Toronto 1977

[@kingofcomments4832]

That is me at 2:57 wearing my favorite blue Adidas shirt with the black Adidas logo on the front and back, wearing painter pants and playing on my favorite strip of pinball machines in one of the popular pinball arcades of the day. The incredible part is, I lived in the Toronto suburbs about 45 minutes away by subway train and I had come down to pick up either a new t-shirt for the first day of high school and/or a new album from Sam the Record Man (and that may be it on the pinball machine to the left of me). Almost 44 years ago, you walked by and captured me on film, put the pic on YT ten years ago and now I find it. Just unbelievable!! I am so thankful to see this!

[@BALI891]

I certainly don't have any other photos with you

[@kingofcomments4832]

@@BALI891 Thanks for looking and another picture would have been great but I'm real happy with finding this one.

[@adgo22]

Thank you for saving and posting this footage..it was the best and saddest of times for Toronto in 1977..For anyone who spent time in Toronto during this period, this is like looking into time machine and wanting to break the glass to get back to that era..bitter sweet memories of how things were and how they have turned out..unfortunately this Toronto is long gone..safe to say life was simpler then as another person mentioned: with no internet or social media garbage like today's kids and their parents have to battle against..we all had so much fun that summer with the arcades, record stores, Ontario Place and the CNE, the BlueJays who were new to town, and who could forget the pizza and subs at Big Slice..that said, we were also aware of the danger's of the street to which came to a head with the incident involving Emanuel..so sad to see him there @2:40 in his element and knowing just shortly thereafter he was gone..he looks so mature/cool in his stance, street wise and comfortable but in reality, he was just a boy..now with boys of my own, I can't imagine what his parents had to endure..I prefer to remember the good times which you captured here so well..cheers..

[@maydom04]

Great photos, love the color.... Toronto was much less cluttered back then.... too many condos and bad architecture today....

[@rocket767]

I would take 1977 Toronto over todays weed infested scum they knock down gorgeous art deco buildings and put up unsightly shit boxes

[@rockybudgeboa]

When Toronto was enjoyable and had some Gorgeous Old Buildings and no Condos

[@canman5060]

Condominium acts was first introduced in 1977 !

[@rocket767]

too many gd condos they are blight these ugly eyesores eclipse downtown

[@infoline100]

Thanks for the great memories! I wish I could go back in time and relive the great moments of growing up in Toronto. Toronto sucks now.

[@stevebiagi1]

I Totally Agree with you Sam. I too Grew up Here and it's sad to see what the city has become.

[@WalkingAfterMidnightRadio]

Steve Biagi I'd like to read more of your description of the differences between then now. I'm too young to know.

[@ddicin7759]

toronto is now disgusting on so many levels (and no, I'm not referring to the ethnic makeup of the place). I wish the americans would 'accidently' drop a bomb on the city so we could start over.

[@APisceanSlant]

Grab a fork. Find an electrical outlet. Insert fork into outlet. Repeat if necessary.

[@rocket767]

@@ddicin7759 lol maybe they will

[@stevebiagi1]

Miss these Times in my teens then. Things were better then and People had more respect for the city and each other. Streets were always clean. It's Shame what has happened to our once beautiful city.

[@michaelh2183]

Diversity happened! Ain't it wonderful.

[@mikestevenson576]

Diversity is not responsible for the lack of investment in basic infrastructure and runaway development.

[@RandyDrayton]

Wow. I'm 30 this year and I dont remember a single day of awesomeness in Toronto on the level you're referring to. Plus, since I was a little kid I've had this intense affinity for the 70s for some reason. Well, late 60s early 70s. I don't know what it is but I always feel the warmth of the people, a growing and learning yet rapidly changing world, that always still managed to put being humble first, sincerety, being openly respectful, yet quite an intimate time for self and to be with others. Things weren't too complicated and plain old simple was okay. It was all about the love, the beautiful music, the connection to nature, and fashion was beautiful. Togetherness was where it was at...and man I still wish I could go back somehow to be 10 in 1967 and ride out the best of my young years during that amazing time. Actually a little early 80s leading to when i was born in 87, then instantaneously transfer back to now :) Tell me all the special things about growing up in that timeframe. I want to know them all haha

[@at1212b]

I was born in 79, moved to toronto in 82, and the 80s was a great time. Things were more calm and stable. Super safe still, kids playing outside everywhere. Ontario Place, Center Island were amazing as well as Halloween. It just had this totally different feel. Starting in the 90s, it definitely became more rougher (more gang activity, fights, especially by certain communities such as vietnamese, etc)

[@rocket767]

@@michaelh2183 like being a foreigner in your own country

[@mikeacton2203]

a much better time in a much better place

[@louisea9607]

mike acton Yes indeed.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Absolutely

[@louisea9607]

The old Toronto. Nice.

