EATON CENTRE COMMERCIALS OF THE 1980s

THE CENTRE OF IT ALL

[@MikeRoberts1964]

Oy, the hair.....This era would have been when I was in high school and then at U of T......great memories of visiting the Eaton's Centre, either to shop or to just pass through.

[@SimonCallahan]

I've only been to The Eaton Centre once in my life, back in the 90s. My school took a trip to see Phantom Of The Opera, and one of our stops was Eaton Centre. We got to do some shopping and had lunch there. It was amazing to this little guy from Niagara.

[@arricammarques1955]

Ad. budgets during the 80's were legendary.

[@MrTantraMan]

Absolutely

[@lamatrea]

There was a feeling of unity back then. Toronto was far more peaceful.

[@chosenideahandle]

It would depend on where you lived and who you are. We have all the same problems now, and some of them were actually much worse back then.

[@FrankKnight8846]

Toronto was so great back in the days...I truly miss it

[@MrTantraMan]

It still is but radically changed in more ways than one.

[@WayneKoltchigin]

It's amazing how much the Eaton Centre has changed from what it was to what it is now

[@EdRLToronto]

I worked at the Japan Camera Centre One Hour Photo in the Eaton Centre in April-August, 1987.

[@jeffclark6988]

Funny how we all say the same thing but couldn't stop what has happened to TO i truly miss those days

[@waivedwench]

Eaton's has been replaced by a Nordstorm, but it WAS, IS and ALWAYS will be the EATON'S CENTRE!!!

[@waivedwench]

@@laurenwieland9309 I remember. Sears folded as well, in the end . But the Eaton's Centre name ENDURES!!!

[@waivedwench]

@@laurenwieland9309 No, I don't recall my parents ever buying one. Think I got my first bra there, though.

[@warreneckels4945]

I am so happy to hear that it's still there.

[@RandyDrayton]

Eaton's was not replaced by Nordstrom. Sears was. Cadillac-Fairview bought the property.

[@RandyDrayton]

And actually Sears closed down first then remained dormant for a little while. Then they revamp the area so you could walk through from the Dundas entrance into the mall on the second level where they put new stores. Only then they converted the biggest store to Nordstrom

[@mrnaji]

Babu Bhatt sings like an Angel

[@annawilson1358]

Truly brings back good memories, especially my favourite restaurant Mr Greenjeans = Buffallo chips and chicken wings, yummy

[@mikeroulleau3963]

Whenever we had a PD Day in High School as they used to call them...a bunch of us would head downtown and go to the Toronto EATON Centre. We'd always have lunch at Mr. Greenjean's. The girls would always enjoy Ice Cream from Swensons later in the afternoon. Such happy memories!🙂

[@Ripplin]

Love these recent compilations. Thank you!

[@bilalahmed2123]

I remember this as a little kid. The Eaton Centre isn’t what it used to be ! Especially in the last 20 years. Remember Grand and Toy, and Mc Donald’s being on the main level by the door.

[@mikeroulleau3963]

Grand & Toy, Cultures and McDonalds were all at the south end (Queen Street) end of the mall....before the bridge crossing over into Simpsons...now HUDSON'S BAY/SAKSFIFTHAVENUE on the east side of the mall. I especially miss mr.greenjeans, Simpsons Department Store and of course EATON'S. Mall not the same without them!!!

[@warreneckels4945]

This American has wonderful memories of the Eaton Center -- especially its food court! It was right on the subway and it seemed a miracle that you could go to a mall without driving. The chicken balls (white chicken breast deep-fried in ball-shaped breading) was a treat. For some reason, there were an awful lot of Americans hanging out that US Memorial Day afternoon, some of them celebrating the US holiday with Cuban cigars (verboten in the US). It just seemed so wonderful. Across the street stood The World's Largest Bookstore. This was well before Barnes and Noble and Borders spread out over the American landscape, and just to be able to walk around and shop through so many books! (My buddy at work would tell stories of Yonge Street south of Bloor. I guess he was there when it specialized in titillating heterosexual men...by the time I walked down Yonge Street it seemed to specialize in titillating gay men.) Then there were Honest Ed's...Union Station...Casa Loma...Bloor Street West... Ontario Centre had an IMAX theater where they showed a special on the human body. Let's just say that it managed to get hot in the auditorium without the temperature changing. For some reason the CN tower made it into a LOT of my photos.

[@chosenideahandle]

It wouldn't occur to me someone wouldn't know what chicken balls are, but I assume a lot😂

[@Reed488]

As a fellow American, I share your sentiment. The Eaton Centre is the most breathtaking and beautiful mall to which I have ever been. Toronto overall is just a lovely, charming city which has a piece of my heart; it is the only mega-city in which I would ever consider living.

[@WayneKoltchigin]

I wasn't born in the early days of Eaton Centre I was born in 1992 but I semi remember briefly what it looked like back in the day all I remember is the movie theater they use to have there lol

[@AnthonyBialy]

My city, my centre, my style

[@themastersb]

Can I still find the Joker there from 0:46?

[@OofusTwillip]

I recognize the costume on the mime/dancer in the 2nd commercial. It was worn by one of the Juul Haalmeyer dancers on "SCTV".

[@robtoe2]

@4:08 we have Tony Rosato of SCTV fame. RIP.

[@64BBernard]

Toronto is too packed now. Nearly makes me claustrophobic.

