Old photos of Toronto allow us to revisit the past of a city with very interesting history. While photos of every day life are often used for studying the past, one can also gain a glimpse of where we've come from with old, vintage signage.
These signs show Toronto's history in storefronts, theatres, streets, and more. They reflect popular culture and trends, and offer an interesting take on the past.
Here's a selection of vintage signs from Toronto's history.
In the Ward, 1909
Sign on News Building, 1911
Charter member of the Toronto Public Space Committee (1920)
Grand Opera House, 1922
Front and York streets, 1924
Teck Theatre, 1932
Avenue Theatre, 1932
Buick dealership, 1950s
Yonge south of Gould, 1950
An old gun store (Yonge north of Gould, 1950)
Orange Crush, 1950
Olympia Bowling, 1950
Girdles (with Lycra!), TTC 1950s
An anti-smoking campaign on the TTC, 1950s
Player's cigarette ad, TTC 1950s
Stores on Bathurst St, 1951
The Flame Restaurant, 1953
Good Rice Restaurant, 1954
Roach's drugstore, 1956
Long Branch Tile, 1957
Loblaws on Avenue Road, 1959
Hogan Pontiac, 1950s
Odeon Theatre (Yonge and Carlton), 1972
TTC sign, 1965
The Sword Restaurant, 1967
$1 maximum at University and Adelaide, 1967
Dominion Coal, 1970s
Yonge and Temperance, 1970s
The Uptown, 1970s
Yonge north of Dundas, 1980s
Holiday Tavern, 1980. Photo by Patrick Cummins
Unity Grill, 1980 by Patrick Cummins
The old Canary Restaurant in 1998 by Patrick Cummins