Kent Senior Public School, located at 980 Dufferin St, was constructed in 1907 and designed in the Edwardian Classical style by architect C.H. Bishop. It opened its doors the following year and was named in honour of Herbert A. E. Kent, who dedicated twenty-one years as a trustee for Toronto.
The school closed in 2012 due to a decrease in enrollment. Although the building served other educational purposes temporarily, it was officially designated surplus in 2016 and sold to developers. In 2020, the building was given heritage designation by the city. Currently, the site is being transformed into a mixed-use development known as the Marlow, which will integrate the historic Kent School (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 267)
In September 1965, Governor-General Georges Vanier inaugurated Toronto’s modern City Hall in front of a crowd of 14,000 people. The 20-storey West Tower stands at 79 metres tall, while the 27-storey East Tower reaches a height of 99 metres. The dome in the centre houses the Council Chamber (City of Toronto Archives, Ellis Wiley fonds, Fonds 124, File 2, Item 2)
The archive photo shows Crown Dominion Service Station along with homes on the east side of Madison Ave. In the mid-1970s, the gas station was replaced by a building for the Boy Scouts of Canada, later home to the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association headquarters; that building was demolished in 2023. Today, there are plans to construct a 31-storey mixed-use residential tower at 316 Bloor St W on the site that was formerly occupied by the gas station (City of Toronto Archives, E.L. Ruddy Company fonds, Fonds 1488, Series 1230, Item 4071)
The archive photo features several establishments from the past, including the United Cigar Store, Bond Clothes Shop and Zip Cleaners & Launderers. It also shows the Bank of Montreal and the Kingsway Theatre, both of which remain in operation today. When the old photo was taken, the marquee of the Kingsway Theatre advertised two films: “Witness for the Prosecution,” featuring Tyrone Power, and “Paris Holiday,” starring Bob Hope. The Kingsway Theatre received heritage designation from the Ontario Heritage Trust in 2008 (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 7997)
A few of the establishments in the archive photo include, from left to right, the Toronto Dominion Bank branch, S. S. Kresge Company, Reitman’s, Pollocks Shoes, Hunts Confectionery, and several ladies’ wear shops, including Lady Ellis, Tish, and Virginia Dare (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 7965)
The archive photo captures the streetscape, including work on the TTC streetcar tracks. According to the 1930 Toronto City Directory, several establishments featured in the old image include Diamond Sweets, Duffwell Realty, Brooke-Hudson Tobacco, and Kilvington Bros Monuments (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 7028 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
The archive photo shows a newsstand at the southeast corner. The stand offered a variety of publications, including the Toronto Evening Telegram, Daily Star, and Star Weekly, among others.
The building in the right foreground was constructed for the Canadian Pacific Railway between 1911 and 1913. Today, its storefront is home to a Shopper’s Drug Mart. The building in the left background was built for the Royal Bank of Canada from 1913 to 1915, and its storefront currently houses Sleep Country (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 58, Item 1455 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
The archive photo shows the former University Theatre shortly after its permanent closure. Established in 1949, the theatre was constructed for Famous Players Limited and designed by the architect Eric Hounsom.
When developers acquired this prime piece of real estate, they were tasked with restoring the theatre’s historic limestone façade. This process involved carefully dismantling, numbering, cleaning and patching each limestone block. The total cost of the restoration amounted to $1 million, and the reconstruction was completed in 2002. Currently, the building houses retail space and has served as the new location for the British fashion brand Burberry since October 2024 (City of Toronto Archives, Eric Trussler fonds, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 514, Item 27)
The archive photo shows the streetcars that once travelled along Bloor St. Above the streetcar, notice a portion of the Midtown Theatre sign. For over a century, a theatre has been located at 506 Bloor St W, having gone through several names, including the Madison, Midtown, Capri, Eden, and Bloor Theatre, and is today known as Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 100, Item 262 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
Opening in 1881 as the Toronto Baptist College, the school was commonly referred to as McMaster Hall in honour of its founder, Senator William McMaster. Architects Langley, Langley & Burke designed the building in the High Victorian style. In the period leading up to his death in 1887, Senator McMaster developed plans to expand the college’s academic programs to prevent its annexation by the increasingly prominent University of Toronto. He left most of his estate for the establishment of McMaster University, which utilized McMaster Hall until 1930 when it moved to Hamilton.
