Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[r937]

albert h wagstaff, i loves you

 

[UserNameToronto]

Was the "Slacks" sign moved over to the right by one store? I swear I can see it peeking out behind the current white sign, but the positioning isn't quite right.

Slacks.

 

[Red October]

For some reason I thought Zanzibar had been around for a while...

 

[Goldie]

A massive sex-change at the Exchange

Toronto Stock Exchange 1935

Now - Toronto Design Exchange (Lululemon Yoga 2012) ------ photo by Jenn Kavanagh

 

[junctionist]

That's not the same building. The first photo is probably from the building that the 1930s landmark replaced.

 

[Goldie]

That's not the same building. The first photo is probably from the building that the 1930s landmark replaced.

Yes, junctionist - my bad!
I should have used this photo (c.1937-9) of the all-male Exchange.

 

[adma]

For some reason I thought Zanzibar had been around for a while...

Are you talking about the present gold-tile-and-neon facade? That's from a Y2K-or-so makeover...

 

[Mustapha]

Goldie, great Now photo of the Exchange yoga class.






Today. End chapter for the former World's Biggest Bookstore:

A sign of its former and original incarnation as a bowling alley:

 

[Long Island Mike]

Yonge Street in the mid 70s and today: Zanzibar stands out...

Then. 'View of storefronts along Yonge Street on the east side, opposite Elm Street. November 4, 1975.'

Now. July 2014.

Mustapha and Everyone:

It is hard to believe that the November 1975 picture is now 39 years ago - the one remaining business that
is still there today is Zanzibar - their sign used today looks better then the older one...

That Ford Pinto in the lower right of the November 1975 picture stands out to me - one of the worst autos
of the 1970s...Today I really like the name of that record store "Play De Record" - I am thinking eastern
European-accented English saying it repeatedly...This makes me think of how I used to like the record
stores on the Yonge Street Strip - A&A's and Sam's were the standouts to me but my personal favorite
was Peter Dunn's Vinyl Museum - looking for that great Canadian music that I was being introduced to -
The Canadian Content Law on radio did have its benefits in helping acts get airplay...Other then PDR
how many record stores remain today in the Yonge/Dundas area?

LI MIKE

On Yonge Street

 

[thecharioteer]

Then. 'View of storefronts along Yonge Street on the east side, oppositek Elm Street. November 4, 1975.'

Now. July 2014.

Interesting how the four Georgian buildings south of the Zanzibar have seemingly decomposed into ground floor space and signage.

 

[Anna]

A sign of it's former and original incarnation as a bowling alley:

Rudy says it's 'its'.

 

[r937]

Rudy says it's 'its'.

only when i'm grumpy

 

[Red October]

Are you talking about the present gold-tile-and-neon facade? That's from a Y2K-or-so makeover...

Whoops, I completely missed the Zanzibar sign in the older picture. A tad more subtle.

 

[Goldie]

Goldie, great Now photo of the Exchange yoga class.

Yes, isn't it? Not mine though. I should have added this credit: photo by Jenn Kavanagh

 

[Mustapha]

..Other then PDR
how many record stores remain today in the Yonge/Dundas area?

LI MIKE

On Yonge Street

Heya LI MIKE,

The only, and not for long, other record store on the Yonge strip, is Sunrise Records. Sunrise was having a going out of business sale a couple weeks ago; dunno if they've shuttered yet, but they will soon.