · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mixture of personal anecdotes, half-forgotten hijinks and local flavour about the Hastings Park neighbourhood in East Vancouver. Pretty enjoyable read, but only felt slightly more engaging than a coffee table book at times. Easy to pick up and put down at your leisure.

The chapter on the Japanese internment camp was well researched and remains an important, but dark part of Vancouver history.

[Kevin Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a blast! A thoroughly enjoyable walk through the history and cultural impact of the PNE, blended with a nostalgic explanation of what it meant to grow up in East Vancouver in the 70’s. The author hit just the right amount of self deprecation to craft a funny and insightful book, it makes for a perfect quick read.

[Prospero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like so many Vancouver "kids" of my generation, i have such fond memories of summer days spent at the PNE. Reading Nick's account of his behind-the scenes adventures and petty larcenies was an absolute hoot. Took me back 😊

[Cath Ennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really fun read about the history of the PNE. It's well written at the sentence/paragraph level, which is not always guaranteed in a local history book; it's structurally a bit scattered, but not in an overly distracting way. Definitely well worth reading if you've ever been to the PNE!

[Nicole Conroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endearing and informative, Marino paints a detailed picture of East Vancouver’s neighbourhood history through insightful historical tales mixed with engaging anecdotes about what life was like on the fair grounds of so many of our childhoods.

[Dariel S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny, sweet…a thoroughly enjoyable read!

[Brenda Crump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read that brought back many great memories. Well written and engaging. If you lived in the Vancouver area and attended the PNE , you gotta read this book. Thanks Nick for all the fun memories!

[Josh Stuible · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining look into a Vancouver that I never experienced but now feel like I was apart of.

[Rene Salomon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half the book is about kids scamming. Love it.

[Nik von Schulmann · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very quick trip down memory lane to a time in the late 70's and early 80's when going to the PNE as a youngster was the highlight of the summer.

[The Batman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was able to make me laugh and cry within the span of a few pages!