The U of T acquired the building, and since 1963, it has served as the home of The Royal Conservatory of Music, a highly regarded institution for music education, whose alums include Oscar Peterson and Sarah McLachlan. The building is also a National Historic Site of Canada. It is rumoured to be haunted by the lingering spirit of its founder. Click for the Ghosts of the University of Toronto.
The extension in the centre left foreground of the present-day photo is called Castle Memorial Hall and was completed in 1901. The pillars to its left are the Alexandra Gates, which mark the north entrance to Philosopher’s Walk (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-1977)
A few businesses in the archive photo’s foreground include the Bank of Nova Scotia, Gold ‘N Gems, and Simon’s Gowns and Wraps. Another notable item is the Uptown Backstage Theatre in the background on the right. In 1969, the Uptown Theatre underwent a significant transformation, becoming a five-screen venue, which made it one of the world’s earliest multiplex cinemas. Two of the Uptown’s theatres were accessed through the Backstage, which was located on Balumto St. The theatre permanently closed in 2003.
The streetscape has changed significantly since then, with a majority of the site of the Uptown Theatre, once occupied, being replaced by a condo; however, Scotiabank remains at the same address (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 66, Item 23)
The archive photo shows on the marquee that “Joan of Arc,” starring Ingrid Bergman, José Ferrer and Selena Royle, was playing. The post-war cinema, constructed by Famous Players Limited and designed by architect Eric Hounsom, was in operation from 1949 until 1986.
Following the developer’s acquisition of the prime real estate, the theatre’s historic façade was restored. 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. Currently, the building houses a retail storefront and, as of October 2024, serves as the new location for the British fashion brand Burberry (City of Toronto Archives, Eric Hounsom Architect Fonds, Fonds 1248, Series 1343, File 128)
The historic 2.5-storey detached structure, which dates back to 1892, was designated as a heritage site by the city in 1974. Currently, the building houses Madison Avenue Pub, as illustrated in the accompanying photograph (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 8325)
The archive photo shows the Lombard Street Fire Hall No. 5, the building with the tower, completed in 1886/87. It was designed by architect David Roberts Jr in the Romanesque Revival style, known initially as the “Central Fire Hall.”
Serving as a fire station until 1969, the building was later home to The Second City comedy troupe and Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto. Today, the old heritage-designated fire hall is occupied by the CMU College of Makeup Art & Design (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 22, Item 18)
Notice the recently restored ghost sign on the upper wall, which reads “Loew’s Leads in Toronto – Show Starts Daily 9:30 AM.”
The impressive Edwardian-style double-decker theatres were built between 1912 and 1914 for American theatre magnate Marcus Loew and designed by architects Thomas W Lamb and Stanley Makepeace. This location served as the flagship for the Canadian theatre chain, originally featuring vaudeville acts and silent films.
These theatres are unique since they are the last of their architectural style in the world. The Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre hold the distinction of being a National Historic Site of Canada
The archive photo shows Ferragh Drug Company once occupied the previous corner building’s storefront (City of Toronto Archives, William James Family fonds, Fonds 1244, Item 1544)
The archive photo features several establishments along Bloor St W, arranged from left to right as follows: The Bank of Nova Scotia, Varsity Restaurant, N & N Super Market, Varsity Books, Pizza Pizza, Empire Boutique clothing & gifts, Meyers Cigar Store and Sam’s Gas Bar.
Today, Scotiabank remains at the corner; however, there are plans to construct a 36-storey mixed-use building on the block (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 55, Item 8)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: University Theatre 100 Bloor St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: McMaster Hall 273 Bloor St W
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: Kent Senior Public School 980 Dufferin St
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 1276-1280 Queen St W
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- 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
