[Blovertis]

The TD tower in those shots reminds me of the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey: A totem from a more advanced civilization suddenly plunked down into a primitive culture.

 

[thecharioteer]

The TD tower in those shots reminds me of the monolith in 2001: A Space Odyssey: A totem from a more advanced civilization suddenly plunked down into a primitive culture.

That's how we all felt at the time.....

 

[ares]

It doesn't look like we can embed YouTube videos, but here's a link to some great 1975 home movies of Ontario Place, specifically the Children's Village - rope slides, water area, etc...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj5x1vEmtQg

Yes we can Ed

[video=youtube;kj5x1vEmtQg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj5x1vEmtQg[/video]

Thanks for posting that, I remember all of it.

Damn that takes me back.

 

[thecharioteer]

From the Telegram Archives:

Men's fashions 1970:

The Canadettes at the CNE, 1964:

Caribana 1968:

 

[Uncle Teddy]

First shot could be Roman and Sharon

 

[thecharioteer]

First shot could be Roman and Sharon

I think Roman was shorter.....

 

[junctionist]

Some great shots here. Amazing to think we went from basically no skyline to a major one almost overnight.

There was a skyline, though of course it was much more modest in scale. It was one of many church spires, domes, and the tops of public institutions and buildings like City Hall and old Union Station. The transformation to the modern skyline was indeed remarkably fast.

 

[Conrad Black]

One Royal York does not make for much of a skyline. The difference between 1965 and 1975 is striking.

 

[FAC33]

One Royal York does not make for much of a skyline. The difference between 1965 and 1975 is striking.

I agree, but before the TD what we would consider today mid-level skyscrapers were more prominent -- Commerce Court, the old Scotia building, and the Toronto Star building (which is hidden behind the TD in most of these shots). It wasn't just the Royal York. But once the TD went up, it signaled the end of that older, less towering, skyline.

 

[thecharioteer]

There was a skyline, though of course it was much more modest in scale. It was one of many church spires, domes, and the tops of public institutions and buildings like City Hall and old Union Station. The transformation to the modern skyline was indeed remarkably fast.

A brief skyline retropective:

1803:

1851:

1854:

1875:

1885:

1901:

1912:

1914:

1919:

1927:

Late 20's:

1930's:

1938:

1943:

1950's:

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

I do not remember ever having seen the second (1851) pic.

Take note of the Gooderham & Worts windmill sans it's blades

just west of their quay as well as the numbering of the buildings

at the bayshore, undoubtedly from another sheet.

Regards,
J T

 

[junctionist]

A brief skyline retropective:

Thanks for putting that together. I love how the skyline grew up to 1912. It just kept getting denser with more spires and domes, as well as water towers and smoke stacks. After that, skyscrapers became more common, though I see it as a transition period from the classical skyline of spires to the modern skyline dominated by high-rise buildings because there weren't that many truly tall towers up until the 1950s. And yet, those photos show that there were perspectives of that skyline that could be impressive, too.

 

[J T CUNNINGHAM]

"I do not remember ever having seen the second (1851) pic." MY ABOVE QUOTE.

In fact, most of the above pics are new to me!

Thank you Sire.


Regards,
J T

 

[adma]

This one'd be mid-teens; notice the skeleton of Royal Bank at Yonge + King.

Otherwise...interesting to see the Royal York coming up, yet still not at mansard-level.

 

[thecharioteer]

This one'd be mid-teens; notice the skeleton of Royal Bank at Yonge + King.

Quite right and corrected! The Royal Bank was completed in 1915, so I would place the pic about 1914.