The Changing Face of Queen West.

 Photographer Patrick Cummins has been documenting these two storefronts on Queen for the past 25 years. Dencan Books is still in business in the Junction.

Fab's original location was further east.

Vintage Car Dealerships/Gas Stations/Car Shows

A collection of photos from the archives.

Toronto, People City.

The station sign off video about Toronto from the 80's from the original City TV channel 79.

Toronto, People City. It's a great song by Tommy Ambrose.

Tommy Ambrose.

One of Canada's most versatile popular singers and songwriters, Tommy Ambrose starred in his own half-hour show of music, variety, dance, and comedy. Produced by Stan Harris (196l-62) and Bill Davis (1962-63), and written by Stan Jacobson and Bernie Rothman, in addition to Ambrose and his guests the program featured an eight voice chorus, under the direction of Gordon Kushner, and a twenty-five piece orchestra conducted by Lucio Agostini, with arrangements by Rick Wilkins. Choreography for the show was by Glen Gibson.

During the summer of 1962, the network presented a dozen repeats from the previous season, under the title, The Best Of Tommy Ambrose.

Here's his sign off for Global TV.

A clip from his CBC show from 1962.

The Beatles at Maple Leaf Gardens 1966

The Beatles answer questions at the Hot Stove Lounge August 17, 1966

A news conference, September 7 1964.

Not sure who the interviewer is but he's quite aggressive and rude.
I'm surprised that John didn't let him have it.
Pelham Puppets out of England produced these "Musician" puppets during the height of Beatlemania. I received one for Christmas in 1966 or 67 and didn't like it so it was returned to Eatons and exchanged for one of these....
Johnny Speed by Topper Toys.

Old Mimico Barber Shop

This old barber shop on the Lakeshore in Mimico has been closed for several years but the owner (the barber's son) keeps it preserved as a tribute to his late father. It's been used in a number of period films. I put the vinyl graphic on the windows.

Old Signs- Toronto

The Strange Case of James Earl Ray-The Spring of 1968

James Earl Ray.
After the assasination of Martin Luthor King in Memphis on April 4, 1968, James Earl Ray, the alleged assassin managed to evade capture and make his way to Toronto by bus, taxi and train. He spent the month of April here biding his time before travelling to London England on a Canadian passport using a name he had found in the Telegram Newspaper's archives.
Ray's Canadian passport under the alias of Ramon George Sneya.

He first took a room here on Ossington Ave.
To avoid suspicion, he also rented a room in this house on Dundas St W. alternating his time
between the two.
He was known to frequent the bar at the foot of Ossington. The Gondoratu House 1958.
The old Hotel being demolished to make room for.....
more condos!
He's also rumoured to have hung out at the old Drake Hotel further west on Queen.
For the full story of Ray's time in Toronto click here.
He's also believed to have spent time here at the Silver Dollar Room at the Waverly Hotel.
Two early postcards from Chuckman's of the Waverly Hotel. The Dining Room.
The Exterior.