Québec Chess Publications

[Ken MacDonald]

A few about which I would like to find more information. Can anyone help?

Club D'Échecs International du Canada/International Chess Club of Canada
I have 2 issues dated March & April 1983. The director was Serge Lacroix. Did this publication end here? It might also be interesting to our Canadian Chess Historians what this club was and what became of it.

Échecs Montréal which was a publication of "La Ligue d'échecs de Montréal." Volume 1, # 1, was published/dated Autumn/Winter, 1976. I have no further issues. Larry Bevand was the 1st in a list of 5 editors. Were further issues published?

Bulletin d'information Échecs Montréal. This also states that it is a publication of "La Ligue d'échecs de Montréal." Volume 1, # 1, was published early (undated) in 1982 with the editors being Christian Fournier and Michel Douville. It ran until volume 2, # 4 (11 issues) and then a loose issue at the end labeled volume 1, # 3, but with information that would fit around the time for a volume 2, # 5 issue. Were further issues published?

Québéchecs which may have had the lineage of a cat.
The 1st issue I have is dated 09/21/1970 called No. 1 (maybe only a photocopy). Then, according to Jon Berry and Hugh Brodie, another run starts with # 1 dated May/1972. I lack # 1-2 and # 3-4 are dated July-August/1972. This run proceeds to June/1973, issue # 12. (Berry/Brodie say no more were published in this run.) Finally, Québéchecs begins again with issue # 1 dated March-April/1978 with the same cover design but a smaller format. It is now listed as a publication of FQE. It runs until changing its name to "Le Petit Roque" with issue # 11, dated May-June/1980. This again changes its name to the current "ÉCHEC +" with issue # 34.

If anyone could provide any missing issues or information on missing issues, I would appreciate an e-mail to jkm@sympatico.ca or a response here.

[Larry Bevand]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

Hi Ken,

With regards to Echecs Montreal only one issue was published. The newspaper La Presse was a sponsor. We sold 250 copies of the first issue in newstands (I don't remember how many we sold to the tournament chess community). When I met with the folks at La Presse...I remember saying something like...250 for the first issue is a reasonable start and no doubt the 2nd issue will generate greater sales.

I learned something that day. The fellow at La Presse said that no...the number of copies sold would probably go down the 2nd time around as some of those sales were to people who were curious and at the end of the day would not buy the 2nd issue.

Larry

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

I have a copy of "Echecs Montreal - Retrospective 1979" - 44 pages, 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, stapled. Editors: Jacques Meloche and Mario Desautels (Ligue d'échecs de Montréal inc.)

It looks like very few of the 50+ games in the publication are in my database, so another job to do.

I have some copies of the Serge Lacroix club publications around somewhere.

I also have issues 1-6 of "Spéchecs" - dated from Dec. 1979 to Hiver 1982 - put out by "Le Spécialiste des échecs".

[Jean-Pierre Rhéaume]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

(...)
Québéchecs which may have had the lineage of a cat.

The 1st issue I have is dated 09/21/1970 called No. 1 (maybe only a photocopy).
Then, according to Jon Berry and Hugh Brodie, another run starts with # 1 dated May/1972.
I lack # 1-2 and # 3-4 are dated July-August/1972. This run proceeds to June/1973, issue # 12.
(Berry/Brodie say no more were published in this run.)

Finally, Québéchecs begins again with issue # 1 dated March-April/1978 with the same cover design but a smaller format.
It is now listed as a publication of FQE. It runs until changing its name to "Le Petit Roque" with issue # 11,
dated May-June/1980. This again changes its name to the current "ÉCHEC +" with issue # 34.

You did a marvellous job ;)

I don't think Québéchecs is (or should be) listed as a publication of FQE, but I could be wrong, as too often I am :(

That chess review was owned, I believe, by Gilles Brodeur,
maybe with Jacques Coco-veut-un-biscuit Labelle :), and Clément docteur-Cosinus Frappier.

I don't have any copy anymore :(

As for "Le Petit Roque", I was the editor of the last 8 issues.

Jean-Pierre JPR Rhéaume

[Roger Patterson]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

I also have a Bulletin D'information published March/April 1977. As it happens, I have two copies so I could send you one. My memory is vague on this, but I believe it was published a number of times in that and the preceeding year. There is no info that I can see on the publisher and/or editor.

Hugh must have some of the other issues - He had a duplicate of this issue, gave it to me (for sentimental reasons) and it turned out when I got home that I already had a copy.

