Miscellany Toronto Photographs: Then and Now

[thecharioteer]

Gee grandma, what did you do when you were young?

Especially if her name was Jane Dobbins...

 

[thecharioteer]

The other big burlesque house on the block was the Casino, which hosted stars like Gypsy Rose Lee and Sally Rand:

1937:

 

[W. K. Lis]

After I turned 18, did not go in because they allowed smoking inside. Did not smoke, and could only hold my breath so long.

 

[thecharioteer]

South side of Richmond Street East (formerly Duchess Street) between Sherbourne (formerly Caroline Street) and Ontario:

1858:

1924:

Today (approximate):

 

[thecharioteer]

1852: Sketch of a design for laying out the north shore of the Toronto Harbour in pleasure drives walks and shrubbery for the recreation of the citizens

2023:

 

[DSC]

1852: Sketch of a design for laying out the north shore of the Toronto Harbour in pleasure drives walks and shrubbery for the recreation of the citizens

View attachment 462739

2023:

View attachment 462740

Where did you find the 1852 Plan?? Found it: https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/objec...ign-for-laying-out-the-north-shore-of-the-tor

 

[Towered]

There were burlesque theatres west of Bay, which were all demolished for the Sheraton Centre.

View attachment 461937View attachment 461940View attachment 461941View attachment 461942

Even though the architecture is fairly ordinary, I'd much rather have that strip across from city hall than what's there now...

 

[thecharioteer]

Even though the architecture is fairly ordinary, I'd much rather have that strip across from city hall than what's there now...

Certainly would have resulted in more interesting pedestrian traffic:

 

[W. K. Lis]

Certainly would have resulted in more interesting pedestrian traffic:

View attachment 463654View attachment 463655

Grandma!!!

(Earning money to pay for law school?)

 

[DSC]

The Esplanade at Princess, looking east. About 1980

And 2023 with (Waste of) Time & Space at left - the Storage Warehouse is still there, somewhat overshadowed.

 

[Northern Light]

Edward Street, north side, west of Yonge

Then: (1952)

Later:

From Wikipedia's Simon. P. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Biggest_Bookstore#/media/File:World's_Biggest_Bookstore.JPG

Now:

Taken from UT; by poster @AlbertC

 

[W. K. Lis]

Edward Street, north side, west of Yonge

Then: (1952)

View attachment 468433

Later:

View attachment 468436
From Wikipedia's Simon. P. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_Biggest_Bookstore#/media/File:World's_Biggest_Bookstore.JPG

Now:

View attachment 468437
Taken from UT; by poster @AlbertC

Short Circuit 2 (1988) at the bookstore...

 

[flonicky]

Parliament looking west down Howard

Streetview 2009:

2023:

 

[thecharioteer]

Parliament looking west down Howard

Streetview 2009:

View attachment 468527

2023:
View attachment 468528

1910:

1924:

1931:

1957:

1972:

 

[thecharioteer]

Howard Street houses 1913, prior to the construction of Bloor Street east of Sherbourne (as can be seen in the 1910 Goad map):