[@raffiequler7510]

Lots of hijabs now. Somalian and Persian women downtown now. Can't get any pussy without marriage.

[@rocket767]

@@raffiequler7510 lol

[@ddicin7759]

so....so....so....much better times then. In every way. I hate today's Toronto.

[@cinthia9602]

@D dicin: I know what you mean. I miss the old Toronto myself.

[@tommywong3147]

It's all parking lot back then

[@4o8.sebastian]

BillyGunn LOLOL come down to the U.S sometime, what you consider “dangerous” is complete bullshit down here.

[@sda-clips]

Right parking today is a joke even when u live in a building over 13 years they don't have a parking space for u wth they just rent it out to someone else smh

[@jackflash5659]

I was 9 years old in 77'.....lived 10 minutes away from downtown T.O..... spent much time with friends on Yonge. St. Big Slice Pizza, World's Biggest Bookstore, Sam the Record Man, Head Shops, Eaton Centre, Pinball Arcade, etc....Great times. Haven't shopped or strolled Yonge St. in over 20years. Times have changed. Toronto has changed. Memories last.

[@cinthia9602]

We are the same age meaning that I miss the old Toronto too:-(

[@NoName-vx6up]

Funny enough that all you've mentioned are gone. Great music selection.

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

Remember The Glass Head on Yonge? I loved it in there!

[@mikeroulleau3963]

NO Sam The Record Man, A&A's, World's Biggest Bookstore, EATON'S and Simpsons Department Stores. F.W. Woolworth's, S.S. Kresge 5 & 10 Stores. Totally Different now. At least Hudson's Bay respected the beautiful architecture of the Robert Simpson building and has kept most of it intact. As well as CollegePark with the old EATON'S College Street Store Building...I believe they are currently renovating to restore it to much of its earlier Art Moderne Elegance. Let's wait and see!!!

[@paulettefrost]

Love the video with many memories of my Toronto long ago! Thanks for the visit!!

[@TheCrusaderRabbits]

so clean and white.

[@stumarston6812]

Actually Yonge St. back then was pretty scummy.

[@johnziegelbauer4999]

I was born 1961 at the Salvation army hospital Toronto Grace at Bloor and Church . This brings back so many memories as a teenager . WTF happened to my home town since then .......

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

Thank goodness for those who documented Toronto's past. It's but a shell of its former self .

[@dashcan8479]

Its called FMI

[@roxyrose3157]

Thank you for posting this !! Very cool video, looking back on Toronto in my parents' time 😄 Also...I think the woman at 3:17 in the middle dancing in the White outfit near the Black guy and the woman with Red hair may be my Mum when she was young !! She used to go to Yorkville a lot when it was a "Hippie haven"! I showed her and she thought it may likely be her as well. (Either her or her twin, haha)! Thanks again 😀 💖❤👍

[@BALI891]

She should recognize herself. Compliments

[@rocket767]

you have great taste Roxy Rose this too was my coming of age era Toronto seemed so clean and uncluttered and welcoming back then The Royal York Hotel still had prominence now its physical stature has been dwarfed by multiple thousand foot structures its boxed in with condo after condo I visited Toronto often in the seventies between school trips and forever visiting family I will take the skyline of mid seventies Toronto any day over the Toronto of 2020 its really not the condos in themselves its where their placement especially when they are blocking the waterfront in comparison just take a look at Mississauga of 2020 it is a condo wasteland it use to be so pretty same thing happened to New York City it makes me cringe

[@francis1247]

2014.Just discovered the video, many thanks, woke up lots of memories. Left YYZ in1983 . Now on an island in the Indian ocean La Réunion. Also love the music.

