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