Happy Dinosaur Lovers Day!
In 1934 John Kanerva began his life’s work, building the first of more than 50 life-sized dinosaurs at the Calgary Zoo. They were cutting edge, but soon science progressed and made the models obsolete. They were replaced with models made from the Sinclair Oil Exhibit dinosaurs (1964-65 New York World's Fair) in 1983. Today, only one of the original dinosaurs remains. "Dinny", a brontosaurus, was declared an Alberta Historical Resource in 1987.
There is very little information about the Lost Dinosaurs of St. George's Island.
2004 Artist Trust Auction, Seattle
3" x 5" acrylic on wood
Your information regarding Dinny the Dinosaur in Calgary, Alberta is wrong. Sinclair Oil copied Dinny as their so-called 'Mascot' and I have the proof to make this statement.
Posted by: Roger Vickers | March 30, 2006 at 03:31 PM
I was under the impression that Dinny is the only Kanerva dinosaur left at the zoo and the rest are Sinclair replacements. Is this not true?
Posted by: Kipling | March 30, 2006 at 08:56 PM
Whoever you are, you're dead wrong about Dinny and John Kanerva; my Grandfather. Dinny is the last remaining concrete Dinosaur at the Zoo. All the other concrete reptiles were destroyed; that's fact. However, the statement that replicas of Grandad's work came from Sinclair Oil is nonesense. That's a fact. Do you know who named Dinny? Do you know how high Dinny is? Do you know how long Dinny is and how much it weighs? Did you know that Dinny is hollow? Do you know John's secret ingredient in his concrete mix? Do you know the name of the company who restored Dinny in August, 1987? Did you know that a person who worked for Sinclair Oil visited the Zoo and pilfered Dinny's design and copied it for their (Sinclair Oils) own logo 'Dino'? Typical rumours and theft are common to Americans. Do you want to find out all the FACTS? You'll have to wait until the documentary about my Grandfather is published by a Calgarian who has all the facts! That's a fact too.
Posted by: W. Knerva | March 31, 2006 at 08:59 AM
Hey cool, there's going to be a documentary? Awesome. When? Who is producing it?
Posted by: Kipling | March 31, 2006 at 09:31 AM
Ladies, please!
Nowhere in Kipling's blurb does it say that Sinclair made replicas from Kanerva's models. If Sinclair did indeed base their logo on Dinny's design, that's very interesting.
The Kanerva dinos were indeed destroyed in 1983 (except for Dinny, thankfully) and the initial replacements in the "new improved" dinosaur park across the river were indeed made from casts of the 60's World's Fair models, specifically the Tyrannosaurus, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus and Struthiomimus models. Check out your old mid-60's issues of National Geographic magazine for the double page Sinclair ads if you don't believe me. The original World's Fair models had some moving parts, such the Tyrannosaus jaw and the Triceratops head, which are absent on the fiberglass replicas. The fact that these replacements were touted at the time as as being more "up-to-date" than the old Kanerva models is a telling reflection on the fact that Calgary often has tended to not have a whole lot of regard for its cool old stuff. By '83, in paleontology circles, the old World's Fair models were regarded as no more accurate than the old Kanerva ones. At least the Kanerva models were made locally by a native Calgarian.
I think Kipling's painting is a really nice tribute to the hard work that John Kanerva put into the original prehistoric park. I grew up here and I have fond memories of it which were brought back by this piece, which she got the inspiration for from one of my old postcards. I find it sad that there are so many people in this city nowadays that have no idea that the park even existed.
Posted by: Sgt. Blowstack | March 31, 2006 at 10:24 AM
Boy, some of you folks just don't get a grip on the truth. Blabber mouth calls my Grandpa a native Calgarian. John was born in Jyvaskyla, Finland on January 6, 1883. Further, there were no 'casts' from New Yankee Land; a local exhibit company in Calgary made them. The documentary will indeed contain more than my Grandad, and the truth will prevail. You can thank Cal Abrahamson for saving Dinny from the 'wrecking ball.' As far as this BLOG goes, I'm going to call the author who's doing all the hard work to disclose the FACTS. He'll surely get a laugh from this BS.
