Dundas and McCaul/ Then and Now

Dundas and McCaul looking east in 1919

2010

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.

Yonge and Finch 1971

This is Wimpy's Dairy Bar in 1971. It bears a striking resemblance to an early McDonald's outlet.
Including the truncated arches and red and white stripes.

McDonald's didn't enter the Ontario marketplace until 1970 so it's reasonable to assume that Wimpy's is a clone rather that a converted restaurant.

Spadina and Dundas/ Then and Then and Now

Dundas Street West looking across Spadina Avenue 1909

The same view a year later. Note the trees and boulevard
have disappeared as the road was widened.The grand house on the right was built by Dr. H.H. Moorehead in 1886 and was demolished shortly after this picture was taken. The Standard Theatre was the built on this corner in 1921. Re-namned the Strand in 1935 and after the war The Victory.
One hundred years later and things have certainly changed.
It's no longer a residential neighbourhood.

In 1968 the row houses seen in the second photo were still there, but not for long.
In 2010 the row houses are long gone but the Art Deco mechanic shop/garage is still there.

Parkdale Theatre/ Then and Now

A very early photo of the Parkdale.

The Box Office in 193719472010
The Parkdale Theatre on Queen Street West was built by the Allens and opened April 5, 1920 and was very successful thanks to it's proximity to Sunnyside Amusement park. It finally closed in 1970. A substantial venue with over 1500 seats.
For a short time the box office was used as a Beer Store and more recently the entire space has been divided into several antique stores.
In the 1937 photo the film playing is "Kid Galahad".
In the 1947 photo the film is "Humoresque".
Back when Parkdale was considered a suburb!

The lobby from 1947.

For more information on Toronto's Lost Movie Houses please look for John Sebert's book
"Nabes". A recent article on The Parkdale Theatre can be found here at Silent Toronto.

Capital Theatre Hamilton/Then and Now

A sad ending for the old Capitol Theatre in Hamilton. Recently operated as Buttinsky's bar, it now stands empty on King Street downtown.

Queen and Bay /Then and Now

Click on images for a better view.

From Old City Hall looking west along Queen Street towards the old Broadway Theatre.
This was Toronto's first burlesque house with "Girlie" shows and movies.
In 1935, the manager was murdered in his office and his son-in law, Murray Little took over the management.
The infamous Casino Theatre (The Festival in the top photo) was located five doors west and operated until 1963.
In 1965 to preserve the architectural integrity of the new City Hall, the City expropriated three and a half acres on the south side of Queen Street and all of the buildings were demolished.
In these photos the work has already started.

Looking across the south east intersection of Queen and Bay. . The film playing at the Bay Theatre is "The Small World of Sammy Lee", released in 1963.
The Bay opened in 1919 as The Colonial and the facade was built with material rescued from the demolished Customs House on Front Street.
This block has been replaced by the Simpson's Tower.
Window detail of the Bay Theatre
The same window from the Customs House demolished in 1919
The Colonial Theatre
Another early view of the Colonial (far left) before the second story addition.
Similar views today, looking west from Old City Hall.
Looking east.

The Roxy Theatre

Here are a couple of handbills from the old Roxy theatre on the Danforth (formerly the Allenby)

Yonge and Gerrard/Then

Bassel's Restuarant Circa 1950

The Early 1960's
1979.

The Campell House

The Campbell house in it's original location at Duke (now Adelaide) and Frederick before the move.On the Move 1972

As it stands today

Campbell House is the oldest remaining house from the original site of the Town of York. Built in 1822 by Judge William Campbell and his wife Hannah, the home was designed for entertaining and comfort, and constructed at a time when the Campbells were socially and economically established and their children had grown to adulthood. The house is one of the few surviving examples of Georgian architecture left in Toronto. The Grange is another excellent example, although it is slightly older than Campbell House. Campbell House is constructed in a style in vogue during the late Georgian era known as Palladian architecture. This style was Italian in origin, and based upon elements of classical Greek and Roman architecture, which emphasized symmetry of features (windows, fireplaces, doors etc.) and grandiose proportions to exhibit wealth.

The Move

Campbell House was originally located on a plot of land 1 ½ kilometres to the southeast of its' present location at the intersection of what is now Adelaide St. and Frederick St. (where the George Brown School of Hospitality is located today). After Sir William's death in 1834, the house was willed to his wife, Lady Hannah, for her use. After her death in 1844 the property and contents of the house were auctioned off and the proceeds were distributed amongst their heirs. For most of the 19th century the house was maintained as a private residence. After the turn of the 20th century the building was used by several businesses as office space and as a factory, including a horseshoe nail company and an elevator company, and the house fell into disrepair. The last owners of the property (Coutts-Hallmark Greeting Cards) wanted to demolish the house to extend their parking lot. At this time the house was offered to anyone who could remove it from the property. A professional association of Trial Lawyers known as the Advocates' Society intervened to save the house, move the building and restore it to its present appearance. The house was moved to its present location at the corner of Queen and University on

Friday, March 31st, 1972.
My father took me downtown that day to see the move.