The 1960s were a time of significant social and cultural change in Toronto. The city was undergoing rapid growth and development, and many new buildings and landmarks were constructed during this period. The Toronto Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup in 1967, and the city played host to a number of major cultural events, including the opening of the Royal Ontario Museum. The city also saw an influx of immigrants from around the world, which added to its cultural diversity. Despite these positive developments, the 1960s were also a time of tension and conflict, as the city struggled with issues such as poverty and racial discrimination.
In the 1960s, Toronto was also home to a thriving music scene. Many popular bands and musicians got their start in Toronto during this time, including the legendary rock band Rush. The city was also home to many jazz clubs and other music venues, and it was a popular destination for touring musicians from around the world.
#1 The windows have changed somewhat, but I’m fairly certain that this is Saint Peter’s Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1960s (completed 1955). East side of Mount Pleasant Ave., north of Eglinton Ave. E.
#2 View looking east on King St. W. at York St., 1960s.
#3 Looking south on York Street, from King. 91 York – New Prince George Hotel, 1961
#4 2 Carlton St. / Carlton Tower. NE corner of Yonge & College, 1960.
#5 Looking northwest towards Dundas & Parliament, 1960s.
#6 Withrow Park wading pool, looking northwest toward Logan Avenue, 1960s.
#7 Withrow Park, looking east (ESE) across the park from the wading pool toward the outdoor rink, 1960s
#8 928-938ish Dufferin Street, c.1960s. The houses were rental, owned by the Denison Estate and sold in the late 1920s, just south of what is now Croatia Street.
#9 N C Cameron & Sons, (Importers) 919 Dufferin St., 1960s. This is on the NE corner of Dufferin and Dufferin Park Ave. Now an apartment building. Houses to the north still stand.
#10 GO locomotive GP40TC #606 heads an eastbound train out of Scarborough GO station about to cross the busy St. Clair Ave. E. grade crossing in September of 1967, during the first few months of GO train operation.
#11 Dufferin Plaza Shopping Centre, 1960s. 782-906 Dufferin. This view, looking south down what would be the main corridor of the now-enclosed Dufferin Mall.
#12 Briar Hill and Duplex Avenue, the Anglican Church of St. Clement, 1960s.Some trees are gone, some new ones have grown, the benches have moved, the path has changed, but otherwise much the same today.
#13 Looking east from Spadina Avenue, right at the Spadina Roundhouse. Many locomotives, 1960s.
#14 The pool at Eglinton Park, 1960s. This view looking northwest, across the pool, towards the backs of houses on the east side of Oriole Parkway (north of Eglinton).
#15 Looking east along the tracks, from the Spadina Avenue bridge, towards downtown, 1960s.
#16 Looking west from the Spadina Ave. bridge along tracks leading to the Spadina Roundhouse (to the east), 1960s.
#17 Looking north along Sumach Street from Queen, 1960s. In the distance, two of Peter Dickinson’s Maisonette Towers are visible.
#18 Eglinton Park, probably late 1960s
#19 Northeast corner, University and Edward, 1960s.
#20 West side of University Ave at Elm, 1960s.
#21 A great shot of St. Lawrence Market and Market Street, before the market’s renovation and area development, 1960s
#22 385-391 Yonge Street in 1962.
#23 A nice look at 381 Yonge Street as it appeared in 1962.
#24 375-381 Yonge Street, in 1962.
Look at those storefronts in the middle. The House of Mann, with its plank siding and rooftop carriage. Bermuda Tavern, with its vertical signage and neon ‘home of the steer’. Also, a good look at the Rio marquee, and a bike leaning against the Yonge St Mission.
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#25 Apart from the facade of the Yonge Street Mission, this stretch of streetscape no longer exists. East side of Yonge St. just south of Gerrard St., 1962.
#26 A look back south towards the Biltmore Theatre, at 319 Yonge Street, 1962. Upstairs, at 321-325 Yonge, a sign indicating the opening of ‘Club Nocturne’
#27 335 Yonge Street in 1962.
#28 Yonge & Gerrard, looking southeast at 373-391 Yonge, from the Rio Theatre to the Gerrard Bldg. in 1962. All now demolished, with some retained facades to be part of Concord Sky.
#29 363-365 Yonge Street in 1962
#30 A closer look at Steele’s Tavern in 1962. Between Sam the Record Man and A&A. Where Gordon Lightfoot got started.
#31 Yonge & Gould, 1962
#32 Looking north from 327 Yonge in 1962
Disney Shop (men’s wear) Empire Shoe Repairs Times Square Books and Magazines Le Coq D’Or Tavern (great signage!) Upstairs, Olympia Bowling(Olympian Recreation Club)Edison Hotel (originally the Empress Hotel - lost to fire)