Posted by: W. Kanerva | March 31, 2006 at 02:20 PM
Point taken re: Kanerva not being a "native" (SORRY, WRONG TERM). I was making a case that at least the dinosaurs were designed and constructed by a "local artisan" (there, how's that?). Hell, at least I'm saying that your grandad's dinos were more interesting the New Yankee Land World's Fair-based ones that showed up in their stead. Casts or not, they are direct copies. And yes, many thanks to Cal Abrahamson for saving Dinny!
Glad to hear that somebody is doing something to document all this properly, otherwise "BS" like this will continue to perpetuate.
Posted by: Blabber Mouth | March 31, 2006 at 03:11 PM
Hi 'Blabber Mouth.' I just got off the phone speaking with the person who's writing the documentary. He's having a laughing fit at your remarks. We know where all the destroyed Reptiles that Grandpa hand-sculptured are - do you? He's got the post card you referenced on his computer station right in front of his eyes. Now, here's hint: Get yourself a copy of 'The Lost World' by Arthur Conan Doyle. Then, try to locate PML Exhibits who made all the fibreglass Dinosaurs you reference. Then,contact the NFB and get a VHS titled: 'John Kanerva - the man who creates Monsters.' It costs $12.00 + S & H. It's too bad we can't attach a few pictures of all Grandad's sketches, scale-models made from plaster of paris, and hand carved larger scale-models from a block of wood that he used to build his 'Monsters.' Spookey eh!
Posted by: W. Kanerva | March 31, 2006 at 04:39 PM
Glad somebody out there finds me amusing! That's wonderful that the original sketches and models your grandad did still exist, and I'd love to know where the destroyed reptiles reside (inside Dinny's tummy?). Feel free to email me directly if you can send some scans! I really love the work that Mr. Kanerva did, and I recall how disappointed I was by the initial replacement models in the new park.
Posted by: Blabber Mouth | March 31, 2006 at 05:09 PM
I'll talk it over with the fellow who's taken on this task tomorrow and get his advice. Some of Grandpa's work is with the Lions. Okay?
Posted by: W. Kanerva | March 31, 2006 at 08:10 PM
Wow. Where does all this anger come from, Mr. Kanerva? I painted that piece as a tribute to your grandfather's work, not as a mockery! The information I posted was from the very, very little I could find online. I'm glad someone is doing a documentary on his work, I would be quite interested in seeing it.
I apologize if my painting has upset you, that certainly was never my intent. I also would love to see sketches and scale models, I'm happy these exist! Are these in a private collection or somewhere the public can visit?
Posted by: Kipling | March 31, 2006 at 10:44 PM
I've had a in-depth talk with the fellow who's writing about my Grandfather. He has requested me to ask a couple of questions and hope that Kipling nor anyone will be offended. And please, don't send him an e-mail as he's bogged with work on this project.
Why do you think it's important to write the facts about John and Dinny? Do you think this project will finally give my Grandfather the credit that has been ignored all these years? And, do you think the general public will find this interesting enough to read when it's finished?
When all the non-technical pieces of the puzzle are documented, the Author would like to see this work become part of the educational system. Would you rather see our children learn about history and play with toy Dinosaurs, or give them toy guns to play war? Did you know there's another Dinny? Check this: www.cabazondinosaurs.com
Thanks to everyone, we're very grateful for your help! PS: When the chronological story is on paper - you'll be surprised at the outcome!
Posted by: W. Kanerva | April 02, 2006 at 04:16 PM
I think it would make a very interesting story of a piece of Calgary history that seems to have disappeared; as a newcomer here I'd like to see more of the older story of the place, since it's pretty obvious the city is big on redeveloping everything (and making it as generic as possible). How interesting a story of course depends on how it's told; I think most people would like a lot of illustrations; photos of the original dinosaurs, diagrams of the models, pictures of people working on the park...you know what they say about a thousand words. Of course, that's my bias as an artist, too. Lots to look at! And if it's to be used as an educational resource, the more informative you can get your images, the better.
