Yonge Street 1974. Crazy DAvid's T-Shirt store is just to the left of Clockwork Orange.
Photo by Bob Whalen. Detective work by Mark Moore.
You don't see girls like that hitch hiking much these days....
Back in the 1970's there was a shop on Yonge Street that sold t-shirts and would make a custom shirt while you waited. Here's an ad from National Lampoon 1972. Note the Toronto address at the bottom.
Crazy David was David Keller formerly a member of a band called the Preachers.
An article from Billboard 1974.
Posts
Hah, amazing. My parents knew Crazy David and we had stuff in the basement with that hippie face all over it.
ReplyDeleteSummer of '74 there was a transit strike. We were all hitch hiking.
ReplyDeleteGood observation.
ReplyDeletehow do i contact the person who makes this blog? I have an interesting Crazy David bit to share.
ReplyDeleteHe was a friend
DeleteHello my name is Jack Green and I am a 'ROCK N ROLL DETECTIVE'. I am considering doing a story about a Toronto Icon named Crazy David (Keller). If you are available and have a good story about Crazy David please contact me via email. Thank you, JACK
Deletereply with your email.Or just post your story as a comment.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to what you've got to say..
hey, sorry for such a long delay.
ReplyDeletecan you contact me through my user name?
A viewer writes:
ReplyDeleteSo, i'm 44 now, so i was a like 5 or something when i first started to know about Crazy David Tees. I had one - said 'keep on streaking' and had a very Robert Crumb like piece of art with a streaker and a long scarf (wish i still had that) but, i wore it... a lot. Like a little kid trying to be cool might.
i remember the Crazy David shirts came in plastic bags with a picture of a hippie on top and the slogan 'Crazy David loves you.'
Anyway, over the years i looked for some evidence of the whole thing on line and failed. Started to wonder if i was just making it up. It had been a while since i looked.
this summer, my wife and i were at a garage sale and bought some 1973 TORONTO SUN newspapers. They were full weekend editions and in great shape. I was loving the classifieds when i came across the attached ad.
So, i looked the whole thing up on line and found your blog. You're free to add it to you page. It's pretty great and for, was a break through. I was wasn't crazy in thinking this whole thing was TRUE.
I worked for Crazy David's at 185 Yorkville, back when the coffee shops were big, I don't even remember having a Yonge St store, maybe that came after? David's girlfriend Marilyn appeared to be running everything back then, David kept a very low profile at the time... there was myself and Joanne working and we had a blast! We opened an ice cream parlour on the front yard, candles, t'shirts, paraphanelia, greatest head shop in the world! We had a ton of Americans coming to shop there and I remember charging 7 cents on the weaker American dollar! As I remember it, one of our best selling shirts EVER was the double faced picture of Richard Nixon with the caption "Stick with Nixon in 72, don't change dicks in the middle of a screw!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to join this group, how do I join?
Margot Hall
i use to work for crazy Davids in 69-70 silk screaning t's at Peter& Richmond st.i knew a Margot Hall,from the valley in Scarborough,might this be you? just wondering..Jack C.
Deleteby the way, when I mention coffee shops, I'm not talking Tim Hortons! I'm talking Yorkville, poetry, Folk Singers, Ken Tobias, Joni Mitchell...
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteI have been trying to post a comment on this site but it appears it is no longer active. Is this true. I am looking for more information about Crazy David.
I have what seems to be a one of a kind Crazy David's shirt still in its original packaging, could it be worth something ?
ReplyDeleteI was the part of the inside art department making the designs and printing Davids T-Shirts. If you want to read about Crazy David after T-Shirts there is a great book just released. I am also in the book as Dinghy O`Rielly on page 196 and more. It`s a fun read for anyone,but if you lived in your 30s in 1970s,then it is a must .Better than Keith Richards` LIFE.
ReplyDeletehey man nice to find you again
DeleteHello Russell- Ya remember me Art.I was on that cruise with you and Crazy David. We sat down in the galley and drank the bottle of whiskey when we in the Bermuda Triangle and in that storm.That's something I will never forget.
DeleteWhat's the title?
DeleteSorry the book is.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.amazon.ca/Because-We-Could-Unauthorized-Story/dp/0993681905/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
I remember Russell fine work. David and I became close friends when he arrived in TO in 1971 until he left in 1976. I was the GM of his business. The stories I could tell could fill a book. Ever hear of Crazy David airline? Or JAWS the 32' Chris Craft?
Deletejim, where is david now? last i heard he was in the keys.
Deletejim pyle
Hi Jim Reid and Jim Pyle! This is Marni Craig - the gal that David left Toronto with in '76 to sail on down to the Keys in a 112' WWII submarine chaser. The adventure, as you can imagine, was over the top - so much so, that I had to write about it. The book is called, "Because We Could" (on Amazon). The last I heard about David was that he was in Sint Maarten with his tug boat, but I have been unable to confirm that or reach him.
DeleteI would love to hear from you both - marnicraig@gmail.com
Hippy Hugs to your both,
M
I remember the t shirt the Crazy Dave had that was two birds fucking in the air the Caption "Fly United"
ReplyDeleteI worked for Crazy David in a store - a victorian row house on Charles and Yonge. He had a seamstress sewing applica's of stars and crescent moons on t-shirts in the back room. His partner who's name I can't remember (maybe you Jim Reid) had your Great Dane dogs upstairs shitting all over the floors. Davids girlfriend was constantly travelling by bus between Buffalo and Toronto smuggling pot. The display tables in the store were old wine barrels that were stuffed with garbage bags full of the stuff. I worked in the store a while before I new what was going on. This was in '71.
