Toronto Then and Now...

[Emancipated]

http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.php?t=6947&page1

Currently on page 3 and this is the only site I recognized so far.

Queen and Broadview then and now...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/fo1231_f1231_it0641.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/DSCF0846.jpg

So many memories from that 7-Eleven directly in front of the Jilly's bar where I've spent a small fortune on junk food and their god only know's how old hot dogs as I wait for the 504 Street Car to come and take me to school at Withrow :(

Seeing the transformation is so humbling.

[aidan24]

Imagine you can go back in time 50 yrs. wow.

[Emancipated]

Imagine you can go back in time 50 yrs. wow.

There's always imagination until we can finally bend time/space.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/fo1231_f1231_it2047-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/DSCF1119.jpg

Didn't realize that building was so old. It's amazing how these buildings withstood the test of time with so little refurbishment, if at all. Some have newer awnings but remain pretty much untouched.

[Emancipated]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/fo1257_ser1057_f1257_s1057_it0738.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/DSCF1281.jpg

That's pretty cool how it is slanting the other way after 60 years. Next time I'm around that area, I'll touch the brick foundations and know that I've touched a piece of history.

[nator86]

yea that thread is amazing. Seen it before, but its pretty crazy how things have changed. I think in that thread you can see inside how some of the houses used to be...some nasty looking toilets.

[Emancipated]

Am I interpreting these images right? We had tracks on Spadina before and they took them away only to reintroduce them recently?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/ser71_s0071_it2328.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/DSCF1349.jpg

[Mattones]

These are pretty cool.

[jackwest]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/fo1257_ser1057_f1257_s1057_it0738.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v176/JeffLow/DSCF1281.jpg

That's pretty cool how it is slanting the other way after 60 years. Next time I'm around that area, I'll touch the brick foundations and know that I've touched a piece of history.

1. its not slanting any direction, the photograph is taken at an angle?
2. from the photographs, clearly much of the structure has been changed, what do you intend to touch?

[Emancipated]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee140/laserboy_TO/yonge-and-queen-1949.jpg

Amazing how much work is involved in making this road. I'm guessing this is around the time they were building the Yonge Line?

notation: Yonge at Shuter, facing south (1949)

[goob3r]

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee140/laserboy_TO/yonge-and-queen-1949.jpg

Amazing how much work is involved in making this road. I'm guessing this is around the time they were building the Yonge Line?

notation: Yonge at Shuter, facing south (1949)

You could have seen the same thing when the Sheppard line was being built...

[originalnutta]

1. its not slanting any direction, the photograph is taken at an angle?
2. from the photographs, clearly much of the structure has been changed, what do you intend to touch?

And that pic is not as old as the rest of the series. Look at the cars and people. Looks like maybe 40's

[AirCarnivore]

I also follow this thread on urbantoronto, here are a series of pics (I'd rather not post the "now" pics :D). All of the following pics are from around 1987-1988

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1460/1yongeandtemperance.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/6505/2yongeandtemperance.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2064/3temperanceandbay.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/9194/4adelaidenne.jpg

http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/335/5yongeandwellington.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/7510/6richmondsse.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/8760/6wellingtonsse.jpg

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/1281/8yongeandadelaide.jpg

http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/1435/8yongeandqueen.jpg

[Emancipated]

I feel like Scott Bakula looking at these pictures.

[Takami]

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2064/3temperanceandbay.jpg

I remember my folks freaked out a little bit when an old brand like Simpsons manages to go out of business in 1990. It was also like Eaton/Bay going out of business.

I bet some people here have never heard of that store.

[Emancipated]

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/2064/3temperanceandbay.jpg

I remember my folks freaked out a little bit when an old brand like Simpsons manages to go out of business in 1990. It was also like Eaton/Bay going out of business.

I bet some people here have never heard of that store.

There was on at Gerrard Square, I believe. Sort of evolved into Zellers, if memory serves.

