Between 1978 and 1980/July 3, 2021 – Looking southwest along Yonge St from Elm St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto. The archive photo shows the Papaya Hut once at the corner and next to it, the Toronto Camera Centre in the Thornton-Smith Building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 307, Item 11 – Urban Design photographs)2021/1980’s – CAA Theatre (formerly the Panasonic Theatre) at 651 Yonge St, east side south of Charles St – once Showcase Cinema (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 610, Item 12) 2021/1945 – Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema at 506 Bloor St W, north side east of Bathurst St – once Midtown Theatre (Archives of Ontario, I0012578) 2021/1919 – Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema at 506 Bloor St W, north side east of Bathurst St – where Madison Theatre once stood (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 800) 2020/1972 – Looking southeast towards the corner of Queen St W and Spadina Ave in Toronto’s Fashion District. The beehive turret atop the 441 Queen St W building is a distinctive feature of the structure constructed in 1886 as an Oddfellows’ Hall. The building was designed by Langley & Burke, and in 1983, it received heritage status from the city (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 47, Item 33) May 23, 2021/1950s – Maple Leaf Gardens is located at the northwest corner of Carlton St and Church St in the Church and Wellesley neighbourhood of Toronto.
Maple Leaf Gardens is a notable landmark in the city with a history dating back to 1931. The venue was constructed by the owner of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Conn Smythe, and could accommodate over 12,000 spectators. The Leafs played at the Gardens for almost seven decades, and their last game in the building was in 1999.
In addition to hosting ice hockey games, the Gardens was also the site of other sporting events such as basketball and ice skating. It was also a venue for various live music shows, circus performances and political events.
Maple Leaf Gardens received heritage designation from the city in 1974, from the province in 1990, and became a National Historic Site of Canada in 2007. Today, Loblaws occupies the main level of the building, while the upper level houses the Mattamy Athletic Centre of Toronto Metropolitan University (Toronto Public Library R-3834)April 4, 2021/March 12, 1950 – Looking northwest towards the corner of Yonge St and Dundas St, in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Series 574, File 13, ID 49321 – Brigdens Limited photography)July 4, 2019/1937 – Looking south toward Dufferin Gate near the foot of Dufferin St at Exhibition Place. The archive photo shows the second Dufferin Gate. Built in 1912, the second gate was designed by architect George W Gouinlock. Today’s parabolic archway replaced it in the late 1950s to make way for the Gardiner Expressway (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1446) July 4, 2019/1960 – Looking north toward Dufferin Gate near the foot of Dufferin St at Exhibition Place. Architect Philip R. Brook designed the parabolic steel and concrete archway, which was completed for the opening of the 1959 Canadian National Exhibition (CNE Archives)July 4, 2019/1900s – Looking north toward Dufferin Gate near the foot of Dufferin St at Exhibition Place. The archive photo shows the first Dufferin Gate, built in 1895. Today’s parabolic archway is the third Dufferin Gate. It was designed by architect Philip R. Brook and was completed for the opening of the 1959 Canadian National Exhibition (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1266, Item 14660)1980’s/2021 – Cumberland Four once at 159 Cumberland St, south side east of Avenue Rd – the site is now home to Nespresso (Mandel Sprachman Architect Fonds, photo of photo taken at City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 122, Series 881, File 353)April 4, 2021/between 1978-80 – Looking northeast towards the corner of Yonge St and Gerrard St E that was once home to the Coronet Theatre, originally named Savoy-Biltmore Theatre and today retail space occupies the space (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 310, Item 3 – Urban Design photographs)March 21, 2021/1981 – Looking north towards the former University Theatre at 100 Bloor St W, in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto. On the University Theatre marquee, “The Lion of the Desert,” starring Anthony Quinn, Oliver Reed and Rod Steiger, was playing (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 515, Item 10)2020/1989 – Runnymede Theatre once at 2223 Bloor St W, south side west of Runnymede Rd – now Shoppers Drug Mart (City of Toronto Archives, Series 1465, File 169, Item 106) 2020/1942 – Runnymede Theatre once at 2223 Bloor St W, south side west of Runnymede Rd – now Shoppers Drug Mart (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 147)June 5, 2021/1958 – Looking northeast towards the corner of Bloor St W and Royal York Rd in The Kingsway neighbourhood of Toronto.
The archive photo shows several shops in this order from left to right: the Toronto Dominion Bank, S. S. Kresge Company, Reitman’s, Pollocks Shoes, Hunts Confectionery, and some ladies’ wear shops, including Lady Ellis, Tish, and Virginia Dare (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 7965)July 3, 2021/1972 – Looking northeast towards the corner of Victoria St and Lombard St, in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 17, Item 26)July 3, 2021/Circa 1890 – Looking northeast towards the corner of Victoria St and Lombard St, in the St. Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-4620) Circa 1960/ July 4, 2019 – The Princess Margaret Fountain is located at Princes’ Blvd and Manitoba Dr at Exhibition Place in Toronto. The archive photo shows crowds around the Princess Margaret Fountain with the former Exhibition Stadium & Grandstand and Manufacturers Building in the background (CNE Archives)1921/1971 – Fun and fashion at the EX (CNE Archives)Between 1954 and 1960/August 14, 2021 – Looking northeast towards the Food Building located at 10 Nova Scotia Ave in Toronto’s Exhibition Place.
Completed in 1954, the Food Building stands as an example of mid-century Modern architecture, showcasing the design of architect Richard Fisher. The building had a 24-meter stainless-steel tower called “The Needle,” a captivating focal point for south entrance visitors. The deteriorating art piece was removed in 1975. The city officially granted the building heritage status in 1993 (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 5680)
