Occident Hall/Holiday Tavern/The Big Bop Update

A successful restoration of the building was revealed this weekend. More to follow.

This is Occident Hall at the South West corner of Queen and Bathurst.

The first recorded work of renowned Toronto Architect E.J. Lennox,
"Builder of Toronto"
Built in 1876 as a Masonic Lodge with shops on the ground level.

From 1948 and up to about 1984 it was known as the Holiday Tavern and helped to give the intersection it's now famous name of "F*ck Face City" as coined by Chris Houston. The Big Bop is about to close and be taken over by Crate and Barrel.
Currently there appears to be some restoration of the facade under way.
As of January 2010 the renovations have started with the
removal of the angel stone cladding and gutting years of
insensitive alterations to the interior. It will be interesting to watch the progress.

 The front of the Holiday Tavern looking west across Bathurst with the Paddock Tavern in the B/G, sometime in the mid 1960's.

King and Bathurst/Then and Now

The Wheat Sheaf Tavern (1848) sometime in the late 1960's.
It was rumoured that a secret tunnel connected the Wheat Sheaf to nearby Fort York...The Wheat Sheaf in 2010.

Dundas and Bathurst/Then and Now

Looking west along Dundas at Bathurst, June 1950.2010.

The S/W corner looking west.2010.

Bloor and Bathurst/Then and Now

Looking west along Bloor from Bathurst in 1960. Honest Ed's, on the south side had not yet expanded to take up the entire block and the Alhambra Theatre on the north side is showing
"Once More With Feeling" and "Our Man in Havana"
The Alhambra was originally called the King George and ended it's days as the Eve, a porno house. It was demolished in 1985 to make way for a Swiss Chalet.

Today.
Another shot of the Alhambra in 1947.
Cheyenne and Seven Keys to Baldpate were released that year.
Another shot of Honest Ed's from 1959.
I used to work at Honest Ed's, briefly in the late 70's after school.

Spadina and St. Andrew/Then and Now

From the S/W corner of St. Andrew and Spadina looking N/E in September of 1938.
There are some interesting magazines on display including a couple of comic books.
Action Comics # 1 was published in June of 1938 and recently sold at auction for 1.5 million dollars. Was a copy purchased here?
2010.
Action #1.

Centre Theatre/Then and Now

The Centre Theatre in 1943 when Destroyer was showing.

Looking past a solitary gas pump on Dundas near Bathurst towards the Centre Movie Theatre.
According to John Sebert in his excellent book Nabes:
"It gained notoriety as the Duchess Theatre in 1933, when it's owner was arrested for hiring two thugs to beat up a neighbouring theatre owner. Shortly after came the name change."
This photo appears to have been taken in the late 1930's or early 1940's as the marquee lists
The Dead End Kids.

Today
The Dead End Kids A.K.A The Bowery Boys.

Dundas and Bathurst/Then and Now

768 Dundas on the north side near Bathurst in 1936.

The same storefront today.

Occident Hall/Holiday Tavern/The Big Bop

This is Occident Hall at the South West corner of Queen and Bathurst.
The first recorded work of renowned Toronto Architect E.J. Lennox,
"Builder of Toronto"
Built in 1876 as a Masonic Lodge with shops on the ground level.

During the 60's and up to about 1984 it was known as the Holiday Tavern and helped to give the intersection it's now famous name of "F*ck Face City" as coined by Chris Houston. The Big Bop is about to close and be taken over by Crate and Barrel.
Currently there appears to be some restoration of the facade under way.
As of January 2010 the renovations have started with the
removal of the angel stone cladding and gutting years of
insensitive alterations to the interior. It will be interesting to watch the progress.