EDIT: was the downtown The Bay location previously known as Simpson's during 80's before they resigned to the parent company's name? I seem to recall shopping at Eaton's then walk across the to Simpson's ... I can't remember.

EDIT2: seems it was.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simpsons_(department_store)

[AirCarnivore]

That Simpson's was the filming location of the show Today's Special, a great kids show that ran from I believe 1981-1987 (episodes can be found on youtube).

[Emancipated]

That Simpson's was the filming location of the show Today's Special, a great kids show that ran from I believe 1981-1987 (episodes can be found on youtube).

I forgot about that show. Thanks for reminding me of it. I use to love watching it on TVO.

[AirCarnivore]

I forgot about that show. Thanks for reminding me of it. I use to love watching it on TVO.

Yeah it was real good, I liked Nerene Virgin!

Now onto my favourite building in the city, Scotia Plaza:

http://img42.imageshack.us/img42/9016/scotiaplazaconstruction.jpg

http://img268.imageshack.us/img268/9529/scotiaplaza1987.jpg

http://img39.imageshack.us/img39/9069/scotia1987.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/1620/scotiaplazalate80s.jpg

http://img200.imageshack.us/img200/6785/1scotiaplaza1988.jpg

[Qbit]

Wow how could people drive those boats around?

Am I interpreting these images right? We had tracks on Spadina before and they took them away only to reintroduce them recently?

Pick any arterial road in the central area of the old City of Toronto and there were probably streetcar tracks on them at some point. Some of the tracks are still there under the asphalt.

[Talamasca]

I love looking at old pictures of Toronto. I always find it interesting to see the differences and similarities. I find it fascinating how EVERYONE wore hats back then.

[CSR]

Everything seemed so dull and gloomy lol

[sxz]

Everything seemed so dull and gloomy lol

You say that like Toronto today is any different.

[CSR]

I'd say it's a little more vibrant... must be the billboards and neon lights. Advertisements.

http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/yonge_dundas_1.jpg

[Emancipated]

I'd say it's a little more vibrant... must be the billboards and neon lights. Advertisements.

http://www.joeydevilla.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/yonge_dundas_1.jpg

For a moment, I thought that was an art album cover; the collage effect. Didn't realize we're so Frankenstiened now. Reminds me of the movie Blade Runner where every nook and cranny is filled with a cacophony of advertising.

Wow. Just wow.

[AirCarnivore]

Everything seemed so dull and gloomy lol

Don't let the old camera film fool you, Toronto was great back then!

All those ads in that yonge and dundas pic look ATROCIOUS (atleast the pic is photoshopped, but yonge and dundas is still a major eye sore in person).

[thelefteyeguy]

[url]
So many memories from that 7-Eleven directly in front of the Jilly's bar where I've spent a small fortune on junk food and their god only know's how old hot dogs as I wait for the 504 Street Car to come and take me to school at Withrow :(

Seeing the transformation is so humbling.

woh...you went to Withdow...me too!...it's been like 3 decades tho...

[at1212b]

Emancipated: Wicked pics and topic. Just can't get enough of it. I always say that I want to head down to the Toronto archives someday and just see what else is there. And yes, there is a interesting story behind Spadina St. When they did the reconstruction in the 90's, they were going back to the way it was before, with the streetcar tracks in the middle, lined with trees though.

AirCarnivore: Awesome pics from 87-88. That was the time when I first started having real memories and recollections of downtown Toronto. Having a family business right downtown (which I still do), gave me ample opportunity to explore the city. I miss the overall consistency the city had back then and that it was a real place to live. The explosion of the suburbs/gta definitely have made downtown more of just a destination or a place where certain types of people want to live.

I also find pictures from the mid-80's extremely interesting, as many of the scenes, streets and stores seem quite familiar in many ways, yet it is extremely difficult to actually identify where it is (many of the stores, parking lots seem like they could still be around, but the changes, ie Simpsons, the old cluttered Canadian Tire, many of the corner stores make it difficult)

[3weddings]

Thanks for pointing me in that thread's direction. Just spent a couple of hours peeking. The kids now have an interest in the archives too!