[@DevilFish69]

1980s and early 1990s Toronto was the best.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

@@DevilFish69 So true. It was called 'Toronto the Good'. Now it's "good for nothing"

[@IceManLikeGervin]

Too much, too many people, too much...density is a bad thing only the government likes it for more tax dollars to collect and waste

[@chosenideahandle]

Memories are funny that way. You can walk down Yonge on a weekend now without even bumping into anyone, but back in the 80s you'd have to take a shower when you got home. It was a zoo back then, and smelled much worse than an actual zoo.

[@darthwizzywizard]

Man Toronto has changed. Lol.

[@allstardemon]

Wizard Wiz ya for the worse

[@yakamarezlife]

@@allstardemon hell yes it has I left in 97 it was a hellhole then

[@jaymillerr]

So Gentrified now, Todays Toronto is so much worse

[@Neville60001]

@@yakamarezlife, please, please tell me what city's so 'better' than Toronto?

[@yakamarezlife]

@@Neville60001 I'm not in Canada anymore in London now way better than Toronto

[@HT-ww3zg]

The Eaton Centre - Is it still there?

[@senns2589]

yes it is there execpt its closed now too bad huh

[@MrTantraMan]

It most certainly is

[@whaler3232]

I'd always hit the Eaton Center during our yearly summer trip to Toronto. Now I avoid the City altogether at all costs.

[@HT-ww3zg]

Me too - sad, isn't it?

[@aftdinnermint]

Me too, and I’m only about 35 mins outside of downtown Toronto. Just sadly not worth the hassle anymore.

[@besmajubran5244]

I don't blame you. It's not worth the drive for me. It's a pain in the neck to find parking.

[@discoveryman59]

The people look SO normal.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

That because they were.

[@arricammarques1955]

White Anglo-Saxon Casting...

[@peteryeung111]

I remember a few lol

[@uou_knightplaysoldchannel1557]

the people did the commercial are old by now

[@skywishr1313]

nice

[@MrTantraMan]

Gone were the days people would go to the Eaton Centre. COVID killed all that but it's what I call a moratorium for people coming into the malls.

[@mikeroulleau3963]

One of the actors in the "second segment" commercial showing the Old City Hall is Canadian Actor Yannick Bisson...at least I'm pretty sure it's him. He hasn't changed a bit. Still extremely fit and young looking!

[@chosenideahandle]

It's not him.

[@arricammarques1955]

Sony Beta-Cam SP Footage : )

[@LaughingLion4Ever]

4:10 Tony Rosato

[@OofusTwillip]

And voiceover by Don Francks.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

that's right!

[@arricammarques1955]

Tony, during his sane years.

[@arricammarques1955]

@@OofusTwillip Don Francks Actor & Hep Cat : )

[@RandyDrayton]

As someone who was born in 87 and never saw an Eaton Centre commercial in my life.. and as a current resident of Toronto (for those who really know how it is). I am thoroughly confused lol 😕 Now Eatons is a dead shell and had always been that way lol. Except for the annual Christmas tree unveiling. That's literally it. Life here seems not surface but ppl are really living it wow. I've never seen ppl more alive in Toronto in my almost 34 years now lol

[@wyldebill4178]

Nothing draws a crowd like a gay mime

[@edwardbliss8931]

Back then, it felt like you were entering something special and larger than life. Now I try to avoid the Eaton Centre if I can

[@TheBlueyedblond]

don't you own a bullet-proof vest?

[@Neville60001]

Why, did somebody touch your in a certain place, snowflake?

[@pressureworks]

You'll find it all at the center, except for ethnic minorities.

[@jorgesoberanes2378]

It was the 80's dude

[@pressureworks]

@@jorgesoberanes2378 since the title of the video specifically says ...Of The 1980s...............................the commercials might actually be showing how the so called thinking was in the 80's. Fartknockers.

[@chosenideahandle]

Yeah, not everything was better in the 80s. Actually, not even close.

[@Mode7GamingPLUS]

"Capitalism"

[@vistaprime]

the marketing people and the casting agents must be slapping themselves now for the complete lack of diversity they showcased in these commercials, none of which represented the cultural mosaic you find at the Eaton Centre, even back in the 80's.

[@BrianLatimersPage]

Commercials generally feature the demographic you are trying to attract, not the one that surrounds you as you film the commercial. Does this even need to be said?

[@vistaprime]

@@BrianLatimersPage So they are trying to attract an all white clientele. I find that hard to believe and if you asked those people behind the commericals that question, they would staunchly deny it.

[@darthwizzywizard]

vistaprime hey just want to say Fuck you.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

@@vistaprime The Eaton Centre was also CRIME FREE back then. They didn't need a police station inside. No one was getting shot. You could walk around Yonge/Dundas at night with no fear. Fast forward 40 years and it's a sh%thole. That's not racism, it's a statistical fact.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

@@vistaprime The people behind the commercials where white. They didn't need to pander back then to minorities for fear of being sued or losing their jobs. Whites don't have their own networks like BET. We're not allowed to.

[@DevilFish69]

0:52 Is that Joaquin Phoenix?

[@TheBlueyedblond]

No, it's Trudeau in white face

[@TheGatheringWithin]

Eaton's was always way overpriced I am glad malls are phasing out

[@neoretro5328]

Fuck you, nazi.

[@HT-ww3zg]

@@neoretro5328 🤣

[@marjoriemorris5849]

Why would you be glad malls are phasing out? Because you think they’re overpriced? Someone else may think they’re not overpriced, and you’re glad they’re phasing out?!? Then why wouldn’t you just stay out of the malls and let other people enjoy them????