This is what Toronto's CNE looked like in the 1950s

The Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) has been a Toronto end-of-summer tradition for nearly a century and a half.

First held in 1879 as the Toronto Industrial Exhibition, the annual fair was renamed the CNE in 1912, a name which has stuck for well over 100 years. Even after over a century, the CNE remains a hot seasonal draw and continues to bring in more than a million visitors each year to Toronto's waterfront.

However, long before stunt menu items like deep-fried pizza, mac and cheese smoothies, and other wild food concoctions became a quintessential part of The Ex experience, the fair looked a whole lot different.

So, let's take a step back in time and see what the CNE looked like roughly 75 years ago.

This is what the CNE looked like throughout the 1950s.

CNE Dufferin Gate in 1953. 

CNE in 1953. 

Rides at the CNE in 1953. 

Rollercoaster at the CNE in 1953. 

CNE Midway in 1953. 

Midway and rollercoaster at the CNE in 1953. 

Midway of the CNE in 1953. 

Warriors' Day parade at the CNE in 1955. 

Midway of CNE near the Pure Food Building in 1953. 

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent, and her daughter Princess Alexandra, in the back of a car at the Warriors' Day parade at the CNE in 1955. 

Knife throwing at the CNE in 1953. Crowd waiting for Warriors' Day parade at the CNE in 1953. 

Toronto Fire Department at the Warriors' Day parade in 1953. 

Midway of the CNE at night in 1953. 

Dufferin Gates at the CNE in 1955. 

Army exhibit in 1955. 

Road to Midway behind the grandstand at the CNE in 1955. 

Midway in 1955. 

Midway in 1955. 

Midway from the top of the Shell Tower in 1955. 

Water skiing at the CNE in 1955. 

RCMP musical ride at Exhibition Stadium in the 1950s. 

Bandshell performance in 1955. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE Midway in 1950. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE Midway in 1957. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE programme cover in 1950. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE rollercoaster in 1953. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE souvenir catalogue and programme cover in 1955. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

Eleanor Roosevelt opening the CNE in 1951. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

Kiddie Midway in 1954. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

On top of the Ferris wheel in 1956. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

Second Dufferin Gate in 1950. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

The Double Ferris wheel in 1950. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

TTC subway car on display in 1953. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.

CNE ride tickets in 1952. Courtesy of Canadian National Exhibition Association Archives.