The archive photo shows when the Royal Theatre occupied the building, which operated from 1925 until the mid-1950s. However, the building had been home to variously named theatres since 1911. More recently, it was occupied by Hakim Optical, which has since closed (City of Toronto Archives, Ken Webster Fonds, Fonds 251, Series 1278, File 144)
In the background of the archive photo, from left to right, you can see the former Transportation Building, the Bandshell Café, now known as Acqua Dolce, the Bandshell, and in the distance, the Government Building, which is now called the Medieval Times Building (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 536, Item 748 – Desmond E. Wainwright photographs)
The iconic gates were opened in 1927 during the Canadian National Exhibition to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Canadian Confederation. Initially, the entrance was named “The Diamond Jubilee of Confederation Gates.” They were renamed after Edward, Prince of Wales, and his brother, Prince George, Duke of Kent, following their attendance at the official opening of the Canadian National Exhibition on August 30, 1927.
Toronto architects Chapman and Oxley designed this Beaux-Arts-style structure, while the sculptures, all made from cement, were created by Charles McKechnie. The nine Ionic columns that flank the arch represent the nine provinces that were part of the Confederation at that time (Library and Archives Canada PA-052988)
The Food Building opened for the 1954 Canadian National Exhibition and featured an impressive 24-meter stainless-steel tower known as “The Needle.” This striking tower, shown in the archive photo, served as a captivating focal point for visitors entering from the south until it was removed in 1975 due to deterioration.
During the 18 days of The Ex, over a million people flock to the Food Building to indulge in a wide variety of delicious treats, ranging from the latest and most outrageous culinary creations to timeless comfort food classics (City of Toronto Archives, Alexandra Studio fonds, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 5679)
The archive photo shows the Bandshell in the early part of its construction. The open-air concert venue, which could accommodate a 100-piece band, opened later that year during the CNE. Over the years, the Bandshell has hosted numerous renowned bands, orchestras, entertainers, choirs, musical shows, and comedians, as well as various dignitaries and celebrities.
The structure has since undergone renovations, including expanding the stage by about one-third and adding a permanent arch that extends the Bandshell, as seen in the present-day photo (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 1, Item 1381 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
Built in 1936 and designed by architects Craig & Madill, the Art Deco-style structure received heritage status from the city in 1973. In the archive photo, the base of the flagpole is also visible. Originally raised in 1930, the CNE flagpole was replaced in 1977 but was eventually taken down in 2008 due to decay. Its cement base remained on the site until 2024 (CNE Archives)
The archive photo shows the bronze sculptures of five leaping fish, created by Canadian artist Jean Horne, were initially located in reflecting pools flanking the main entrance of the Food Building on the south side. This piece is among the few of Horne’s works on public display, as most are in private collections. The sculptures have since been relocated to the west and east entrances of the Food Building (CU110866020, by Panda Associates, Courtesy of Canadian Architectural Archives Collection, Libraries and Cultural Resources Digital Collections, University of Calgary)
In the archive photo, the Bandshell displays an advertisement that reads, “CANADIAN NATIONAL EXHIBITION – AUG. 22 TO SEPT. 6.” Also, note the base of the former CNE flagpole while it is under repair (Toronto Public Library Pictures-R-3462 – James Victor Salmon photographer)
The archive photo shows a young woman in a Navy uniform seated in the “O” of the sign, holding a donut. Her hat reads, “HMCS Shelburne.” Notice the open seating area in the vintage photo, which has since been closed in. The mid-century Modern style Food Building was completed for the 1954 CNE, and its iconic “FOOD” lettering above the south entrance is in a sans-serif font (Courtesy of the Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives)
The archive photo shows the London Life Insurance Company in the corner building, which first appeared in the 1928 Toronto City Directory. Today, this building houses restaurants, commercial spaces, and offices.
On the right side of the vintage photo, you can see the Palace Theatre, which once stood at 664 Danforth Ave. The theatre opened in the early 1920s and closed in the 1980s, after which the building was demolished and replaced with the current structure. Additionally, the archive photo captures the era when streetcars ran along Pape Ave and Danforth Ave (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 16, Series 71, Item 5484 – Alfred Pearson photographer)
Grossman’s first appeared in the 1952 Toronto City Directory. The Grossman family initially operated it as a cafeteria before applying for a liquor license in 1957. By 1959, it was listed as Grossman’s Tavern. Around this time, the tavern first introduced live music, featuring a couple of gypsy violinists. According to an article in a June 1971 edition of The Globe and Mail, a musician walked into the tavern in 1969 and asked if he could perform. Al Grossman Jr. eventually agreed, provided they kept the noise down. That musician was Donnie Walsh of the Downchild Blues Band. The tavern’s popularity grew, attracting a diverse audience of all ages.
