3 Comments December 25, 2010 at 12:30 pm

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Historicist: Ghosts of Christmases Past

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.

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73256 Cover of the special Christmas edition of the Globe, 1889. Library and Archives Canada. Little does the turkey suspect that the young lady who visited each day with yummy treats was secretly fattening him up for her family’s holiday feast. 20101225globe1889 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225globe1889-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225globe1889.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225globe1889.jpg 640 917 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225globe1889/ 20101225globe1889 0 0

73257 Advertisement, the Globe, December 20, 1890. 20101225turkeys1890 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225turkeys1890-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225turkeys1890.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225turkeys1890.jpg 640 571 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225turkeys1890/ 20101225turkeys1890 0 0

73258 Cover of the special Christmas edition of the Mail and Empire, 1897. Library and Archives Canada. Besides the Globe, the Mail and Empire published special Christmas supplements at the end of the nineteenth century. Underneath the colour cover was <a href="http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/canadian-newspapers/h14-1951-e.html">a collection of seasonal art, stories, and other diversions for the entire family</a>. 20101225mail1897 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225mail1897-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225mail1897.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225mail1897.jpg 640 898 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225mail1897/ 20101225mail1897 0 0

73259 Front page illustration, the Toronto News, December 24, 1910. 20101225news1910 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225news1910-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225news1910.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225news1910.jpg 640 1070 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225news1910/ 20101225news1910 0 0

73260 Illustration by Lou Skuce, the Toronto World, December 25, 1910. 20101225world1910 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1910-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1910.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1910.jpg 640 842 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225world1910/ 20101225world1910 0 0

73261 Illustration, the Toronto World, December 22, 1912. 20101225world1912 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1912-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1912.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1912.jpg 640 846 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225world1912/ 20101225world1912 0 0

73262 Illustration by Lou Skuce, the Toronto World, December 19, 1915. As World War I carried on in Europe, World cartoonist Lou Skuce reminded readers of where the battle lines were usually located on Christmas Eve. 20101215skuce1915 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101215skuce1915-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101215skuce1915.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101215skuce1915.jpg 640 557 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101215skuce1915/ 20101215skuce1915 0 0

73263 Advertisement, the Toronto World, December 25, 1916. 20101225eatons1916 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1916-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1916.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1916.jpg 640 868 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225eatons1916/ 20101225eatons1916 0 0

73264 Advertisement, the Toronto News, December 25, 1918. 20101225eatons1918 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1918-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1918.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1918.jpg 640 752 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225eatons1918/ 20101225eatons1918 0 0

73265 Group staff portrait with Santa Claus and Christmas tree in offices of Wood Gundy, December 1922. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1257, Series 1057, Item 9377. 20101225woodgundy1922 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225woodgundy1922-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225woodgundy1922.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225woodgundy1922.jpg 640 434 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225woodgundy1922/ 20101225woodgundy1922 0 0

73266 Advertisement, the Telegram, December 23, 1933. 20101225eatons1933 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1933-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1933.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1933.jpg 640 828 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225eatons1933/ 20101225eatons1933 0 0

73267 Advertisement, the Weston Times and Guide, December 14, 1934. The 1930s equivalent of the slightly naughty gift ads found in Eye and Now? We were surprised to find this in a community newspaper. 20101225lingerie1934 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225lingerie1934-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225lingerie1934.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225lingerie1934.jpg 640 1249 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225lingerie1934/ 20101225lingerie1934 0 0

73268 Advertisement, the Toronto Star, December 23, 1939. 20101225simpsons1939 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225simpsons1939-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225simpsons1939.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225simpsons1939.jpg 640 869 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225simpsons1939/ 20101225simpsons1939 0 0

73269 Advertisement, the Weston Times and Guide, December 13, 1945. Relieved that World War II would no longer interfere in his annual delivery run, Santa was able to relax a little in 1945. He found time to stop in Weston for a luscious roast bird. Note the slightly scary look in his eyes, as if he's daring the artist to take the plate away from him. 20101225britishfruit1945 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225britishfruit1945-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225britishfruit1945.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225britishfruit1945.jpg 640 787 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225britishfruit1945/ 20101225britishfruit1945 0 0

73270 Illustration, the Toronto World, December 19, 1915. The most relevant passage of the fine print in terms of the global situation in 1915: "Above all, the call of Christmas is ‘Peace on Earth.’ In the present grievous crisis of the world there is significance in this call beyond that of any crisis mankind ever before was called to read. That war has darkened Christmas for so much of the world may well seem, at the moment, the crushing condemnation of all such conflicts.” 20101225world1915 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1915-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1915.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225world1915.jpg 640 862 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225world1915/ 20101225world1915 0 0

73271 Advertisement, the Telegram, December 23, 1950. The poet of the Toronto sports pages, Telegram columnist Ted Reeve, penned an ode to holiday shopping based on one of the big musical hits of that season, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lcj16EGYYrs&feature=related">The Thing</a>: As we were walking north on Church, no Xmas shopping done, We went into <a href="http://www.mctamneys.com/Page.asp?PageID=294">McTamney’s</a> to maybe buy a gun. The clerk behind the counter there let out a mighty roar: “Get out of here with that shopping list and don’t come back no more.” We hadn’t done our Christmas cards when reaching work today, We asked the office girls if they would get them on the way. They turned on us with a vicious yell as fierce as any blow: “Get out of here with that shopping list and you know where to go.” We’ll get to Kresge’s Christmas Eve and in a final dash We’ll try to get the presents bought unless they want some cash. The chances are the manager, while tearing up our cheque, Will heave us out with our boom-boom-boom and land us on our neck There’s only three more days to go, we haven’t bought the tree, It is a most perplexing week, we think you’ll all agree. And if we don’t get anything done we’ll just let Xmas pass And take that terrible boom-boom-boom and hide it in the grass. 20101225eatons1950 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1950-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1950.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225eatons1950.jpg 640 908 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225eatons1950/ 20101225eatons1950 0 0