[@petermautner1013]

Thank you .Brings back teary memories of my youth growing up in Toronto.

[@erics9754]

I thought it 30 years ago and warned people but no one cared or listened.

[@jodivandyk3649]

Thanks for this! So many memories!

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

Thanks Tad! Great memories. Nice music & video presentation too.

[@mikeacton2203]

the ol' town was much cleaner back in the day

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

*seedy city tho. Now, it's gentrified & rent's insane.

[@ClintScottFischer]

Hey great post here! living in the city for 38.5 years now, there have been a lot of changes. I really wish I could get my hands on a piece of video footage of someone walking up Yonge street in the 60's and 70's. I've seen some photos, but I've been thinking that someone really needs to take their video camera around Toronto, and just film different areas - so in decades from now, someone can reference such a video. Thanks for this post!

[@greatunz67]

The have Google Earth with the Google Street view car now so basically you can do that on any street in the world now, and a lot of people don't know that Google Earth has a 'time machine' function where in the mode where you are looking down from above there is an option to click a slider and view previous satellite photos going back 20-30 years. It's a really handy thing i spend a lot of time on, comparing changes etc..

[@drgroove]

My mother recorded albums at Candy Apple records in 1977.78 I was only 4 yrs old but I remember it being a magical place to me. Especially at night eating at the eateries. Children seem to hang out late with the adults back then lol.

[@andrewcharles459]

Is that Emmanuel Jacques at 2:44? Died July 29 1977.

[@bellainka]

I thought so too.

[@spendingtimetogether8428]

Like I teleported back. Thank you.

[@marcincz147]

Visited Toronto in 2009 and fell in love in this city. I want to come back this year for 3 weeks holiday. It's totally different than Scotland, the place I stay now.

[@tertur2957]

It’s changed, be prepared to be disappointed. Very expensive, poorly run local government, open drug use and lots of crime.

[@PorkChop513]

nice collection, reminds me when I was a kid.

[@domenicviglione740]

You have a photo of a boy shining shoes on Yonge St. at 2:44 in the video . Is that not Emanuel Jaques ( Shoe Shine Boy ) with his older brother ?

[@BALI891]

It's very possible but I can't be quite sure. I don't remember another boy shining shoes on Yonge St. This picture was taken in July of 1977. I don't remember an exact day, probably it was between 20th and 30th July.

[@domenicviglione740]

I believe that's him and his older brother . Emanuel was abducted on the 28th of July . They where the only boys who shined near this location . I have a photo of his older brother ( the one shining shoes) taken August 2 1977 - and that's him . The boy standing looks around 11 years old light colored hair . Do you live in Toronto ?

[@BALI891]

Domenic Viglione I live in Warsaw, Poland

[@domenicviglione740]

Tadeusz Słabczyński Just wanted to share with you that the boy in the video is Emanuel Jaques . I have confirmed it with people who frequented the area during this period .This photo must have been taken just days before he was murdered . en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emanuel_Jaques. The beauty of photographers . The world needs more . He was murdered on the second floor just 100 meters from this spot . His murder changed Yonge Street . Tragedies always do

[@BALI891]

Domenic Viglione Thank you very much for the information. This is really very sad story. I made this picture - as I remember - in the last week of July. It means that it was taken very close to the day of tragedy. Last days of July or first days of August - I don't remember - I went to the West of Canada by Trans-Canada Highway

[@RayonConmar]

Back when the city had more character and identity.

[@naserdeen8210]

I find Toronto people now so off and mean. i couldn't handle it anymore, i left ! thank god

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

@@naserdeen8210 Cold & distant. That's the vibe--even still. Very nepotistic.

[@suledrake]

This seems to be the case everywhere, sadly.

[@Parkwaymania]

Yonge Street is fun street! Remember that phrase old-schoolers? If I could stop time and freeze good ol' T.O., it would be from 69-85. Then it went all to hell.

[@louisea9607]

Parkwaymania Tel me about it.

[@sda-clips]

That sounds about right lol

[@Proteusbound]

Anyone remember Lindy's steak house on Yonge.. They made the best burgers I ever had.

[@Vincent_Sullivan]

Yup... Make mine a Mexican! Too bad it is gone now, and so is Sai Woo.

