Sam the Record Man

Yonge Street in the 1960's. Postcard courtesy of Chuckman's.

There was a time not that long ago, when buying records (vinyl) at Sam's was a Saturday ritual.

You'd take the subway downtown and walk the strip up to Yonge and Gould.

This is of course before the young shoe shine boy, Emanuel Jaques was cruelly tortured and murdered prompting a sweeping "clean-up" of the Yonge Street strip.

But that's another story.......

Back then a record cost anywhere between $1.98-$4.98 and were visually very impressive.

There was a big wall display with new releases and sale items covered in hand made signs.

Riding home on the subway, you'd review your purchases and be tempted to unseal the albums in search of the extras inside (posters, lyric sheets,booklets, stickers etc) or just to look at the

gatefold inner cover. Over time the actual records were getting so thin that even the new ones were warped and would skip when you finally got them home.

An early shot of the Sam's facade.

Looking south on Yonge with A&A Records as well as Sam's. The Empress Hotel is also visible.

Sadly it's all gone in 2010 and the Empress Hotel faces demolition as well.

Before Sam's in 1949.

This is all that's left and soon to be demolished as well.

Here's link to a vintage Sam's commercial on Youtube.

Here's another former customer's reflections on the store.

Does anyone remember the short lived "Sam the Chinese Food Man" restaurant that was located a few doors north in the early 1970's?

 Sadly Sam (the Record Man) Sniderman passed away yesterday at the age of 92.
Funeral held for Toronto’s Sam Sniderman | CTV Toronto News

More Yonge Street in the Early 1970's

Mark Moore, a Location Scout for film and television was kind enough to share these photos of Yonge Street from the early 1970's. Please click on the images for a better view.

Photos are by Charles Dobie copyright 1971-2011.

The N/W corner of Yonge and Wellesley.

The Coach House Restaurant is still there and the only greasy spoon left on Yonge.

A line up outside Sam the Record Man. Check out those bell bottoms and the prices.

There was a time when music was important and people would invest their time and money to get it. Now you just press a button and it's there, consequently it has no value as you've not had a personal investment to obtain it.......

Looking south past Sam's to the Edison Hotel.

The Hare Krishna gang that used to troll the strip looking for money and converts. The scared me when I was young.

Hare Krisna.

More Old Yonge Street Photos.

A display at Sam the Record Man.

Looking south from Gerrard, 1950.
Same again.

North from Dundas.

Same again.

Looking north at Dundas Square.

Yonge Street in the 1960's

People liked to buy records in the 1960's.

Yet another example of why the 1960's were better.....
Cool cars, cool signs and the Beatles.
Vintage postcards courtesy of Chuckman's.
Have a look now....

Yonge and Gould/Then and Now

The N/E corner of Yonge and Gould in 1950.

Another stitch up from the archives. The east side of Yonge north of Gould in 1950.
From the right, the bank and Brown's Sports and Cycle would soon be demolished and replaced by a modern bank, while McDonald and Willson and the diner next to it would soon become Sam the Record Man. Brown's Sports and Cycle is still in business in Bloor West.
A closer view of the photo reveals some interesting motorcycles in the window.
The remains of Sam's last year. Today there's nothing left...

Yonge and Elm/Then and Now

Yonge and Elm/Then and Now

This shot (probably from the mid 80's) shows how vibrant this intersection used to be for music shoppers. The Thriffty's store occupies the former site of Steele's Tavern. The silver car in the foreground is a fairly rare Citroen SM (Maserati) built between 1979-1975.

Now a desolate pit.

Sam the Record Man/Then and Now

Yonge Street in the 1960's. Postcard courtesy of Chuckman's.

There was a time not that long ago, when buying records (vinyl) at Sam's was a Saturday ritual.

You'd take the subway downtown and walk the strip up to Yonge and Gould.

This is of course before the young shoe shine boy, Emanuel Jaques was cruelly tortured and murdered prompting a sweeping "clean-up" of the Yonge Street strip.

But that's another story.......

Back then a record cost anywhere between $1.98-$4.98 and were visually very impressive.

There was a big wall display with new releases and sale items covered in hand made signs.

Riding home on the subway, you'd review your purchases and be tempted to unseal the albums in search of the extras inside (posters, lyric sheets,booklets, stickers etc) or just to look at the

gatefold inner cover. Over time the actual records were getting so thin that even the new ones were warped and would skip when you finally got them home.

An early shot of the Sam's facade.

Looking south on Yonge with A&A Records as well as Sam's. The Empress Hotel is also visible.

Sadly it's all gone in 2010 and the Empress Hotel faces demolition as well.

Before Sam's in 1949.

This is all that's left and soon to be demolished as well.

Here's link to a vintage Sam's commercial on Youtube.

Here's another former customer's reflections on the store.

Does anyone remember the short lived "Sam the Chinese Food Man" restaurant that was located a few doors north in the early 1970's?
 Sadly Sam (the Record Man) Sniderman passed away yesterday at the age of 92.
Funeral held for Toronto’s Sam Sniderman | CTV Toronto News