Most of the streetscape’s architecture has remained intact, aside from the parking lot in the left foreground of the archive photo, which is now occupied by an office building. The white and brown building (in the centre) that once housed Tom Jones Steak House is today commercial space. Behind it, the grey building that used to be El Toro Steak House has been transformed into a gold-painted establishment that is now P.J. O’Brien Irish Pub & Restaurant.
Visible on the right side is the King Edward Hotel, presently the Omni King Edward (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 8, Item 97)
The archive photo captures the building when its storefront was home to the Canary Restaurant, which opened in the mid-1960s and closed in 2007. This building is rich in history. It was originally established as the Palace Street School in 1859 and has undergone several additions over the years, with an expansion for the school in 1869, a hotel in 1890 and a warehouse in the 1920s.
Today, this heritage-designated building is being revitalized as part of a mixed-use development called the Canary House. Although large portions of the original structure have been temporarily covered, portions of a restored section of the building are emerging (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 666 Item 9 – Urban Design photographs)
The post-war cinema, constructed by Famous Players Limited and designed by architect Eric Wilfrid Hounsom, operated from 1949 until 1986. When developers purchased the prime real estate, they restored the theatre’s historic façade. Each limestone block was carefully dismantled, individually numbered, cleaned, patched, and reassembled. The total restoration cost was $1 million, and the project was completed in 2002.
The building currently accommodates retail storefronts, and until 2017, it was leased to Pottery Barn. As of October 2024, it’s the new location for the British fashion brand Burberry (2016 photo courtesy of Google Maps)
A few of the shops in the archive photo include Leader Pharmacy Company, Cooper & Co. Gentlemen’s Furnishings, Leonard Foulds Architect and John G Chester Cigars. Today, the corner building at 65 King St E is occupied by Google Canada (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 7101)
A few shops in the archive photo from right to left include Steak ‘N’ Burger Restaurant, Party Bazaar Greeting Cards, Young’s Photo Supply, Skinner’s Sport Shop and, in the distance, Coles Book Store.
The image also shows the Uptown Theatre, which opened in 1920 as a 2,800-seat venue featuring both films and vaudeville performances. It expanded to a five-screen venue in 1969, with three of the five auditoriums accessible from Yonge St, while the other two at the Uptown Backstage were accessed from Balumto St. The theatre closed in 2003. Today, only its arched entrance remains, and it now houses a Rogers store (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 111)
The archive photo shows The People’s Church, which previously occupied the corner. In 1902/03, it was replaced by the current structure, initially known as the King Street East Methodist Church. The cornerstone was laid by Chester D. Massey, the son of industrialist and philanthropist Hart Massey, who founded Massey Hall. Various items, including coins and newspapers, were placed underneath the cornerstone.
Today, the heritage-designated building serves as the Riverside Evangelical Missionary Church (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-2634)
The theatre, which accommodated 2,800 patrons, was inaugurated in 1920 and initially featured both films and vaudeville performances. In 1969, the venue transformed from a single-screen format to a five-screen operation. Three auditoriums were accessed from Yonge St, while the remaining two located at the Uptown Backstage were accessible from Balumto St.
The theatres closed in 2003. Only the heritage-designated entrance to the Uptown Theatre remains today, and it now houses a Rogers store. The site where most of the theatre one stood has been transformed into The Uptown Residences – a 48-story condominium (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 163)
In 1970, the Lombard Street and Berkeley Street fire stations closed and relocated to a newly constructed Fire Station No. 5, which is today known as Toronto Fire Station 333 (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 18, Item 13)
Notice the sign for Bert Niosi and his Orchestra in the archive photo. Bert and his band played at the historic dance hall for 18 years.
Constructed between 1921 and 1922, the Palais Royale building is one of the last two surviving structures from the once-vibrant Sunnyside Amusement complex. The other remaining building is the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion (Toronto Public Library TSPA_0110392F – Toronto Star Photograph Archive)
Built in 1921/22, the structure was designed by architects Chapman, Oxley & Bishop. It was initially home to Deans’ Sunnyside Pleasure Boats and the Palais Royale. The building is one of two remaining original buildings from the Sunnyside Amusement complex, the other being the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion. In 1974, the structure received heritage status from the city (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 102, Item 17)
The archive photo shows a Canadian Tire store and gas bar with the Austin Motor Company Canada sign in the background. This location continues to serve as the site for Canadian Tire (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 100, Item 443 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The archive photo captures Shea’s Hippodrome Theatre, where the movie “The Country Girl,” starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly and William Holden, was playing following its release in 1954. The present-day photo shows Nathan Phillips Square, at the site of the former theatre, with Toronto City Hall in the background. The theatre opened in 1914 and closed in 1956 (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-4067 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
In September 1965, Governor-General Georges Vanier opened Toronto’s modern City Hall to a crowd of 14,000 people. The 20-storey West Tower stands 79 metres tall, while the 27-storey East Tower soars to a height of 99 metres. The centre dome is home to the Council Chamber (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 552, Item 8 – Irving Hirshon photographs)
Manufacturers Life was founded in 1887 at a small shop on 38 King St E. As the company grew, it moved to a more spacious location on Bloor St E in 1925. This impressive heritage-designated building, clad in grey stone, features a colonnaded porch at the main entrance (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 8912)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: University Theatre 100 Bloor St W
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Dec 28, 1956, pg 5 (Shea’s Hippodrome, northwest along Bay St from north of Queen St W)
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
