Index of some of the songs in Old-Time Songs And Poetry Of Newfoundland: Songs Of The People From The Days Of Our Forefathers, Editions 1-5 Collected by Gerald S. Doyle [1892-1956] and archived at GEST Songs of Newfoundland and Labrador (V)=Video
(Titles in parentheses are alternate titles from other sources.)
From the cover of Old-Time Songs And Poetry Of Newfoundland: Songs Of The People From The Days Of Our Forefathers:
Songs of FOLKLORE, HUMOR, TRAGEDY and HISTORY, From the Days of Our Forefathers.
Printed by the publishers of THE FAMILY FIRESIDE November, 1927, for Gerald S. Doyle 317 Water Street, St. John's, Nfld.
Excerpted from Junior Achievement Newfoundland and Labrador Business Hall of Fame:
Gerald Stanley Doyle was born on September 26, 1892, in King's Cove, Bonavista Bay, to Captain Thomas and Margaret Doyle. At ten years of age, he moved to St. John's with his family, finished grade eight at St. Patrick's Hall School and apprenticed as a druggist at Wadden's Drug Store on Water Street.
In 1917, Gerald traveled to the seal hunt on the S.S. Njord where he was listed as the ship's doctor. He also traveled the coast of the province distributing patent medicines, and in 1919, he acquired his first agency, the Dr. Chase Medicine Co. The Company initially operated from a 3rd floor walk-up room on Water Street, but Gerald also toured the Caribbean selling these products. In 1929, he incorporated his business activities under the name of Gerald S. Doyle Limited.
The Company developed its own distribution organization throughout the province for a wide range of food, drugs and household products and also manufactured and bottled cod-liver oil. He used his own boat, Miss Newfoundland and later Miss Newfoundland II, to travel the coast and to promote his products. In the 1920s and 1930s, he introduced modern merchandising methods to Newfoundland including point of sale display materials and minimum credit terms. By the mid 1950s, Gerald S. Doyle Limited was distributing products for over 30 manufacturers and was serving 3,000 retailers throughout the province. Gerald also sponsored the Gerald S. Doyle News Bulletin, a radio show provided to the people of Newfoundland through VONF and CBC consisting of a news broadcast, public service announcements, shipping schedules, weather reports and personal messages.
The YouTube video below features a preview for the 2011 documentary, Regarding Our Father, by John W. and Marjorie Doyle about legendary Newfoundlander Gerald S. Doyle, featuring colour films he shot in pre-Confederation Newfoundland and Labrador in the 1930s and 40s.