Loved the hybrids posted...anyone else enjoy them?

[gei]

Am I interpreting these images right? We had tracks on Spadina before and they took them away only to reintroduce them recently?
c'mon dude.... nearly every semi-major city in north america had their streets covered in tracks before the birth of the automobile. nearly every canadian city you can probably think of had them too.

once the car came along, the tracks were all ripped up so they could pave the roads and make them nicer for cars.... it was thought that streetcars were no longer necessary. not to mention all the rail lines that were ripped up.

Toronto is one of the few cities that had the foresight to save some of their streetcar network.

[Emancipated]

woh...you went to Withdow...me too!...it's been like 3 decades tho...

Probably missed each other by a hair width. Class of '89?

c'mon dude.... nearly every semi-major city in north america had their streets covered in tracks before the birth of the automobile. nearly every canadian city you can probably think of had them too.

once the car came along, the tracks were all ripped up so they could pave the roads and make them nicer for cars.... it was thought that streetcars were no longer necessary. not to mention all the rail lines that were ripped up.

Toronto is one of the few cities that had the foresight to save some of their streetcar network.

Makes sense. In some ways I'm still that little kid from a village back home.

[Pete Jones]

There's a really interesting photo essay on the web where someone found some pictures taken by a Japanese person in Toronto on Business in 1977 and then proceeded to duplicate those pictures 30 years later.

Check this out:

http://electro.aminus3.com/image/2007-07-28.html

Quite cool.

--Pete

[originalnutta]

There's a really interesting photo essay on the web where someone found some pictures taken by a Japanese person in Toronto on Business in 1977 and then proceeded to duplicate those pictures 30 years later.

Check this out:

http://electro.aminus3.com/image/2007-07-28.html

Quite cool.

--Pete

Great pics.
Something to be said for a simpler, cleaner, uncluttered Toronto.

[AirCarnivore]

Emancipated: Wicked pics and topic. Just can't get enough of it. I always say that I want to head down to the Toronto archives someday and just see what else is there. And yes, there is a interesting story behind Spadina St. When they did the reconstruction in the 90's, they were going back to the way it was before, with the streetcar tracks in the middle, lined with trees though.

AirCarnivore: Awesome pics from 87-88. That was the time when I first started having real memories and recollections of downtown Toronto. Having a family business right downtown (which I still do), gave me ample opportunity to explore the city. I miss the overall consistency the city had back then and that it was a real place to live. The explosion of the suburbs/gta definitely have made downtown more of just a destination or a place where certain types of people want to live.

I also find pictures from the mid-80's extremely interesting, as many of the scenes, streets and stores seem quite familiar in many ways, yet it is extremely difficult to actually identify where it is (many of the stores, parking lots seem like they could still be around, but the changes, ie Simpsons, the old cluttered Canadian Tire, many of the corner stores make it difficult)

Can you please elaborate on the consistency of it back then? :)

As do I, here are some more 80s pics!

Adelaide st. west looking east (my grandfather worked at the Gregory hotel for a number of years as a chef)
http://img27.imageshack.us/img27/7193/yadelaide80s2.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/6821/yadelaide80s.jpg

Yonge and Dundas, looked better back then
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5696/yonge80s.jpg

http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/3429/yongelate80s.jpg

[corrupt123]

Ahhhh the old days, when the city wasn't oozing graphitti, advertising, and flaking posters on hydro poles.

[originalnutta]

CFTO TV.
wow. that takes me back.

[Matrixvibe]

just curious, where can these archived photos be found?