[@glen6945]

yup

[@dx398]

Great footage , but a sad summer for Toronto in 1977. 12 year old Shoe shine boy Emanuel Jaques was abducted and murdered at 245 Yonge. Wonder if that is him at the 2:42 minute mark. RIP

[@kenlompart9905]

This video was also posted by someone else and people who knew him and his brother confirmed it is him and his brother is the kid shining the mans shoes. The picture was taken only days before he was killed.

[@dabneydee9109]

The picture at 2:42 caused me to pause the video for the same reason. I don't know if that's a shot of Emanuel, but it _could_ be - given the year, season, and location. Poor kid.

[@suledrake]

Seemed like a very vibrant place in the 70's. Everyone out on the street. Is it still like that now?

[@ddicin7759]

not really. the city is very atomized and alienate, partly due to excessive diversity.

[@APisceanSlant]

Your comments throughout this thread prove your head is way up your ass. The crime is down. The city is cleaner in almost every measurable statistic. The only thing you've been right about, is that Toronto is no longer some boring ass, whitebread town. Get a clue.

[@centrasseptyni8277]

APisceanSlant blacks made Toronto safer? How many shootings were in Toronto 2017-2018? how many blacks involved and how many whites in those killings? All cities in the world became safer because police have better tools, whats all, and definitely not because blacks moved in you hypocrite

[@FrankKnight8846]

Toronto was great back in the days. I miss it. Now Toronto has become an undesirable city.

[@mikesbigtank6015]

I was a teenager in the 70's and that was the last decade when things were simple and laid back, here in Toronto people would cruise up and down yonge street downtown.

[@Hathorspirit]

love this video, thank you for posting..

[@georgestern1150]

Brings back memories of they way things were when growing up. Even Ingeborg shoes is in there. I know the owner who has since passed and the next generation is running the business.

[@jessforan7810]

Wish i could be alive then :( i hate 2010s

[@lilka1serofficial980]

Here here

[@rocket767]

I was 11 in 1977

[@maskof]

Just stumbled upon this and what do I hear? My favorite song by The Pretty Things, Grass. Super!!

[@ricardofranco7461]

May he rest in peace

[@csp1977]

Interesting, i was born Oct 12, 1977 at Mount Sinai Toronto

[@splashenful]

I was born in 1971 at Mount Sinai Toronto.

[@haweater1555]

1:00 Love the shot of the transcontinental train "The Canadian" when the CPR ran it and you could hop on and take you cross country any day of the year on the most scenic route in the world.

[@GeezyEFC]

Great vid thanks for uploading.

[@cinthia9602]

2:43, isn't that the shoeshine kid?

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

yes

[@Paddymayne4738]

DInterestingINteresting footage of Toronto from the early to late 70s. .I first lived in Toronto in the mid 60s in the Davis ille area in the early🎉 high rise Apts. We moved up to the Bathurst and Steelers area to get out of the City. Toronto has changed in many ways over the years, not the least the amount of crime and shootings etc. it was a good safe City to live in. Yes like most Cities in Canada it has changed a lot., however, still better than any City🎉 foresight toor area you care to mention in the USA. Thank goodness for the early City Father who had the foresight to build the Subway. Otherwise the City would be stuffed big time. The class name under ground City is appropriate and a Godsend for down town. Enjoy the good things about Toronto as you can’t turn back the clock. The truth is that 20 years from now when a lot of us shall be gone, someone shall say ah the good old days in the2023 or whatever.🎉

[@briansokoloski776]

Are the fountains still running at City hall many fountains have been turned off most of the year

[@Jeannie585]

yes

[@luckysevens.AltRock8]

Great song.

[@javierdenardo2607]

Walked around the area to get a flavour of today's version. Seems a lot of classic buildings are being swallowed up. Such as on Parliament and surrounding area.

[@arcticwanderer2109]

2:52 is that bob mccown?

[@augustdajnko]

LOL, No.

[@diezeldiamond1041]

Take me back

[@lilka1serofficial980]

Don’t forget me.

[@aaronlawrence666]

Totally enjoyed your video. I've lived in downtown Toronto since 1994 but visited as a child in the 80s as well. Massive changes here in the last 20 years so it's great to see imagery from an earlier era. It looks so different Now! What are the two songs you used in this?

[@BALI891]

Pretty Things - „Grass”, Howlin’ Wolf - „Wang Dang Doodle”

[@domenicviglione740]

You can search all this information on the net. Information is slowly being added. Brothers name was Lunniano.

[@wilsonw8513]

Is that Emanuel Jaques and his brother at 02:43? He was murdered around the same time these photos were taken. Truly spooky.

[@cinthia9602]

Yes. I was told it was Emmanuel. He went missing a few days after this photo was taken:-(

[@maydom04]

I agree as well, looks like him based on news photos of the time (even though only his back is showing here)

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

Holy shit I was JUST thinking of him...the tragic Shoeshine Boy. Those psychopaths! hazlitt.net/feature/murder-yonge-street-death-emanuel-jaques

[@84glewis]

Yonge St. was never the same after that awful murder.

[@dfwboxingisback9173]

4:50 I SWEAR TO GOD I AM IN THE PIC. That is Ontario Place!

[@uhfnutbar1]

all crazy sliding fades are giving me a head ack

[@FisheeC3]

Simpler times, better architecture, less clutter.

[@TheBlueyedblond]

6:53: Not sure when the city closed down the selling of live animals, but thank goodness they did.

[@naserdeen8210]

yeah. maybe was before. nowadays, i am happy that i left the city without looking back

[@Pinballpete007]

Wow this brought back a lot of memories of growing up in the late 70s early 80s. Yonge St was fantastic then. You could play pinball and video, go to SAMs and buy a record or CD, watch the fantastic classic and muscle cars cruise up Yonge on Friday nights, check out the head shops or try to catch a look in all the strip joints. Now everything I mentioned is gone and all you have left is a patch of empty nothing they call Dundas square so sad........................................

[@DeniseLaFranceCDNpainter-z9g]

Agreed . It's trying to copy NYC with the poor man's version of Times Square ...lost its character

[@crlaw75]

I've read that back then, a lot of places on Younge St. was strip joints.

[@ddicin7759]

well, remember that they didn't then have internet porn. Human sexuality needs to have its expression in some place. Now it's online.

[@jackflash5659]

good point....pretty much like any big city.

[@marionpenfold713]

Thats me at 05:35 Marion at the science centre with cousin Patsy Rooney (wow memories!)

[@BALI891]

Super, I am delighted, but who is Marion and who is Patsy?

[@dannyloo9688]

I remember driving down Spadina as a kid, past China Court (4:30), and thinking I was actually in China.

[@pipey61]

@ 1:00. Canadian Pacific's "The Canadian". One year before VIA took over.

[@ricardofranco7461]

2;44 does look like Emanuel

[@BALI891]

This is Emanuel

[@splashenful]

@@BALI891 Totally crazy that you were actually able to get a photo of him, just shortly before his brutal death!!!!

[@milfordmkt]

I still think overall 1977 was the best year in world history, in terms of the critical human index attributes. People were still complaining then, but we'd never realize how good we had it, with real incomes only just getting back to 1980 levels today! No internet, social media garbage then. But at least we have KZbin now😅

[@BALI891]

For me, it was also one of the best years of my life

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

Anyone remember the Gerrard Tavern on Gerrard st? Man what a dive!

[@kevinmilley7541]

you mean...the bucket of blood...as we called it...

[@maydom04]

@@kevinmilley7541 I remember driving by on the streetcar and closing my eyes.

[@glen6945]

but had nice cold beer

[@MoeGreensRightEye]

And Baldys after hours club around the corner near Parliament and Dundas.

[@janeygotaknife]

RIP Emanuel Jacques

[@glen6945]

best steacks in the world---------hydes in toronto on yorkville---ave---great steacks and great service---and the price was right---1972

[@kinggarithos888]

Toronto is an absolute heap nowadays.

[@bozelecter]

heap of what

[@clumaster]

I Miss the Terrace Roller Rink

[@thineshsethunathan5860]

2:37 : D

[@cinthia9602]

I love Toronto!

[@donmorfeo8901]

Great video; when Toronto actually meant something, although a terrible thing happened here in 1977 on Yonge street.

