More Lost Queen Street

More shots of Queen Street that no longer exists.

Old House on McCaul Street

The only surviving house on McCaul Street north of Baldwin. It appears well cared for.

Bassel's Restaurant/Yonge and Gerrard

Bassel's matchbooks courtesy of the Chuckman Collection. The sort of thing most people would throw away but thankfully someone cares enough to collect this ephemera.

Like the Silver Rail at Yonge and Shuter, Bassel's was another bar on the strip that is sadly missed. Here's a collection of photos over the years. Originally Bassel's Lunch it evolved into Bassel's Restaurant and Tavern and lasted until at least 1977 (the first time I visited).

The menu.

A postcard from the early 1960's

2011.

One last shot looking south down Yonge in front of the Coronet Theatre from the late 1970's.

2010.

Dundas and Elizabeth/Then and Now

Dundas Street West looking south down Elizabeth in 1930.
A similar view in 2010 , That's new City Hall (1966) in the background.

Half a House

This victorian semi on St. Patrick seems to be missing something...

Just For Fun/Lois Lane 106

In the early 1970's comic books decided to become "relevant" and felt the need to deal with more complex social and racial issues. Here's the cover of Lois Lane 106 (Nov. 1970). In search of a story, Lois decides that she needs to live as a black woman for 24 hours and with Superman's help is able to achieve a transformation. As expected she is treated poorly by some and better by others.. All in all a bizarre scenerio.
The splash page.
I Am Curious (Black) is a play on a well known Swedish film of the period that was banned in several countries, I Am Curious (Yellow).

College and Clinton/Then and Now

Looking west along College from Clinton in August of 1936.
The same view in 2010.
The Royal Theatre was built in 1939 and originally called the" Pylon".

Vintage Auto Accessories-Kar Kool

This is an under dash accessory from the 60's - The Kar Kool. It's really just a fan and doesn't do much but blow air. It does however look "Kool".
In fact, it would look good in a 1964 Chevrolet Corvair Monza.

More Cool Bikes

An early 70's Honda 450 DOHC.

A mid 70's Honda 550/Four in factory colours.

This is a 1967 Honda 305 Superhawk.
Robert M. Pirsig rode a 1964 Honda Superhawk CB77 during the trip that led to his popular book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
The cover.

Front and Church/Then and Now

Looking west along Front street from the Flatiron building in the late 1960's.The same view in 2010.

Wellington and Leader Lane/Then and Now

Wellington looking east past Leader Lane in the 1870's.
The 3 story building to the right still exists.

Looking east along Wellington at Leader Lane in the late 1960's. Leader Lane was named after the newspaper "the Toronto Leader" (1852-1878) whose offices were located here.
John Beaty was the publisher.
2010

Adelaide and Bay/Then and Now

The N/W corner of Bay and Adelaide, date unknown, the home and brewery of John Doel.

John Doel.

The N/W corner of Bay and Adelaide in 1827 the home and brewery of John Doel.
Although this photo is labelled 1914 in the archives it has to be earlier as E.S. Willard performed his final North american tour in 1905 and died in 1915.
E.S. Willard

The N/W corner of Bay and Adelaide in 1910.
By now the family house has been turnrd into a discount store and is in a sad state of desrepair.
Suits $15.00-no more, no less!
The Gayety Theatre (billboard) was located on Richmond Street.
A similar view in 2010.
1910.
2010.

Queen and University/Then and Now

Looking west along Queen from Simcoe in 1931.
2010 and not too much has changed.
Looking west from the foot of University. When this photo was taken, University stopped at Queen Street.
Today.

Adelaide and Sheppard/Then and Now

Looking east at the north side of Adelaide at Sheppard in the late 1940's.
The building on the left is The Concourse Building. This is before Adelaide was a one way street.
Today.