Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[Goldie]

Ge Davenport Works

Thanks for your efforts on the GE Davenport Works photo.
I'm amazed that Lansdowne has changed so much.
Fifty-seven years ago there were no trees!
I really must try to visit and see those changes for myself.

Are you able to post a larger file of the photo showing the building?
I'd like to incorporate it into my montage. Thanks.

 

[Mustapha]

Thanks, I really enjoyed the NorthYork photo, past and present.

You're welcome, and Hello.

I've started work on my cunning plan to usurp you

Usurp. What a word. Sounds like a belch. Another cruel word is lisp. Who put the 's' in it to describe the condition?

Happy Summer Solstice to all the Druids here at UT.

June 22 addition. Bay and Queen, looking SW at Queen.

 

[adma]

At the risk of getting knocked down, you should have positioned yourself in the middle of Bay St a little further to the right.

 

[Mustapha]

At the risk of getting knocked down, you should have positioned yourself in the middle of Bay St a little further to the right.

Must make pub visit after photography. Must make pub visit after photography. Give me a few days to get retake the pic, the days are longer now.

 

[CityPlaceN1]

I love how Queen looked like Yonge Street in those days. The Sheraton really killed that side of the street.

 

[Edward Skira]

Yonge looking S from Princess.

Does anyone remember the old Willow theatre up in this section of town?

http://www.corusradio.com/home/FunStuff/JohnDerringerBlog/tabid/235/id/6529/m/1/y/2008/Default.aspx

I have fond memories of The Willow Theatre which was three or four blocks north of this photo. Two recent movies (say six months old) for $2.50. This was the early 80's. Me and a buddy would go to the LCBO at Northtown Plaza and bring in a mickie of vodka. Buy a couple of cokes and get blasted. A few times we went out during intermission to reload at the LCBO. Saw Hannah and Her Sisters at least twice in this condition and to this day don't remember how the movie ends.

We actually snuck in one night after it was closed for demolition to check it out. We totally forgot that there was a police station across the street. Within 5 minutes of us walking on the roof we had 5 police cars surrounding the building. They let us go with a warning.

 

[Mustapha]

I'm amazed that Lansdowne has changed so much.
Fifty-seven years ago there were no trees!
I really must try to visit and see those changes for myself.

Hope you can visit soon, Goldie. 57 years is a looo-ong time.

I love how Queen looked like Yonge Street in those days. The Sheraton really killed that side of the street.

Quite the discussion on this photo that first appeared in thedeepend's mass posting of Toronto colour pics:
http://www.urbantoronto.ca/showthread.php?t=9241&page=2





June 23 addition.

Bathtime.

For you noobs of urban history, some of early Toronto's accommodations didn't have baths. They might have been outdoors, and unusable in winter. For example, as a boy, I spent time visiting an only recently demolished two floor office building on the south side of Foster Place (just N of New City Hall running off Elizabeth). At the time (1950s) the office was a benevolent association for Chinese families and several old men lived upstairs. There was a toilet but no bath and these men used public bath houses.

 

[Goldie]

I love that old photo of Queen St., opposite the site of the New City Hall.
Which of the two theatres seen in that photo was once the famous Casino burlesque house?

 

[Mustapha]

The 'Festival' was the old 'Casino'. I must say I don't have good memories of it. Was dragged there by parents when they showed Cantonese operas by parents intent on teaching this Banana some Chinese.

 

[Mustapha]

At the risk of getting knocked down, you should have positioned yourself in the middle of Bay St a little further to the right.

Fixed, hope it's ok, I put a bit of a wider angle on the Now shot.

 

[Mustapha]

June 24 addition.

Queen and Ontario, NW corner. No corner Now.

 

[Aladone]

Any Takers?

I love that old photo of Queen St., opposite the site of the New City Hall.
Which of the two theatres seen in that photo was once the famous Casino burlesque house?

Any takers on mixing the two if you havent started already? Andrew, Goldie? If not can I? It looks like a possible good mix...

 

[Goldie]

Broadway

Here's my version:

 

[Mustapha]

Here's my version:

A beaut. This one is going in my dining room.

 

[Northern Light]

My thanks

My thanks to Mustapha for an incredible thread. It both takes me back to my own childhood, but also that of my parents. Wonderful.

****

As I haven't commented in this thread, at least for a long while....

A few catch-ups...

The old theatre shots.

- I miss the Hyland the Uptown, the Eglinton, the Hollywood, all of which were favourite places for a quiet sunday movie or a Friday date night throughout the 1990's

- I never got to see the University, my parents didn't take me before they tore it down!

- That strip of Queen opposite City Hall wasn't much to look at; but still better than Sheraton and parking ramp. I don't know if this block is fixable w/o tearing it all down again and starting over.

- Does anyone have shots of the original Beach Cinema (interiors esp.)? (currently a run down mini-mall) my mom always raved about it; but it was nothing to look at by the time I was a tyke!