Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[Goldie]

Back in the day, when I actually followed sports:

Yes, Mustapha. It's also back in the day when I thought I knew the names of goalies - isn't that Johnnie Bower?

 

[Mustapha]

Isn't that where Harold Ballard's buried?

Now you've done it; his disciples will hold memorialisations there. He had quite the following you know; charismatic man that he was.

 

[Mustapha]

I still think Loblaws should keep a couple of foam hockey sticks hanging from that wood post. Who wouldn't want to be photographed facing off at centre ice at the Gardens?

Good idea. Anybody here up for a re-creation? A couple of small kids with foam hockey sticks and puck would make for a charming picture.

 

[Mustapha]

Yes, Mustapha. It's also back in the day when I thought I knew the names of goalies - isn't that Johnnie Bower?

It is. He would walk along Carlton in the 1960s and nod his head and smile at you if he caught you looking at him. He did for this boy. A great man and player.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"Now you've done it; his disciples will hold memorialisations there. He had quite the following you know; charismatic man that he was."
QUOTE Mustapha.

"Pal Hal" was a good man.

Regards,
J T aka The Undertaker.

 

[Mustapha]

Then and Now for Dec 14.


Then c1915. 373 Yonge. Big Nickle Theatre. I assume this was the price of admission, or a metaphorical reference to same. Picture sourced by wwwebster.

Now. July 2011. This was a movie house up until as recently as about 1995 I think. Who can tell me the final name it went by?

 

[thecharioteer]

It became the Rio (but apparently was also known as the National Theatre in its early days):

1985 (from http://silenttoronto.com/?tag=yonge-street-cinemas)

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I wonder if The Big Nickel was demolished and rebuilt as The National Theatre (later the Rio) or if it's the original building?

 

[mattelderca]

Then and Now for Dec 14.

Now. July 2011. This was a movie house up until as recently as about 1995 I think. Who can tell me the final name it went by?

It still appears to be a theatre, 6 cinemas, and still showing the same kind of films as it did in the Rio days.

 

[Mississauga Slim]

I think it's the original building. That centre window on the second level seems consistent throughout all phases.

 

[bkeith]

Good idea. Anybody here up for a re-creation? A couple of small kids with foam hockey sticks and puck would make for a charming picture.

I suggest a flash mob of two whole teams plus referees.

 

[dt_toronto_geek]

I used go to the Rio occasionally in the late 70's & 80's. It was a dirty, dumpy grind house cinema that always smelled funky and they had a pretty loose policy of allowing homeless types to drink, sleep and snore the hours away. It wasn't a porn cinema though they often threw in a heavily censored/soft core skin flick into the program but by and large they played action, horror & thrillers. They are now using what used to be the projection suite as six small rooms for showing adult films. I preferred the Biltmore just down the street as an alternative, similar type of programming but a better place to waste the day watching A, B & Z-grade films.

 

[thecharioteer]

I preferred the Biltmore just down the street as an alternative, similar type of programming but a better place to waste the day watching A, B & Z-grade films.

Ah, the Biltmore.....

 

[Mustapha]

I suggest a flash mob of two whole teams plus referees.

Don't forget the whistles.

 

[Mustapha]

"The Rio". Thank you thecharioteer. Great night time pictures. The old incandescent and neon lighting; and plenty of it; made for a magical evening stroll on Yonge as recently as twenty years ago, if you didn't mind the grittiness of it all..