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 French Canadians, referred to as Canadiens mainly before the nineteenth century, are an ethnic group descended from French colonists first arriving in France's colony of Canada in 1608. The vast majority of French Canadians live in the provi ...

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'' has historically been stigma ...

, 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 () is a Canadian state order, national order and the second-highest Award, honour for merit in the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, after the Order of Merit. To coincide with the Canadian Centennial, ce ...

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 ( French: ), also known as the Order of Quebec, is a civilian honour for merit in the Canadian province of Quebec. Instituted in 1984 when Lieutenant Governor Jean-Pierre Côté granted royal assent to the (Natio ...

. He received an honorary doctorate from the

Royal Military College of Canada The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...

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 ...

in 1973 and is the grandfather of actress and pop singer Mitsou Gélinas, MusiquePlus 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 (, ) 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 along a part of Côte-des-Neiges Ro ...

in Montreal. The

Library and Archives Canada Library and Archives Canada (LAC; ) is the federal institution tasked with acquiring, preserving, and providing accessibility to the documentary heritage of Canada. The national archive and library is the 16th largest library in the world. 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'' - 1953 *''

Red Red is the color at the long wavelength end of the visible spectrum of light, next to orange and opposite violet. It has a dominant wavelength of approximately 625–750 nanometres. It is a primary color in the RGB color model and a seconda ...

'' - 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 but does not believe she has. After the child is found dead, a psychiatrist and the mother superior of the convent clash ...

'' - 1985 *'' The Canadian Conspiracy'' - 1985 *'' The Mills of Power (Les Tisserands du pouvoir)'' - 1988

References

External links

*
Gratien Gélinas
at

The Canadian Encyclopedia ''The Canadian Encyclopedia'' (TCE; ) is the national encyclopedia of Canada, published online by the Toronto-based historical organization Historica Canada, with financial support by the federal Department of Canadian Heritage and Society of Com ...

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 Producers of Best Picture Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners