Gratien Gélinas, (December 8, 1909 – March 16, 1999) was a Canadian writer, playwright, actor, director, producer and administrator who is considered one of the founders of modern Canadian theatre and film. His major works include ''Tit-Coq'' (1948), ''Bousille et les Justes'' (1959), and ''Hier, les enfants dansaient'' (1968). He also wrote a series of satirical revues known as the ''Fridolinades''. The ''Fridolinades'' revues, consisting of comic sketches, songs, and monologues, were named for the often-featured character Fridolin. A poor boy from Montreal, he wore a tri-colour Canadiens hockey jersey, knee socks, and suspenders. While not quite

joual ''Joual'' () is an accepted name for the linguistic features of Quebec French that are associated with the French-speaking working class in Montreal which has become a symbol of national identity for some. ''Joual'' is stigmatized by some and ...

, the French he spoke was reflective of what a person would hear on the streets of Montreal, which made it stand out in sharp contrast to the continental French being spoken in most other theatres. Fridolin's boundless optimism in the face of constant disappointment came to emblemize the Quebec spirit of "survivance", and made him one of the first distinctly Canadian heroes of the stage. His success was considerable: Gélinas was declared by an adoring public to be the first playwright "de chez nous" (from our place). Gélinas' play ''Hier, les enfants dansaient'' ('' Yesterday the Children were Dancing'') takes place entirely in one night. Based in 1966, it revolves around the tumultuous politics in Quebec around that time though its characters are entirely fictitious. Pierre Gravel is debating whether or not to accept a prominent position within the Liberal party. Throughout the course of the play, Gravel's sons, André and Larry, admit that they are active members of the separatist party and responsible for the bombs that had been threatening the city and destroying historical landmarks. Gélinas also founded the ''Comédie-Canadienne'', which was active until 1972. In 1967, Gélinas was made an Officer of the

Order of Canada The Order of Canada (french: Ordre du Canada; abbreviated as OC) is a Canadian state order and the second-highest honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the cen ...

and was promoted to Companion in 1989. In 1985, he was made a Knight of the

National Order of Quebec The National Order of Quebec, termed officially in French as ''l'Ordre national du Québec'', and in English abbreviation as the Order of Quebec, is an order of merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Govern ...

. He received an honorary doctorate from the

Royal Military College of Canada '') , established = 1876 , type = Military academy , chancellor = Anita Anand ('' la, ex officio, label=none'' as Defence Minister) , principal = Harry Kowal , head_label ...

in St-Jean in 1989. He married

Huguette Oligny Huguette Oligny, (January 31, 1922 - May 9, 2013) was a Canadian actress active in theatre, film and television. Born in Montreal, Quebec, to a French-Canadian father and French mother, she began her theatrical career in 1939. Though mostly kn ...

in 1973 and is the grandfather of actor and pop singer Mitsou Gélinas,

MusiquePlus Elle Fictions (stylized ELLE Fictions) is a Canadian French language specialty channel owned by Remstar Media Group. The channel broadcasts general entertainment programming targeting young adult women. It was first established in 1986 as the mu ...

veejay, writer and actor Abeille Gélinas, and writer Anne-Marie Sicotte who has written the biography "Gratien Gélinas : la ferveur et le doute", published by the Éditions Québec/Amérique in 1995 et 1996. After his death in 1999, he was entombed at the

Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery (french: Cimetière Notre-Dame-des-Neiges) is a rural cemetery located in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Montreal, Quebec, Canada which was founded in 1854. The entrance and the grounds run a ...

in Montreal. The

Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; french: Bibliothèque et Archives Canada) is the federal institution, tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is t ...

contains sound recordings and transcriptions of Anne-Marie Sicotte's interview with Gelinas.Fonds Anne Marie Sicotte
Library and Archives Canada

Filmography

*''La dame aux camélias, la vraie'' - 1942 *''Fridolinons'' - 1945 *'' The Plouffe Family (La famille Plouffe)'' - 1953 *''

Tit-Coq ''Tit-Coq'' (lit. "Little Rooster") is a Canadian film, directed by René Delacroix and Gratien Gélinas, and released in 1953. Gélinas' immensely popular play started life as a film script, but when he had difficulty with the financing he perfor ...

'' - 1953 *'' Red'' - 1970 *'' Cordélia'' - 1980 *''Peau de banane'' - 1982 *''

Agnes of God ''Agnes of God'' is a 1979 play by American playwright John Pielmeier which tells the story of a novice nun who gives birth and insists that the child was the result of a virgin conception. A psychiatrist and the mother superior of the convent ...

'' - 1985 *''

The Canadian Conspiracy ''The Canadian Conspiracy'' is a 1985 HBO/ CBC mockumentary, co-written and directed by Robert Boyd, about the way the Government of Canada is subverting the United States by taking over its entertainment industry. The film features many Cana ...

'' - 1985 *''

The Mills of Power ''The Mills of Power'' (french: Les Tisserands du pouvoir) is a Canadian television miniseries, directed by Claude Fournier. A historical drama, the film centres on the historical phenomenon of French Canadians who emigrated to New England for wo ...

(Les Tisserands du pouvoir)'' - 1988

References

External links

*
Gratien Gélinas
at

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; french: L'Encyclopédie canadienne) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with the support of Canadian Heritage. Available f ...

Podcast on Gratien Gelinas from Library and Archives Canada
*
Fonds Gratien Gélinas (R666)
at

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gelinas, Gratien 1909 births 1999 deaths Canadian male stage actors Companions of the Order of Canada Fellows of the Royal Society of Canada Knights of the National Order of Quebec Film directors from Quebec 20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights Writers from Quebec Male actors from Quebec Canadian dramatists and playwrights in French 20th-century Canadian male actors Canadian male dramatists and playwrights Best Supporting Actor Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners 20th-century Canadian male writers Burials at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery