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Deconstructing Sam the Record Man

Posted by Jerrold Litwinenko / October 19, 2008

10 Comments

20081019_sams.jpgblogTO reader Lone Primate snapped a few farewell photos yesterday... depicting the near final days of the famous Sam the Record Man neon sign on Yonge Street.

It's hard to believe that it's been a year and a half since it was announced that the legendary record shop would shutter its doors for good, and auction off much of the decorative memorabilia it once homed.

After one last glow in its original home on the evening of Nuit Blanche, it's now truly time to say goodbye. Or perhaps not.

20081019_sams02.jpg

Hopes remain that once Ryerson completes further construction and development, the sign will be re-installed at a new, nearby location (TBD).

Photos by Lone Primate.

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Dave / October 19, 2008 at 08:38 pm
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Goodbye eyesore!

Just because you were there a long time, doesn't mean you were ever a good idea. I won't miss you!
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Pete / October 19, 2008 at 11:10 pm
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I totally agree with you Dave. Now someone smash it!
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magic / October 20, 2008 at 02:23 am
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It's going back up as part of the Ryerson Student Learning Watchamacallit Space. It's basically a Toronto Heritage Site or some jibber jabber - Ryerson's under orders to preserve it. Which I think is great; it's part of Toronto's long relationship with humongous, glitzy, arguably distasteful, signage.
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downtown to lady / October 20, 2008 at 07:30 am
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oh my god ... my thoughts exactly .... it is a big eyesore and some things are better kept as a distant memory
now if the merchants along yonge street could just make their stores a little more presentable
I hate these stores that have sloppy handwritten signs outside their store ... if a business person is planning to open a store on yonge street there should be a certain standard they have to meet
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Sean C / October 20, 2008 at 08:42 am
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Well, *I* am going to miss the sign -- yeah, I can understand why some people may not have liked it, but it was certainly unique and more interesting the the thousands of identical tattered awnings that you see elsewhere in the city. There's so little variation in signage from store to store to store sometimes, that whenever I see one of the older signs that's got something unique about it, I can't help but love it.

Personally, I'm attached the the sign because of my long-time love of record shopping (both vinyl and beyond), so the loss of this sign just underscores why I have less and less reason to head down to Yonge these days.
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matts / October 20, 2008 at 11:37 am
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put the sign on Honest Ed's....
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Zed / October 20, 2008 at 01:08 pm
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the new generation...throw it in the garbage and get a new one...great for the environment...
memories? don't you have to have a brain to have these?
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Loozrboy / October 20, 2008 at 03:56 pm
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Well I for one kinda like tacky flashing neon. Now that the Sam's sign is gone and the LG billboard has given way to another boring giant poster, I don't believe there's any left on Yonge St. Times Square of the north, my Aunt Fannie!
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The80s / December 18, 2008 at 08:52 am
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how often did sams make you think hey thats not new york that was filmed here, right there where sam the record man is in Toronto. i think that sign was more beautiful and defining then the CN tower and sky dome together. i will forever curse the name Ryerson.
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anenna amonre refai / April 11, 2010 at 11:43 am
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What the hell do you know about dave? really? are you stupid or something ... Sam was the greatest thing to every hit toronto. if you haven't notice toronto has NO HISTORY thanks to businesses like rogers and ryerson. Sam had wonderful history. but people like you and me never really understand it,the fact that it has been on young street since 1937!!!it stunning.. and i dont think you have ever been in sam have you? Because when you think about it stepping into sam was like stepping into the 70s,the 80s and the 90s.And Just knowing that SAM was here even when my parents where born. it astonishing.And don't worry i use to think just like you people. i would always think : " oh SAM is nothing.."" why is it still standing" " what is the use for it" And then when my dad got a job there and told me to come down and see it . At first i didn't like it i looked like trash. BUT the minute i stepped in .. it made me appreciate rock like : Queen and pink Floyd and David bowie and others .it was an awesome feeling. and when my dad give me a tour around the place it felt like life finally made sense, it also got the people of the 70s, the 80s and the damn 90s something to do, something to talk about , and something to remember from there time.So before you say shit actually think of the beauty SAM has made for Toronto. Actually not just Toronto be rock in general. To me and may others it open eyes to life on young street And i thank ALL the Snidermans for putting great effort in changing Toronto's history and i am disappointed that people around the world wont get to see Sam The Record Man..You will be missed Sam :)
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