[Roger Patterson]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

pardon me, it does have the publisher: LEM (Ligue D'Echecs De Montreal Inc.)

[Ken MacDonald]

Québec Chess Publications

Roger,

For some reason, I am unable to send you a private message. Please send me an e-mail to jkm@sympatico.ca

Thanks.

[Ken MacDonald]

More Québec Chess Publications........

A couple of informative remarks above sent me into my shelves again and, voila!

Club D'Échecs International du Canada. There are at least 4 issues published. March to June/1983, monthly. Any further?

Spéchecs which seemed to last only 6 issues as stated from 12/1979 to 06/1982.

Rétrospective 1979 Échecs Montréal indeed! Also Rétrospective Les Échecs au Québec 1975 exists. 56pp. in a larger format.

Bulletin D'Information publié par la ligue D'Échecs de Montréal Inc. With Roger's copy, I now see Jan-Fev/1977; Mar/Avr/1977; Mai-Juin-Juillet/1977; Aou-Sept-Oct/1977 issues. Were there any further in this series?

Cahier # 1-2-3 published by Ciné-Chess and Leo Williams was involved in at least the 2nd & 3rd issues. The 1st issue presented some Fischer-Spassky, 1972, games. The 2nd and 3rd issues chose 12 Best Games of the Century. Almost totally diagrams. Very little text. Undated, but obviously not long after the Fischer-Spassky match, 1972.

Not really a periodical, but I have a copy of Leo Williams' Idechec Quinze Parties de Bobby Fischer, undated but the last game is from the 1972 match vs. Spassky.

Le Pion, the granddaddy of them all! Very rare and I have a few copies only. For these, I would be willing to pay $10 plus postage for single copies that I do not have. Published from 1924 to 1926 with 67 numbers (I was told recently). There are also a few items published in the same series but not actual issues. It seems to consist of many results and games from a Montréal Team Chess League as well as international chess news.

I am sure that David Cohen's wonderful website has these items listed. My intention is to determine if any further issues of any of these items were published. Maybe we could also hear of some items of which we are unaware.

[Jean-Pierre Rhéaume]

Re: More Québec Chess Publications........

A couple of informative remarks above sent me into my shelves again and, voila! (...)

Mister MacDonald, I'm sorry if I repeat myself : you do an amazing work.

I'm happy to see somebody making sure the past won't be forgotten.

You make the past as a part of the present.
Since the present will extend to the future,
the past will continue to live in the future.

The Past is the Future ;)

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgur...%3Dfr%26sa%3DN

You're a hero for youngsters like me :)





XX

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

A few more Montreal publications I have found:

1) Souvenir booklet from the 11th Canadian Open Chess Championship (Montreal, 1974) with messages from Roger Lemelin ("La Presse" editor), Montreal mayor Jean Drapeau, the Montreal Chess League, the chief TD (George Koltanowski) and CFC president Kalev Pugi. Entry fees were $12, and $4 (under 1400). $3 more on site. $7500 in prizes. CFC membership was $5.

Larry Bevand was a member of the Organizing Committee, under the category of "Festival".

2) Montreal Chess League constitution (1972).

3) Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Montreal Chess League, June 28, 1972. 10 clubs were represented. Highlights: increase in CFC dues from $2 to $5; the 1974 Canadian Open; "Chess Canada" magazine; "La Presse" arrangements to have the moves of the Fischer-Spassky games transmitted live by teletype or amateur radio to Café Québéchecs; possible sponsorship by Imperial Tobacco, National Trust, and Birk's; the $11 Soviet clocks. A "junior development" committee was set up with André Boisclair, Gilles Brodeur, Larry Bevand (again!), and E. Gregory.

More Canadian publications:

1) Souvenir booklet from the 14th Canadian Open Chess Championship (Fredericton NB, 1977) (TD - Larry Bevand :) )

2) Souvenir booklet from the 15th Canadian Open Chess Championship (Hamilton, 1978) (mostly ads)

3) 1979 Canadian Open (Edmonton) - 5 double-sided pages sent out to participants after the tournament with a crosstable and 30 or 40 games - few of which are in my database.

4) Three bulletins from the 1975 Canadian Open (Calgary). 2 or 3 stapled sheets each - handwritten. Price: 10 cents each. Most (not all) the games are in my database.