[at1212b]

Can you please elaborate on the consistency of it back then? :)

Here's my elaboration attempt: you have new subdivisions in the city and the craze of building it anywhere and everywhere (alot of places right beside railroad tracks, highways, etc in the middle of a older neighbourhood though it seems the west end is more like that), gentrification in one section, then back to the 'untouched' in another section (ie. Queen Street East, Parliament and Gerrad area), all the apartments looked old, and that were built around the same time, no condos built on top of a corner parking/older lot, or again in the middle of a older neighbourhood which makes it stick out like a sore thumb, the malls even meshed with the older part of the city (e.g. the underground mall at Yonge/Bay and bloor really didn't feel that different from the stores outside). New facelifts, or full demolition/construction of houses in the middle of the older Victorian style neighbourhoods that also make a neighbourhood look inconsistent.

All the stores looked the same pretty much back; look at the old Shoppers, or Canadian tire, they could pass for a regular store you see nowadays, less shiny franchises... even the ol movie theatres fit in better back then (whereas now, its all about the megaplexes sticking and shining out like a bomb), the old boxy cars all looked very similar.

I know there was a previous thread talking about Eaton Center and its 'changes'. In other words, the 'oldness' was everywhere.

Sure 'Progress' is good, and expected, but for me, my memories are those days which of of course would be more biased of more 'oldness', instead of resonating with speckled/scattered parts of progress. In my eyes, I also see how the old is often rejected, and that we embrace the things where the image of being advanced, uberly clean, bright, corporate, and the 'Yuppie' associated things that seem to rule the day. The concept of image and style just surrounds us everywhere, which I don't think obsessed us as much as a society back then (this is just my opinion and feeling so no need to try to pursuade me otherwise!).

[KorruptioN]

http://urbantoronto.ca/showthread.php?t=6947&page1

There's a really interesting photo essay on the web where someone found some pictures taken by a Japanese person in Toronto on Business in 1977 and then proceeded to duplicate those pictures 30 years later.

Check this out:

http://electro.aminus3.com/image/2007-07-28.html

Quite cool.

--Pete

Fantastic links. Much appreciated.

[buffylover]

I feel like Scott Bakula looking at these pictures.

hahahaha quantum leap bitches!!

[najibs]

My congatulations to Emancipated, for finally starting a thread that generated more than 1 star :twisted:

[CSR]

There's a really interesting photo essay on the web where someone found some pictures taken by a Japanese person in Toronto on Business in 1977 and then proceeded to duplicate those pictures 30 years later.

Check this out:

http://electro.aminus3.com/image/2007-07-28.html

Quite cool.

--Pete

Awesome!

[thelefteyeguy]

damn...i forgot all about that Mr.Submarine on the corner of Y&D.

(I do remember the arcade beside it...spend many many hours there :lol:)

[AirCarnivore]

just curious, where can these archived photos be found?

I got the photos off of the link given by the OP on urbantoronto, but you can search the toronto archives here: http://www.toronto.ca/archives/photographs/index.htm

Here's my elaboration attempt: you have new subdivisions in the city and the craze of building it anywhere and everywhere (alot of places right beside railroad tracks, highways, etc in the middle of a older neighbourhood though it seems the west end is more like that), gentrification in one section, then back to the 'untouched' in another section (ie. Queen Street East, Parliament and Gerrad area), all the apartments looked old, and that were built around the same time, no condos built on top of a corner parking/older lot, or again in the middle of a older neighbourhood which makes it stick out like a sore thumb, the malls even meshed with the older part of the city (e.g. the underground mall at Yonge/Bay and bloor really didn't feel that different from the stores outside). New facelifts, or full demolition/construction of houses in the middle of the older Victorian style neighbourhoods that also make a neighbourhood look inconsistent.

All the stores looked the same pretty much back; look at the old Shoppers, or Canadian tire, they could pass for a regular store you see nowadays, less shiny franchises... even the ol movie theatres fit in better back then (whereas now, its all about the megaplexes sticking and shining out like a bomb), the old boxy cars all looked very similar.

I know there was a previous thread talking about Eaton Center and its 'changes'. In other words, the 'oldness' was everywhere.