ReplyDeleteThe guy who owned the great danes was Jack Gunn. He and his wife lived in Sutton. We were all friends. Another person that worked at Crazy Davids on Yorkville was John Roberts {draft dodger from Madison Wisconson] My husband Mike designed a lot of the tshirts. Not sure what happened to Jack Gunn...he would be pretty old now. John Roberts moved to BC
DeleteI worked for DAVID in his silk screen shop on Peter Street then I went and managed the store on Yonge St it was right across from the Gas Works great location!
ReplyDeleteIn the basement at Peter Street he rented out to a couple of hippies and they made awesome candles Huge mushroom candles and the sold them on corners by the university of toronto
It was a fun time!
I remember in 1977,I ordered the famous Farrah Fawcett bathing suit T-shirt from Crazy David! I was the first kid on my block to own one!
ReplyDeleteI had the central t-shit on the ad above ... the big red screw. I remember wearing it once and then, two weeks later, found my dad waxing the Ford XL with it... Prick.
ReplyDeleteHey, he came to Karachi Pakistan in the early 70’s, probably souring T Shirts. He invited to the Boat Club and ended up at our home with my dad and some friends after a longer drinking afternoon. He wa fun, warm and loved dancing to The Doobie Brothers. Had a memorable afternoon and evening with him.
ReplyDeleteLove to read it,Waiting For More new Update and I Already Read your Recent Post its Great Thanks.
ReplyDeletetipografia
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I found a "Crazy David loves you" T shirt on a bargain table in Grande Prairie Alberta when I was in grade eight. Had no idea who Crazy David was but I loved it and wore it until it fell apart.
ReplyDeleteWow..Crazy David. Haven't heard that name since the 70s.Had his t-shirts shipped into our Elks Men's Wear by the hundreds.Kept the best ones for myself. Gave them away as premiums to the Toffs .
ReplyDeleteNo, you don't see girls hitchhiking anymore. Too bad the world isn't as safe as it was in our good old days. Does anyone else remember the Crazy David shop at the Main Drag, Wasaga. Beach? There were lots of girls hitchhiking up there too. :)
ReplyDeleteGreat Post Dear………keep posting!!!
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ReplyDeleteBought a couple of 45's @ the Woodstock goodwill (Ontario, not NY!) today by the Crazy David Band. Looked intriguing as the label had an image of a bearded smiling man (presumably David) & was dated 1974. The track on side A is entitled U.I.C.Blues. Haven't given it a spin yet but looking forward to listening to it. Anybody else out there have a copy of this 45?
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ReplyDeleteGreat memories. I worked on Yonge St. at Chairs and Things just a few doors down from Crazy David's. Then went to work there but David was gone and Cort Beckingham was running the shop. Made some t-shirts for Noel Harrison one day. Lots of fun on Yonge st. in those days
ReplyDeleteBack in the early seventies I was working in Sales Promotion for Molson. I met David through a friend of his and remember talking to David about how to get around the ban by the LCBO on beer identified T shirts. I think he saw that as a challenge.
ReplyDeleteI remember you Floyd. Also Robert Lee and Cortland Beckingham III. Back in 1971 I went by "Sara".
ReplyDeleteAnd of course David and Marilyn. David hired me the day I showed up on Yonge Street fresh off the bus as a teenage runaway and walked into the store on Yorkville. Started selling flowers and then worked in the head shop. Worked briefly for Cort in the restaurant before David hired me away from him as his private secretary. Those were the days.
ReplyDeleteI have a ' Crazy David For Mayor '
ReplyDeleteHandbill from the early 70s.
I remember the Little Filmore upstairs and the snack bar downstairs that served strangely enough sweet and sour pork.
What a great era in Yorkville and on Yonge st.
I worked for David selling his tee-shirts at the CNE, the formula-4 races even at snowmobile races. I remember David, Marilyn and I trying to sleep in the back of a big metal truck when it was 10 or 20 below - we slept in out clothes including our winter coats inside sleeping bags with nothing to warm us but one lantern. If I hadn't shivered all night I probably would have froze to death. I had a large black great dane. I also remember Robert Lee - at one point he and I sold rings on Younge St. Do you remember Josh who made candles in David's basement. He lives out here in BC now. Ah those were the days.
ReplyDeletejust discovered this...I worked for David at the factory...for several years...on Peter St. in 71 until one day the authorities showed up...he hadn't been paying taxes...or something like that! those were best times ever! kathryn on vancouver island
ReplyDeleteHey there Russel Q. Ted B. here... I came from Cobourg and worked for you, David and Rob back in Jan.'76 to Aug.'76 at 128 Peter. I helped you with designs, burnt screens, printed on the rotating vastex and watched the main print machine upstairs. Remember the Castro and Trudeau shirts and so many great custom orders. The 4 pm end of day relax sessions with the "gold" and carlsberg then Grosseman's on my way home made that the best job. Keep on keep'n on.
ReplyDelete