5) Chess Canada 1975 Catalogue of Chess Books and Equipment. Chess Informants were $8; My 60 Memorable games (paperback) was $3.50; "chess clocks from the Soviet Union" were $34.50 ("regularly $39.50")(we were getting those big white plastic clocks for about $12 in Montreal)

[Jean-Pierre Rhéaume]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

(...) 3) Minutes of the Executive Committee of the Montreal Chess League, June 28, 1972. 10 clubs were represented. Highlights: increase in CFC dues from $2 to $5; the 1974 Canadian Open; "Chess Canada" magazine; "La Presse" arrangements to have the moves of the Fischer-Spassky games transmitted live by teletype or amateur radio to Café Québéchecs; possible sponsorship by Imperial Tobacco, National Trust, and Birk's; the $11 Soviet clocks. A "junior development" committee was set up with André Boisclair, Gilles Brodeur, Larry Bevand (again!), and E. Gregory. (...)

Hi ! Hugh.

I think the name Café Québéchecs followed "Poste 4" (maybe with another spelling, like "Post'4")
and was followed by "En Passant".

Before that, Gilles Brodeur directed "Académie Québéchecs" on the second floor of the "Librairie Guérin",
on "rue Saint-Denis", north of "avenue du Mont-Royal" (if I named it properly).

You know all that, Hugh, but some ChessTalkers don't.

Jean-Pierre Rhéaume

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

I think "Café Québéchecs" was the successor to a café called "Boite du Village" (which existed at the same time as nearby "Café Morphy" (Roy and St-Denis)) - probably late 1971. (JPR - you know all about the "Morphy"). Since Gilles Brodeur owned the "Québéchecs" trademark, the café changed its name to "Café En Passant" in the mid-1970's (with Robert Drouin as the boss). It lasted until 1981. A café with the same name opened at 5860 (?) St-Hubert from 1986 to the early 1990's.

"Academie Québéchecs" used the space (easily seating 150 players) above the Guérin bookstore (4570 St-Denis - Guérin was also a chessplayer) around 1974-75. The space was subsequently (1976-77) used by the "Association Culturelle Québec-URSS" (located at the Palais du Commerce until 1972 and 6827 St-Hubert from 1972-76) - in whose quarters Arthur Langlois and the "Alekhine Chess Club" met during those years (1969-77). The ACC moved to CEGEP Maisonneuve during its final days (1977-79).

[Jean-Pierre Rhéaume]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

I think "Café Québéchecs" was the successor to a café called "Boite du Village" (which existed at the same time as nearby "Café Morphy" (Roy and St-Denis)) - probably late 1971. (JPR - you know all about the "Morphy"). Since Gilles Brodeur owned the "Québéchecs" trademark, the café changed its name to "Café En Passant" in the mid-1970's (with Robert Drouin as the boss). It lasted until 1981. A café with the same name opened at 5860 (?) St-Hubert from 1986 to the early 1990's.

"Academie Québéchecs" used the space (easily seating 150 players) above the Guérin bookstore (4570 St-Denis - Guérin was also a chessplayer) around 1974-75. The space was subsequently (1976-77) used by the "Association Culturelle Québec-URSS" (located at the Palais du Commerce until 1972 and 6827 St-Hubert from 1972-76) - in whose quarters Arthur Langlois and the "Alekhine Chess Club" met during those years (1969-77). The ACC moved to CEGEP Maisonneuve during its final days (1977-79).

All is well said by our historian, the man of 6 million bytes :)

I wonder how I could have forgotten about "La Boîte du village"

Thank you Hugh. On more levels than one, there is no one to match you.

Jean-Pierre Rhéaume

[Pierre St-Onge]

Re : Re: Québec Chess Publications

Your discussion I find interesting ... it's just that I have a lot of journals dating from the 70s ... A chess canada newsletter ... a magazine Quebechecs no.4 with Kevin spraggett to the front page. ..I also have booklet No.1 Booklet of the game Spassky Fischer and Quebechecs no.8 and no. 12 .... and I also have my membership card of the club Alékhine May 1976 signed by Arthur Langlois and 2 membership cards of the coffee-in-pass 1974-75 signed by a m. Lafortune I believe! ...And I also have the very first reviews Informateur no. 1 2 3 and 4

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Québec Chess Publications

Now that we bring back this thread from ten years ago...

Old issues of "Québéchecs", "Le Petit Roque" and "Echec+" can be downloaded from the FQE site - if you are an FQE member, and you have a password.
http://www.fqechecs.qc.ca/article/revue-echec-archives