In 1975, the family sold the business to Sam Louie and Jack Bing-Fong for $385,000. Although they originally planned to rebuild and open a Chinese restaurant, customers asked if it could stay the way it was, and it did. Over the years, Grossman’s Tavern has hosted a variety of musical acts, spanning genres from blues and jazz to rock and R&B. Notable musicians who have performed there include the late Jeff Healey, Kid Bastien, The Happy Pals, Alannah Myles, Carole Pope, and many more. Fifty years after purchasing Grossman’s Tavern, the Louie family continues to operate the iconic music venue today (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 47, Item 4)
Over the past fifty years, the streetscape has remained virtually unchanged. The building located at the corner opened in 1914 as a branch of the Canadian Bank of Commerce and continues to operate as a CIBC today. This classically styled structure, situated on a triangular-shaped lot, features a combination of buff Indiana stone and local brick. It was designed by architect V.D. Horsburgh, who created many bank buildings across the country for the financial institution. The building was added to the city’s heritage register in 1976 (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 23, Item 2)
The building located directly at the corner was opened in 1910 and is known as Playter Society Hall. It received heritage status from the city in 1984 and has since had a fourth story added, which is visible in the present-day photo. Aside from the shops and businesses, the streetscape hasn’t changed much over the past 50 years (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 13, Item 4)
The building located directly at the corner dates back to approximately 1833. It was originally the Imported British & India Goods Wholesale Warehouse, owned by George Monro, a dry-goods merchant who served as the Mayor of Toronto in 1841. Mr. Monro and his family lived just down the street at the northeast corner of George St and Front St E, in a residence that later became the former Black Horse Hotel.
Back to King St E, the neighbouring buildings, which also date to the mid-1800s, still stand today. This row of commercial buildings is among the oldest in the city, and they are all listed on the city’s heritage register. There are plans to construct a mixed-use tower at the site, incorporating the heritage properties at 175-185 King St E into the new development. The cupola of St Lawrence Hall is visible in both images on the right (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 20, Item 11)
Aside from the shops and restaurants in the storefronts, the streetscape has remained largely unchanged over the past fifty years. On the far right, you’ll notice a building that resembles a house. Constructed in 1920, this building was originally one of the city’s public washrooms but has since been repurposed for other uses (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 23, Item 5)
The archive photo shows the streetscape more than a century ago. The three-storey building at the corner is known as the Playter Society Hall, which was opened by Albert Playter in 1910. Along with a hall space for meetings and events, the building also featured commercial space.
A few other structures in the vintage photo, which still stand today and were constructed around 1909-1913, include three two-storey commercial buildings located to the right of the Playter Building, as well as the building with three triangular parapets to its left. In the archive photo, also notice The Metropolitan Bank in the right foreground. The Toronto-based bank became part of the Bank of Nova Scotia in 1914. This bank building was demolished long ago.
Playter Society Hall received heritage designation in 1984, and it has since had a fourth storey added to it, which is visible in the present-day photo (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 372, Sub Series 10, Item 37 – Dept. of Public Works photographs)
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 90 Danforth Ave
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe Newspaper Archives: Nov 22, 1911, pg 2 (Playter Society Hall, southeast corner of Danforth Ave & Broadview Ave)
- Construction: Apr 1918, Volume 11, Issue 4, pgs 118-120 (Danforth Ave & Broadview Ave, northeast corner)
- ERA Architects: 175-185 King Street East Heritage Impact Accessment, dated Aug 10, 2022 (King St E & George St, southwest corner)
- Scotiabank: Timeline (Danforth Ave & Broadview Ave, southeast corner)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: May 24, 1957, pg 10 (Grossman’s Tavern, southeast corner of Spadina Ave & Cecil St)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jun 5, 1971, pg 25 (Grossman’s Tavern, southeast corner of Spadina Ave & Cecil St)
- The Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Jul 5, 1975, pg A8 (Grossman’s Tavern, southeast corner of Spadina Ave & Cecil St)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: May 6, 2004, pg A15 (Grossman’s Tavern, southeast corner of Spadina Ave & Cecil St)
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photos: City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Public Library, Archives of Ontario & CNE Heritage & Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
