Torontoist » 20s

Historicist: Halloween Hijinks

Every Saturday at noon, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. Source: The Telegram, October 29, 1949. Halloween has long provided an excuse for Torontonians to relax and cut loose their stiffer qualities for at least one day. Whether it’s infants dressed [...]

Vintage Toronto Ads: Listerine Kills Germs and Body Odour

Source: Maclean’s, July 15, 1923. If Listerine can freshen your breath and kill bacteria in the mouth, why can’t it do the same to the rest of your body? It’s safe! Deodorants and antiperspirants were still in their early stages of evolution when Listerine made today’s pitch—the first commercial underarm deodorant, Mum, had arrived on [...]

Vintage Toronto Ads: An Olympic Drive

Source: The Globe, June 1, 1929 As Toronto taxpayers now own part of General Motors, we feel it appropriate to offer up a slice of their new investment’s history. The Oakland Motor Car Company was launched in Pontiac, Michigan, in 1907 and was purchased by General Motors two years later. The marque was positioned above [...]

Historicist: Terror at the Tivoli

Advertisements, The Toronto Star, December 28, 1928 (left), January 5, 1929 (right). Dateline: Toronto, December 28, 1928, the corner of Richmond and Victoria streets. Over a thousand people gathered at the Tivoli theatre to attend a midnight screening of the first all-talking feature to play in Toronto, The Terror. The crowd was treated to a [...]

Vintage Toronto Ads: An All-Talking Night at the Movies

Sources: The Toronto Star, September 21, 1929 (left) and August 31, 1929 (right) For Toronto moviegoers, 1929 saw major changes at many of the city’s theatres, which were busy wiring up competing sound systems as silent films gave way to the talkies. The first all-talkie film to debut in Toronto made its appearance on December [...]

Historicist: Royal Accommodations

Every Saturday morning, Historicist looks back at the events, places, and characters—good and bad—that have shaped Toronto into the city we know today. Close up of 1108. Queen’s Hotel (site of Royal York Hotel), October 21, 1915. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1231, Item 1108a For over a century-and-a-half, the northeast corner of Front and [...]