Sure 'Progress' is good, and expected, but for me, my memories are those days which of of course would be more biased of more 'oldness', instead of resonating with speckled/scattered parts of progress. In my eyes, I also see how the old is often rejected, and that we embrace the things where the image of being advanced, uberly clean, bright, corporate, and the 'Yuppie' associated things that seem to rule the day. The concept of image and style just surrounds us everywhere, which I don't think obsessed us as much as a society back then (this is just my opinion and feeling so no need to try to pursuade me otherwise!).

Great response, thank you!

[Emancipated]

My congatulations to Emancipated, for finally starting a thread that generated more than 1 star :twisted:

I'm as shocked as you are.


Man, things were just better back then. The air was cleaner, the people were nicer and the greatest threat of going down town was that you'd come home after midnight to get an earful from your parents about "hanging out" too late.

Now, if feels like every low life who gives you a threatening stare wants to cut your throat and kill your family just for kicks.

And is it just me or did the styles of the 80s seem so homogenized? I mean you have whites, asians and blacks kind of all wearing the same fashion. Levis with Converse or Addidas and plaid shirts with snap on buttons. Long mullet hair or afro for our brothas.

Haha, good times for sure.

[thelefteyeguy]

...the greatest threat of going down town was that you'd come home after midnight to get an earful from your parents about "hanging out" too late.


fond memories :) 2am wasn't the greatest idea lol

[cyphon21]

Spent a day or so going through them all, what a really good idea....

Does anyone have a link for anywhere else? (not that Toronto's isn't amazing)

But it would be neat to see New York, Miami, L.A. or somewhere thats changed a lot as well.

[CSAgent]

Ahhhh the old days, when the city wasn't oozing graphitti, advertising, and flaking posters on hydro poles.

I cringe at the vendors at Y&D Square. It's all tacky, cheaply made stuff for $20 or less. Then there's the dancers, and performers who expects you to tip.

[thelefteyeguy]

I cringe at the vendors at Y&D Square. It's all tacky, cheaply made stuff for $20 or less. Then there's the dancers, and performers who expects you to tip.

my fondest memory of Y&D square was a japanese 3 girl rock band performing on stage from Toyko....other than that a couple of kids shows for my daughter...but yes i stay far away from the vendors

[smolek]

Very cool pictures. Thanks for posting

[makilla]

Does anyone know what is the story behind those two bank buildings(one of them used to be Bank of Canada if im not mistaken) that are on the east side of yonge north of queen st. They have been standing empty for quite some time now and it is a pitty since they are really beautiful buildings especially in such location.

[at1212b]

Great response, thank you!

Heh, thanks. I know I was running off a bit, but even the OP seems to agree (I left out fashion as I was just concentrating on the city aspect of it) regarding the more consistency of everything. Now its all about individuality and standing out.

And with the focus on Toronto (mainly the more core areas), and Toronto being able to focus on being 'Toronto' (before amalgamation), no suburbs and suburban sprawl to dilute everything, there was more of a concentration in things which I think also contributed to the 'sameness' feel.

I cringe at the vendors at Y&D Square. It's all tacky, cheaply made stuff for $20 or less. Then there's the dancers, and performers who expects you to tip.

I don't venture there too often nor do I really want to, but who here misses the ol knock off vendors, selling Polo, CK, etc jeans, shirts, sweaters, watches, name it... at the corners and a bit off the main intersection. That's what I miss!

[AirCarnivore]

Spent a day or so going through them all, what a really good idea....

Does anyone have a link for anywhere else? (not that Toronto's isn't amazing)

But it would be neat to see New York, Miami, L.A. or somewhere thats changed a lot as well.

One of the best collections of old NYC pics I've seen: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=402544

[omchow]

There's a really interesting photo essay on the web where someone found some pictures taken by a Japanese person in Toronto on Business in 1977 and then proceeded to duplicate those pictures 30 years later.

Check this out:

http://electro.aminus3.com/image/2007-07-28.html

Quite cool.

--Pete

Thanks a lot for the link, these pics are amazing.