Hogtown 101
@hogtown101.bsky.social
Toronto history from various angles.
After SCTV, Dave Thomas starred in a short-lived TV sci-fi spoof 'Rocket Boy.' Produced in Toronto by Nelvana and directed by John Blanchard (SCTV; Kids in the Hall), it co-starred John Candy & Ron James. It was re-cut into a TV movie in 1989, which you can see here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahMS...
July 18, 2025 at 7:12 PM
After SCTV, Dave Thomas starred in a short-lived TV sci-fi spoof 'Rocket Boy.' Produced in Toronto by Nelvana and directed by John Blanchard (SCTV; Kids in the Hall), it co-starred John Candy & Ron James. It was re-cut into a TV movie in 1989, which you can see here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahMS...
Your post appeared in my feed back to back with this one, and my brain automatically saw a pattern:
June 1, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Your post appeared in my feed back to back with this one, and my brain automatically saw a pattern:
Birds' eye view of the Princes' Gates in the 1950s: Exhibition Place, Shell Oil Tower and CNE Grandstand in view.
May 15, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Birds' eye view of the Princes' Gates in the 1950s: Exhibition Place, Shell Oil Tower and CNE Grandstand in view.
When you got lost inside Honest Ed's, these were basically waymarkers.
May 10, 2025 at 3:40 PM
When you got lost inside Honest Ed's, these were basically waymarkers.
And here's a review of 1986 hamburger options along Bloor Street (between Bathurst and Bay), from an issue of "The Varsity" in Oct. 1986.
April 24, 2025 at 3:15 AM
And here's a review of 1986 hamburger options along Bloor Street (between Bathurst and Bay), from an issue of "The Varsity" in Oct. 1986.
A selection of Toronto restaurants in 1989, published in Margaret MacKenzie's "The Toronto Guide" (1989). Peter Pan on Queen St. W. is one of the last still standing.
April 24, 2025 at 3:09 AM
A selection of Toronto restaurants in 1989, published in Margaret MacKenzie's "The Toronto Guide" (1989). Peter Pan on Queen St. W. is one of the last still standing.
Canadian Bank of Commerce branch on the N.E. corner of St. Clair Ave. W. at Dufferin at the time of construction circa 1918.
April 18, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Canadian Bank of Commerce branch on the N.E. corner of St. Clair Ave. W. at Dufferin at the time of construction circa 1918.
Nathan Phillips' Hair (1948)
April 13, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Nathan Phillips' Hair (1948)
One of the oddest collaborations of Toronto talent was Doug Henning’s first big production as a magician-showman: “Spellbound” (1973) at the Royal Alex, starring Henning, produced by Ivan Reitman, co-starring Jennifer Dale, written by David Cronenberg, with music by Howard Shore.
April 12, 2025 at 2:04 PM
One of the oddest collaborations of Toronto talent was Doug Henning’s first big production as a magician-showman: “Spellbound” (1973) at the Royal Alex, starring Henning, produced by Ivan Reitman, co-starring Jennifer Dale, written by David Cronenberg, with music by Howard Shore.
For a fleeting moment in 1791, York Township was named Dublin Township. This means that the Town of York might have become the Town of Dublin. And the town-folk in 1834 might have chosen to keep that name. So, Toronto might actually have become Dublin, Ontario. Imagine that.
April 5, 2025 at 10:22 PM
For a fleeting moment in 1791, York Township was named Dublin Township. This means that the Town of York might have become the Town of Dublin. And the town-folk in 1834 might have chosen to keep that name. So, Toronto might actually have become Dublin, Ontario. Imagine that.
Here's the front of where it used to be, in case you can't picture the location.
April 4, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Here's the front of where it used to be, in case you can't picture the location.
Oak Hall was a Victorian men’s clothing chain store from Hamilton. The Toronto location (115-121 King E.) was right across from St. James Cathedral – a handy landmark. The demolished site is now Toronto Sculpture Garden, behind which is Oak Hall Lane. You can see St. James through its empty space.
April 4, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Oak Hall was a Victorian men’s clothing chain store from Hamilton. The Toronto location (115-121 King E.) was right across from St. James Cathedral – a handy landmark. The demolished site is now Toronto Sculpture Garden, behind which is Oak Hall Lane. You can see St. James through its empty space.
In the 1950s, an owner of Toronto Macaroni Co. asked his wife, Rose Viggiani, to develop a tomato sauce to accompany the pasta they’d been producing since the 1930s. The result, Bravo, featured a likeness of Rose, as seen in this display from 1967. Bravo was bought by General Mills that same year.
April 3, 2025 at 9:29 PM
In the 1950s, an owner of Toronto Macaroni Co. asked his wife, Rose Viggiani, to develop a tomato sauce to accompany the pasta they’d been producing since the 1930s. The result, Bravo, featured a likeness of Rose, as seen in this display from 1967. Bravo was bought by General Mills that same year.
A view of Yonge Street (looking north) in 1874, south of King St., looking at the Yonge & King intersection. Just 40 years earlier, there was a creek running through this intersection.
April 2, 2025 at 9:17 PM
A view of Yonge Street (looking north) in 1874, south of King St., looking at the Yonge & King intersection. Just 40 years earlier, there was a creek running through this intersection.
In 1920, a Toronto traffic by-law demanded that pedestrians pass each other on the right on the sidewalk. Reportedly, no one was ever charged under this law, which was likely never enforced. In 1944, the province approved a revival of this law, but criticism and ridicule quickly buried it.
