30 Vintage Photographs Capture Canadian Punk Scenes From the Early 1980s

The first punk rock bands in Canada emerged during the late 1970s, in the wake of the US band Ramones and the UK bands Sex Pistols and the Clash. The Viletones, the Diodes and the Demics were among the pioneers, together with the Skulls (featuring Joey who would go on to form DOA, and Wimpy (Brian Roy) who would lead the Subhumans) from Vancouver, and Hamilton's Teenage Head, whose records and live shows earned them the nickname "Canada's Ramones". Vibrant local punk scenes sprung up in Toronto and Vancouver and other Canadian cities. By 1980/81 a Canadian hardcore punk scene emerged.

These candid photographs were taken by a Flicker's user ragamuffin1984 from 1980 to 1984. They give us a glimpse into Canadian Punk scenes in Ottawa, Montreal and Toronto in the early 1980s.

See more»

Fascinating Color Photos That Capture Transportation of Toronto in the 1980s

A fascinating photo collection from Kevin Mueller that shows transportation of Toronto in the 1980s.

See more»

Mystery Valentines: Toronto Woman Received a Valentine's Day Card From a Secret Admirer Every February Since 1928

According to the Toronto Star, here's the Toronto's most enduring love story — at least on paper — was about resident Meryl Dunsmore and a secret admirer whose valentines spanned six decades. Every year from 1928 when Dunsmore was 16, a card would arrive from somewhere around the world.

“I hope he doesn't stop,” Meryl Dunsmore commented of the secret admirer in 1972.

Meryl Dunsmore in 1972, at age 60.

Meryl Dunsmore in 1985, at age 73.

Dunsmore, who died in 1988 at age 76, thought he might be an old classmate turned sailor but his identity was never revealed.

At her funeral he sent a bouquet and card that read “rest in peace My Valentine.”

(via the Toronto Star)

25 Amazing Then-and-Now Photos Show How Toronto Has Changed From 1959 to 2014

Toronto, the capital of the province of Ontario, is a major Canadian city along Lake Ontario's northwestern shore. It's a dynamic metropolis with a core of soaring skyscrapers, all dwarfed by the iconic, free-standing CN Tower.

Toronto also has many green spaces, from the orderly oval of Queen's Park to 400-acre High Park and its trails, sports facilities and zoo.

To be as this day, Toronto has experienced a long period of strong development and change. Mr T.O. took pictures of this city in 2014 and put them together with the 1959 ones to see how it has changed over the past 55 years.

Take a look...

194 Randall Street

856 Eglinton east

1749 Victoria Park Avenue being built & entrance to St. Jude's Church

1759 Victoria Park Avenue looking south east

Africa Inland Mission at 1641 Victoria Park

See more»

25 Beautiful Color Photos That Capture Everyday Life of Toronto During the 1950s

Toronto is the most populous city in Canada, the provincial capital of Ontario, and the centre of the Greater Toronto Area, the most populous metropolitan area in Canada. A global city, it is an international centre of business, finance, arts, and culture, and is widely recognized as one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.

And here is a beautiful collection of color photos that shows the daily life of Toronto in the 1950s.

See more»

Rare Snapshots Capture Students in Their Dorm Rooms in Toronto, 1904-1905

These were in the old Trinity College buildings that were in what is now Trinity-Bellwoods park. Sadly they're all gone now!

(via reddit)

Shorts Causing Chaos: First Women to Wear Shorts in Public Caused a Car Crash, Toronto, 1937

Is this news real or a hoax!

Circulating news: In 1937 two young women wore shorts in the public for the first time, they drew a huge amount of male attention and even caused a car accident!

Photo #1: Women in shorts cause car to “crash” into pole, 1937. It may be considered as a ironic caption!

Photo #2:

Photo #3: Women in shorts being stared at by men outside department store, 1937

Photo #4: Window shopping at Simpsons department store, 1937

Photo #5: Window shopping at Eaton’s department store, 1937 (Toronto, Canada)

The photos are claimed to be taken by the Alexandra Studio of Toronto, Canada in 1937.

The story circulating “girls with shorts for the first caused a car accident” is a fake meme or ironic caption!

1. Photo #1: The girls yet not crossed the line on the floor, and the men are looking at them with wonder!!

2. Photo #2: Girls just crossed the line on the floor, and the men and horse-cart disappeared! Less than 2 seconds, 8 men, a bike and a horse cart disappeared!? Only great illusionist like Harry Houdini or David Copperfield can do that magic!

3. Photo #3: Watch the man going against the fire hydrant!?

4. Notice in the three photos the same car with the number plate: 307!

5. The fact that the photographer Louis J. Turofsky could do this magic because:

• The girls are models!?
• It was a photo session for a fashion magazine!?

Those two young girls in shorts, in-fact didn’t cause any car accident!

Wonderful Color Photographs of the Toronto Pop Festival, June 1969

To say another "lost" festival of the summer of 1969 gets old, but, yes, the Toronto Pop Festival (as opposed to the Toronto Rock and Roll Festival later the same year) is another of the 1969 festivals few have heard of.

The Toronto Pop Festival was held on June 2st and 22nd in 1969 at the Varsity Stadium, a few months before Woodstock. Tickets were $6 a day or $10 for both days. Bands such as Blood Sweat and Tears, Sly and The Family Stone, Dr John, Rotary Connection, Steppenwolf and The Velvet Underground played at weekend event.

These great photos of the audience and acts were taken on the Saturday afternoon. The Artists pictured here include Chuck Berry with a friend, Ronnie Hawkins in a purple suit, Soulster Edwin Starr with his white suited backing band, Blue man Slim Harpo, Procol Harum and Motherlode with their cool beret wearing keyboard player.

See more»