Evocative Images of Lost Toronto

[thecharioteer]

Also, a highlight of Dominion Day used to be the firework displays in all the local parks. Undoubtedly, that must have added to the draw in Riverdale that night.

 

[Red Mosquito]

Its amazing to me that that many people would come out to observe a military pageant, as late as 1952. It is truly another world--a world where 'Dominion Day' has a very specific meaning for the people of Toronto.

I wonder who did the paintings of Canadian historical scenes in the window of the Chartered Trust Company? No doubt a member 'in good standing' from The Royal Canadian Academy of Arts! I like the Pepsi bottle in the corner of the first one.

It appears that the Chartered Trust windows at 34 King St. West were used for the display and promotion of all sorts of things:

Are the Bloorville Square Apt's the same ones found on the westside of Jarvis and Isabella?

 

[LowPolygon]

.

 

[adma]

Wow, that White Bros sign dominates...

 

[thecharioteer]

Crowds, both indoors and outdoors, for celebrations, rallies, funerals, sporting events, music, celebrities.....

 

[GenerationW]

Crowds, both indoors and outdoors, for celebrations, rallies, funerals, sporting events, music, celebrities.....

Outstanding! Those scenes really show how different society was not that long ago.

 

[Mustapha]

That last picture of HM; I wonder if anyone showed it to her when she was here last week. It has all the elements besides HM; a classic car, a Bay street view, nice old signage...

 

[ElJay]

.

 

[LowPolygon]

Crowds, both indoors and outdoors, for celebrations, rallies, funerals, sporting events, music, celebrities.....

remarkable...
looking at these one is very aware of how unified the body politic was in those days. in that sea of white Christian faces, one sees a city that had an astonishing uniformity, with the power of the church and the crown still firmly in place; a country that is strongly nationalistic, one that placed military service at the center of civic life. i suppose this all started to break apart in the late 1950's and 1960's, with declining church membership, waning enthusiasm for the crown, the rise of anti-militarist social liberalism, the 60's sexual revolutions, and the influx of immigrants bringing in a whole range of cultural and social influences that would make Toronto another kind of "People City".

 

[thecharioteer]

remarkable...
looking at these one is very aware of how unified the body politic was in those days. in that sea of white Christian faces, one sees a city that had an astonishing uniformity, with the power of the church and the crown still firmly in place; a country that is strongly nationalistic, one that placed military service at the center of civic life. i suppose this all started to break apart in the late 1950's and 1960's, with declining church membership, waning enthusiasm for the crown, the rise of anti-militarist social liberalism, the 60's sexual revolutions, and the influx of immigrants bringing in a whole range of cultural and social influences that would make Toronto another kind of "People City".

True, but Toronto was not as homogenous as many of these pictures imply, and in spite of the Orange establishment, certainly Roman Catholics played a large role in the early cultural and religious life of the city. Eventually, so did the waves of immigrants arriving towards the end of the 19thC, including eastern European Jews, Italians, Greeks, and Chinese. Their presence is not often felt in the archival material. Remember also that even in photos such as war rallies, royal visits and political events, these were all events that often transcended the differences within the citizenry.

Italian family 1913:

Italian Mothercraft 82-84 Gerrard 1916:

Mrs. Josephine Ciccone 1936:

Mrs. Pieirina Gargarella and Mrs. Josephine Ciccone make tomato paste in their back yard - [ca. 1936]

Johnny Lombardi Italian Records (1960's?):

In the Ward:

Chinese couple:

Chinese parade, Queen Street 1962 (Ontario Archives)

1900:

Art class 1939:

 

[adma]

You know, I don't trust those two on the right of the photo. Kinda like they'd fit me for concrete shoes or something

 

[thecharioteer]

Oy vey, adma, I think you've seen too many reruns of "The Sopranos".

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

What was the shoe size again sir?

(LOL)

Regards,
J T

 

[LowPolygon]

its the Ray Bans. everybody looks cool in them.

 

[Long Island Mike]

Right Out of Brooklyn? No,That's Toronto!

You know, I don't trust those two on the right of the photo. Kinda like they'd fit me for concrete shoes or something

Everyone: I looked at this picture and thought that it was right out of an Italian neighborhood in the NYC area...but the sign mentioning Maple Leaf Gardens was the Toronto tipoff basically...that station wagon in the picture looks mid 60s to me and as Adma noticed I will bet that those guys in the picture had "connections" perhaps...and you would not want to mess with them.

Observations from LI MIKE