April 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In 1920, a Toronto traffic by-law demanded that pedestrians pass each other on the right on the sidewalk. Reportedly, no one was ever charged under this law, which was likely never enforced. In 1944, the province approved a revival of this law, but criticism and ridicule quickly buried it.
Canada Dry originated in Toronto in 1904. When Americans caught-on in 1922, import costs made it much more expensive than other pop. The premium price inspired its title the “Champagne of ginger ales,” which is why the former plant site in Toronto is now called Champagne Drive.
March 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Canada Dry originated in Toronto in 1904. When Americans caught-on in 1922, import costs made it much more expensive than other pop. The premium price inspired its title the “Champagne of ginger ales,” which is why the former plant site in Toronto is now called Champagne Drive.
Westminster Hotel (240 Jarvis St.) began in 1913 as a modern, fire-proof "private hotel." During its final years leading to 1981, its basement bar and music stage, called Midwich Cukcoo, hosted live performances by the likes of Rough Trade, Ian Thomas, The Good Bros. and Downchild Blues Band.
March 21, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Westminster Hotel (240 Jarvis St.) began in 1913 as a modern, fire-proof "private hotel." During its final years leading to 1981, its basement bar and music stage, called Midwich Cukcoo, hosted live performances by the likes of Rough Trade, Ian Thomas, The Good Bros. and Downchild Blues Band.
This is what the S.E. corner of Bloor & Spadina looked like in 1903. The building here is St. Margaret's College, a girls’ boarding school (est. 1897) whose property extended the block eastward to Huron St. By 1910, it was torn down and replaced with the current U of T building.
March 18, 2025 at 9:58 PM
This is what the S.E. corner of Bloor & Spadina looked like in 1903. The building here is St. Margaret's College, a girls’ boarding school (est. 1897) whose property extended the block eastward to Huron St. By 1910, it was torn down and replaced with the current U of T building.
After 1850, the daily ringing of the bell atop St. Lawrence Hall at 6 AM, 12 noon & 6 PM was the job of the building caretaker, who lived on site. When he died in 1892, his widow, Elizabeth Riddle, took over bell-ringing duty for 15 years, into her 70s.
March 17, 2025 at 9:18 PM
After 1850, the daily ringing of the bell atop St. Lawrence Hall at 6 AM, 12 noon & 6 PM was the job of the building caretaker, who lived on site. When he died in 1892, his widow, Elizabeth Riddle, took over bell-ringing duty for 15 years, into her 70s.
251-253 College St., torn down in 2014. Seen here in 2012, 1913 and 1904. Seems that it had been a storage company since being built circa 1904. Stay tuned to Hogtown101 for more thrilling Friday night content to start your weekend off right.
March 14, 2025 at 10:54 PM
251-253 College St., torn down in 2014. Seen here in 2012, 1913 and 1904. Seems that it had been a storage company since being built circa 1904. Stay tuned to Hogtown101 for more thrilling Friday night content to start your weekend off right.
Ad for McLean Publishing Co. in 1892, a year after incorporation, with its office at 10 Front St. E. next to the brand-new Board of Trade (now opposite Meridien Hall). At the time, McLean published trade magazines, but will later famously print Maclean’s, Chatelaine and other big Canadian mags.
March 13, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Ad for McLean Publishing Co. in 1892, a year after incorporation, with its office at 10 Front St. E. next to the brand-new Board of Trade (now opposite Meridien Hall). At the time, McLean published trade magazines, but will later famously print Maclean’s, Chatelaine and other big Canadian mags.
In the 1950s, the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitor Association (est. 1926) created artistic travel pamphlets to lure visitors to Toronto. Here are some of the exciting things they had on offer.
March 12, 2025 at 9:48 PM
In the 1950s, the Metropolitan Toronto Convention and Visitor Association (est. 1926) created artistic travel pamphlets to lure visitors to Toronto. Here are some of the exciting things they had on offer.
From about 1805 to the 1850s, travellers feared the “Blue Hill,” a stretch of Yonge St. between Davenport & Summerhill that had been cut through a hillside made of blue-hued clay. “Indescribably bad” when wet, the muddy route was “impassable,” a “terror” & “hopeless.”
March 11, 2025 at 10:02 PM
From about 1805 to the 1850s, travellers feared the “Blue Hill,” a stretch of Yonge St. between Davenport & Summerhill that had been cut through a hillside made of blue-hued clay. “Indescribably bad” when wet, the muddy route was “impassable,” a “terror” & “hopeless.”
Yonge Street at Gould, night, Feb. 25, 1957. While this snapshot in a German archive (united-archives.de) doesn't identify it as Yonge, we can make out signs for the Edison Hotel (335 Yonge), Olympia Tavern (333 Yonge) and Disney men's clothing (327 Yonge).
March 11, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Yonge Street at Gould, night, Feb. 25, 1957. While this snapshot in a German archive (united-archives.de) doesn't identify it as Yonge, we can make out signs for the Edison Hotel (335 Yonge), Olympia Tavern (333 Yonge) and Disney men's clothing (327 Yonge).
This c.1840 drawing of Toronto by W. H. Bartlett (published 1841) shows the original shoreline on Front St. E. looking towards Church St. On its right is the City Hotel, one of Toronto's earliest prominent hotels (since the 1820s), once known as The Steamboat Hotel (or Inn).
March 8, 2025 at 4:56 PM
This c.1840 drawing of Toronto by W. H. Bartlett (published 1841) shows the original shoreline on Front St. E. looking towards Church St. On its right is the City Hotel, one of Toronto's earliest prominent hotels (since the 1820s), once known as The Steamboat Hotel (or Inn).