[@BALI891]

I know what you're talking about. This drama happened a few days after I took pictures of Yonge St.

[@donmorfeo8901]

@@BALI891 After? Notice the boy shining shoes at the 2:41 mark. Sad.

[@BALI891]

@@donmorfeo8901 Yes, it's that boy. A few days after this photo, he was murdered

[@donmorfeo8901]

@@BALI891 WOW. Terrible.

[@Alsatiagent]

@@BALI891 That's Emanuel Jacques? RIP. It's a random yet tragic and eerie detail.

[@tonicamaro8683]

how many times we all cruised up and down younge street ...the standing burnouts in our cars ..those were the days friends pitching in for gas just to cruise up and down...

[@youbetcha6880]

Why did Ontario Place have to tear down the kids' playground? It was the best--and only good part--of Ontario Place.

[@jackietrujillo9612]

I remember those times. I was in downtown in 1970's it look so dumoy and not safe for a kid to be there. It was digusting massage parlours everywhere. Emmanuel was murder there. It was shocking to the city. Thanks to him downtown change and looks better. Eaton's centre was so small back then. Good old days. I like to back again.

[@BALI891]

You can see Emmanuel in the 2:43 minute of the video, a few days before his murder

[@BALI891]

@@kingofcomments4832 For what purpose?

[@BALI891]

@@kingofcomments4832 What minute are you in the photo?

[@kingofcomments4832]

@@BALI891 I sent you a new comment about it as this is someone else's thread.

[@nothingspecial4510]

Didn't know the old china town have those temple looking place.

[@richardleonard4281]

I like The Pretty Things but wouldn't some music by a Toronto group , say Kensington Market or Lighthouse be more appropriate? Nice bit of nostalgia in those photos.

[@BALI891]

I'm sorry. I was only a guest in Toronto and I did not know any of the groups there.

[@richardleonard4281]

@@BALI891 okay , I forgive you this time.

[@greatunz67]

Good songs, although since it was Toronto may have been more appropriate to have some T.O. based bands from that era, like Goddo, Rush, Moxy etc..

[@BALI891]

I'm not from Canada. I'm from Poland. I don't know these bands at all

[@glen6945]

oooohhhhyes

[@blxvkpxndx]

Wow, this is what my grandfather saw when he was neglecting my mother 😂

[@johnmcgahern3946]

0:49...flight to Bahamas $199!

[@tonicamaro8683]

look at our BEAUTIFUL CITY looks like CHIT NOW can't even see the LAKE

[@FarrinWaynard]

Just arrived in the city in this yr at 18 yrs old..........Now I'm 62 yrs old..........what a ride I had in this city.

[@BALI891]

I came to this city this year and I was 28 years old, but I was only there for 2 months. And now I'm 72 years old. I guess today is a completely different city

[@awadalshehri9596]

so many white people back in the day

[@tdotshorty4u]

+Awad Alshehri Absolutely horrific, eh?! All those white people walking around a pristine city devoid of garbage on the streets. Just horrible! LOL

[@dougtaylor2803]

+Awad Alshehri Yes, it was a golden age.

[@raffiequler7510]

White people no more. Sharia Law in Toronto right now.

[@michaelh2183]

Back when Toronto still had good looking, quality people.

[@ddicin7759]

It was no dream, idiot. I was there. A vastly better place for the common man who could easily swing a family with an average job. And I don't like the excessively 'diverse' population of today, too.

[@418laylah]

Gee I wonder why it's gone down hill so much.? 🤔 Opening a can of WORMS!

[@oseriu]

toronto the good!

[@sda-clips]

People are funny in the comments look back at Toronto in the 1900 hundred was called York then & it was very dirty looks a lot better now vs then

[@19gregske55]

Ah yes - the Whaler's Wharf - the defective Remanco!

[@cinthia9602]

Toronto, the best city in the world.

[@karlosmora]

+Cinthia It used to be back in the day, not anymore.

[@cinthia9602]

+Karlos Mora Yes. I too do yearn for the old Toronto.

[@sarahwentforalemonwedgeand8991]

emanuel jaques the shoeshine boy leaning against the wall 2:43 - thats his brother Luciano shining the shoes. Poignant to see that now.

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Good times. Now Toronto is browntown.