As far as what kids play with...I doubt you'll ever get them to stop playing with guns (my mom tried that, and my brothers discovered sticks). I've seen kids playing with toy guns AND toy dinosaurs though. Kids are pretty much gonna play with whatever is around and interesting to play with. It's the job of the grownups to tell them what those things mean.
Posted by: Kipling | April 06, 2006 at 05:07 PM
Well, I'm sure glad to see that hideous painting finally going into oblivion. I'll share something with you so you'll understand why we're upset. On the Bronze Comemorative Plaque shown in Dinny's Diary in June, 1974, it says: John Kanerva constructed 'Dinny' our world-famous Brontosaurus in 1985. On the Site Data Plan, it clearly states the 'Dinny' was built in 1987. Another blunder which makes the plaque meaningless. My thanks to the man who's doing the research and writing the documentary about my Grandfather. By the way, I'll share another morsel with you. It didn't take the writer much effort to start his research; he used the white pages in the telephone directory as a starting point. And, there's lots of sketches of Grandads, 48 at last count. Your in for some big surprises!
Thanks for trying, at least you made an effort.
Posted by: W. Kanerva | May 04, 2006 at 06:25 PM
Uh...are you calling my painting hideous? Correct me if I'm wrong. That's not really the right way to go about getting people on your side, you know. And don't forget, I don't need to post your replies in this thread; if you become rude it's very easy to delete your comments.
Posted by: Kipling | May 04, 2006 at 08:57 PM
Absolutely, your paining is not only hideous; it's outragous. We certainly don't need abrasive people like you on our side who claim to be an artist and also distort the truth. Obviously, you are a person who wears blinders like a horse. Unwilling to admit that your basing your information on speculation instead of fact! You'd make a good politician and hope you delete our comments. Then it becomes a one-sided opinion; yours, and your's alone. We prefer diplomacy rather than throwing stones and won't stoop to your level hiding in the shadows waiting for another person like my Father-in-law and our Grandfather to pounce on. Our beloved John had a favorite saying: "I know what I know." Well Kipper, "we know what we know too." And now, enough is enough! Farewell.
Posted by: Mary, John & Bill Kanerva | May 05, 2006 at 09:32 AM
Ok, my bi-polar and multi-personalitied pal, this has all become tiresome. You can now stop checking this page several times a day, and go on your merry way, leaving me to my hideous and outrageous art creation.
Don't let the door hit ya where the Good Lord split ya.
Posted by: kipling | May 05, 2006 at 10:27 AM
And here I thought "hideous" was supposed to be a good thing!
Posted by: Tomb | May 05, 2006 at 10:42 AM
Quote: I'll share something with you so you'll understand why we're upset. On the Bronze Comemorative Plaque shown in Dinny's Diary in June, 1974, it says: John Kanerva constructed 'Dinny' our world-famous Brontosaurus in 1985. On the Site Data Plan, it clearly states the 'Dinny' was built in 1987. Another blunder which makes the plaque meaningless.
Whoa! I'd be upset too - the space/time continuum has been torn asunder by the Dinny flap-doodle and all of our minds are melting into a cosmic vortex of fourth dimensional chaos! That's a fact! I hope the truth comes out about this; surely we will all be in for a shocking surprise!
Posted by: Wee-Bone Talker | May 05, 2006 at 11:47 AM
Good grief, in one thread this guy has managed to ruin any fondness I've ever had with my childhood love of that park. Now, every time I look at my old pictures, I'm going to think about the smugly, self-important grandson of Kanerva and how he so badly wanted some of the attention his grandfather had.
Rather than maybe correcting some of your information, adding a little to it to draw more interest for this so called documentry, he's instead made me want to avoid this project at all costs because of his rantings and rudness. Granted, if it ever is made I suspect it'll be some Canada Council Grant thing that no-one will see anyway, and THAT'S A FACT!
Posted by: Beans | May 05, 2006 at 12:13 PM
Jeeeeeeezus H Christ W. Kanerva, you sound like one big fat psycho. That is a fact and I have the proof to prove it right here on this blog.
Posted by: Sally Waxerton-McBumperbottoms | May 05, 2006 at 12:35 PM