[thecharioteer]

And then the whole world as they knew it changed.

Well put! Reminds me of the movie (and book) "The Magnificent Ambersons", which also portrays the effect the automobile had on an entire way of life.

 

[College Park]

...big phat thumbs down to the EIFS entombed St. Charles. oh god, when will be free of this pox on our facades?? it looks absolutely horrible.

The developer (renovator?) who reworked this site has also done up several Yonge properties further north, including 7-11 (not entombed), the block at Breadalbane housing Hornero restaurant, and one at Irvin. They all look substantially improved compared to their prior declined states, but I also despaired at the choice of stucco.

 

[thecharioteer]

If I may be indulged with another equine contribution, titled "Twelve Horse Team Pulling Snow Sweeper" November 21, 1891:

 

[thecharioteer]

And for those of us who look forward to the return of summer:

 

[Mustapha]

If I may be indulged with another equine contribution, titled "Twelve Horse Team Pulling Snow Sweeper" November 21, 1891:

I can see this team creating their own mess.

 

[LowPolygon]

And for those of us who look forward to the return of summer:

i find myself wondering after the influences in some of these costumes! they look rife with literary and popular associations. i can see 'bo peep' shepherd girls with their staffs, gypsy women from Il Trovatore or Carmen, orientalist kimonos à la Madame Butterfly, 'renaissance faire' costumes of brocaded velvet, and others. as a grouping, they say a lot about the cultural influences coursing through the city's elite at the time....

of course within a few decades these cultural references would be joined by others: pop Egyptophilia , vixen-like ‘ little dutch girls’, and uhm, really ugly transvestites…

 

[LowPolygon]

a selection of old bridge photographs....

 

[thecharioteer]

Deepend, your costume pictures have inspired me to search out further examples of Torontonians' penchant for dressing up, from TTC workers on Hallowe'en, to schoolkids at the AGO, to showgirls, to figure skaters, to U of T students, to Metroplitan Opera stars at Maple Leaf Gardens:

TTC Hallowe'en party 1934:

 

[Mustapha]

If you type "beauty" into the Toronto archives search field there are 363 results; mostly of beauty pageant/Miss Toronto photos. For whatever reason I find them innocent and charming.


Miss Billie Hallam, Miss Toronto 1937.

Hot, ladies?

 

[LowPolygon]

Deepend, your costume pictures have inspired me to search out further examples of Torontonians' penchant for dressing up, from TTC workers on Hallowe'en, to schoolkids at the AGO, to showgirls, to figure skaters, to U of T students, to Metroplitan Opera stars at Maple Leaf Gardens:

TTC Hallowe'en party 1934:

many many fantastic images here! what is striking of course is how original, hand crafted, rough hewn many of them are. they come from a time when costumes were largely made by hand, when the making was as important as the wearing and a time before the rise of a corporate brand-oriented pop culture. outside of the strangely menacing (and inaccurate) Mickey Mouse in the TTC costume party, there isn't a recognizable corporate image in the bunch. there is nothing remotely like the store bought 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Harry Potter', or 'Star Trek' costumes that surround us these days!

 

[LowPolygon]

If you type "beauty" into the Toronto archives search field there are 363 results; mostly of beauty pageant/Miss Toronto photos. For whatever reason I find them innocent and charming.


Miss Billie Hallam, Miss Toronto 1937.

i agree! they are charming in their way...the Billie Hallam ones in particular are quite great because they really capture 'the life of a local beauty queen' in the depths of the depression....

 

[Urban Shocker]

There never was a ladylike way to eat some foods, as that hamburger shot shows.

 

[thecharioteer]

many many fantastic images here! what is striking of course is how original, hand crafted, rough hewn many of them are. they come from a time when costumes were largely made by hand, when the making was as important as the wearing and a time before the rise of a corporate brand-oriented pop culture. outside of the strangely menacing (and inaccurate) Mickey Mouse in the TTC costume party, there isn't a recognizable corporate image in the bunch. there is nothing remotely like the store bought 'Pirates of the Caribbean', 'Harry Potter', or 'Star Trek' costumes that surround us these days!

Given the TTC costumes, perhaps Dali was more influential in Toronto at the time than previously thought

 

[LowPolygon]

"There never was a ladylike way to eat some foods, as that hamburger shot shows."

yes, you're right--i reckon that's one pic that didn't assume 'pride of place' in the family photo album...
still, you have to admire the 'gusto' with which she undertakes the task!

 

[adma]

There never was a ladylike way to eat some foods, as that hamburger shot shows.

Not to mention the "nice pokies" observation one can make here