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Colourful characters from the past

They wore tweedy jackets, were fairly bald ... and a bit drooly in a harmless sort of way. Unlikely to be the heart and soul of the party.
 
I used to see the Slow Twins in the Spadina subway station almost every morning. Normally they walk together, but occasionally one will walk far behind the other looking grouchy and muttering to himself. Perhaps there was a disagreement of some sort on those mornings.

I call them The Hobbits.
 
The whole sordid tale of the Slow Twins is coming together:

1) Genesis in Riverdale.
2) Schism in Spadina.
3) Singular in the West End.
 
Mustapha said:
On Yonge street in the 60s there was a stout blonde lady about 40 years old that wore a Viking helmet - with horns - with her hair in two braids on each side of her head. She wore a placard extolling Swedish socialism.

A couple weeks ago outside the Eaton Centre's Queen entrance there was a Asian girl of about 18 dressed in some sort of - I think - Japanese costume that resembled something that a small girl would wear - pink smock with black leggings. She was singing something very high pitched.
Click to expand...

She was actually Latvian though her sandwich board did say King, NDP, Sweden. She also had a fine array of harem outfits, including harem winter wear. I know I have a postcard of her somewhere. She was quite incoherent when engaged in conversation.
 
Mustapha said:
On Yonge street in the 60s there was a stout blonde lady about 40 years old that wore a Viking helmet - with horns - with her hair in two braids on each side of her head. She wore a placard extolling Swedish socialism.
Click to expand...

Funny, I was wondering recently what became of the Queen of Sweden. Around 30 years ago we would cross paths often, generally in the Bloor-Yonge area and once in a while I'd see her on the subway.

Eventually she said something to me as I passed Holt Renfrew on Bloor - she said "you make your living .... " and trailed off so that I couldn't hear her.

I asked her to repeat herself, and she did. She said "you make your living with your ass". Honestly, that's what she said to me.
 
Anyone remember the lady wearing a flowing white robe who stood at main intersections in North York flashing peace signs during the 70's and 80's?
 
That could be the woman that I remember as Queen of the Parkway. She would stand on bridges over the DVP and her appearance was enough to create massive traffic jams.Traffic reporters would just say that traffic was snarled due to a "visual distraction". Does anyone know if she had a grievance... or was just having "fun"?
 
What about "The Sneezer", and then the artist that painted sillouettes

of people at the entrance to many of the city lanes?

Then there was the "Walker", an older woman with great legs and a

short skirt that could be seen almost anywhere south of Eglinton.


Regards,
J T
 
Last edited:
The waving lady has put a few hexes on me over the years but I think they're starting to wear off.

There is also a very serious-looking black guy, about 24 yo, who walks around in a ratty blond wig and white makeup. I usually see him on Yonge street anywhere from The Eaton Centre to Bloor Street. I wouldn't really call him a drag queen, since I've never seen him in a dress or full makeup. Maybe he's slowly working his way into it. I'd drop the white face paint and maybe get a new wig but who am I too be giving out beauty tips to drag dolls. lol
 
Torontovibe said:
The waving lady has put a few hexes on me over the years but I think they're starting to wear off.

There is also a very serious-looking black guy, about 24 yo, who walks around in a ratty blond wig and white makeup. I usually see him on Yonge street anywhere from The Eaton Centre to Bloor Street. I wouldn't really call him a drag queen, since I've never seen him in a dress or full makeup. Maybe he's slowly working his way into it. I'd drop the white face paint and maybe get a new wig but who am I too be giving out beauty tips to drag dolls. lol
Click to expand...

This guy lives around the corner from me on the edge of the village.

Not only that, there's two of these people with the white face makeup.

I interviewed a girl a few years ago with the whole routine as well. I can't tell if its an unpopular cult or just a shared psychosis.
 
Sorry to resurrect such an old thread but I just remembered another colourful character. There was a guy named Handy Andy who owned a dry cleaner at Dundas and Logan. The window of his shop was filled with political slogans and his beat up old station wagon was plastered with Radiation, Biohazard and Keep Back stickers. Does anyone else remember this guy?
BTW, I had a Raoul, The World's Greatest Dancer sighting at Bloor and Bathurst a couple weeks back.
 
"Sorry to resurrect such an old thread"
QUOTE Humpday.

It is "Humpday", but for not very much longer. (11:49 PM)

No problem, "Colourful Characters" can be a delight or, or, .........

I remember the store, s/s of Gerrard, east of Logan, but never had a reason/want to go there.


Regards,
J T
 
Speaking of Toronto's colourful characters
[video=youtube;cJGtgZ8mnOs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJGtgZ8mnOs[/video]
 
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