73272 Christmas lights in Etobicoke (location unidentified), 1956. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 213, Series 1464, File 25, Item 8. 20101225etobicoke1956 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225etobicoke1956-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225etobicoke1956.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225etobicoke1956.jpg 640 430 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225etobicoke1956/ 20101225etobicoke1956 0 0

73273 Christmas bus in service, 1959. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1567, Series 648, File 63, Item 4. This festive bus has stopped across the road from one of the busiest holiday shopping spots in Scarborough during the late 1950s, the Golden Mile Plaza on Eglinton Avenue East. 20101225goldenmile1959 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225goldenmile1959-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225goldenmile1959.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225goldenmile1959.jpg 640 639 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225goldenmile1959/ 20101225goldenmile1959 0 0

73274 Photo, the Don Mills Mirror, December 8, 1960. Ho, ho....sigh. Either the caption writer was ordered to devise a happy sentence without seeing this picture, or they decided to contrast the stereotype of jolly old St. Nick with the weary Santa who was employed by the Don Mills Centre. His arrival by helicopter in late November prompted ten thousand people to greet him at the shopping centre, doubling the number that greeted him the year before. Santa’s trip was delayed ten minutes due to fog and low-flying planes landing at Malton airport. Once the chopper landed, Santa hitched a ride on a fire engine, which took him to his seat at the centre of the complex. With over four-and-a-half thousand kids mounting his lap that day, no wonder Santa looks like he can’t wait to escape <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtwVgOmPNPE">the smell of tapioca</a> and retreat to the comfort of the North Pole. 20101225donmills1960 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225donmills1960-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225donmills1960.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225donmills1960.jpg 640 392 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225donmills1960/ 20101225donmills1960 0 0

73275 Casa Loma at Christmas, 1963. City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1567, Series 648, File 150, Item 5. For two months in 1963, Casa Loma transformed into a “Christmas Fairyland” featuring attractions such as electric trains, hobby horses, a fairy princess armed with a magic wand, and Santa Claus. Toys used in the displays were donated to needy children after Christmas. 20101225casaloma1963 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225casaloma1963-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225casaloma1963.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225casaloma1963.jpg 640 503 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225casaloma1963/ 20101225casaloma1963 0 0

73276 Illustration, the Willowdale Enterprise, December 22, 1965. Santa and the reindeer might have needed a map when an expanded Highway 401 between Highway 400 and Hogg’s Hollow was fully opened to traffic on December 16, 1965. The expansion of the freeway from four to twelve lanes included the introduction of the express and collector lanes. 20101225highway1965 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225highway1965-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225highway1965.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225highway1965.jpg 640 574 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225highway1965/ 20101225highway1965 0 0

73277 Advertisement, the Willowdale Enterprise, December 8, 1965. 20101225walktodeath1965 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225walktodeath1965-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225walktodeath1965.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225walktodeath1965.jpg 640 619 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225walktodeath1965/ 20101225walktodeath1965 0 0

73278 Gordon Sinclair takes a tricycle for a test drive. Toronto Life, December 1966. Toronto Life celebrated its first Christmas by asking broadcaster/journalist <a href="http://torontoist.com/2008/08/historicist_the_truth_and_fiction_o.php">Gordon Sinclair</a> to describe how he really felt about the holiday? His verdict? Despite not being a fan of organized religion, Sinclair felt it was “the best and friendliest of all family celebrations when we are with kinfolk; the ones of our blood who accept us for what we are. Not what we should be, or could be, but what we are.” He also described Christmas was the worst day of the year to be alone, a situation he experienced while reporting from Shanghai in 1938. That day he wandered through clubs and pubs “looking for someone to feel sorry with” but found only a black eye (a present given by an American when Sinclair declined to have a drink with him) and a crying fit (after returning to his hotel to find “wish you were here” cablegrams from Canada). There was only one thing he would have changed about Christmas: “that stupid abbreviation, Xmas.” 20101225sinclair1966 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225sinclair1966-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225sinclair1966.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225sinclair1966.jpg 640 872 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225sinclair1966/ 20101225sinclair1966 0 0

73279 Advertisement, the Toronto Sun, December 16, 1975. Unfortunately for eager carolers, the Sun-sponsored musical celebration of the season was cancelled due to the first blizzard of the season. High winds coupled with around twenty centimetres of snow resulted in a record number of calls for help to the Ontario Motor League (the local branch of the Canadian Automobile Association), severe TTC service delays, and the cancellation of a Toronto Marlboros hockey game. The storm did not deter holiday shoppers, as Simpsons reported a minor decrease in the usual last Saturday before Christmas crowd at their Queen Street flagship. 20101225caroling1975 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225caroling1975-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225caroling1975.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225caroling1975.jpg 640 890 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225caroling1975/ 20101225caroling1975 0 0

73280 Advertisement, Toronto Life, December 1985. 20101225collegepark85 https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225collegepark85-100x100.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225collegepark85.jpg https://torontoist.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/20101225collegepark85.jpg 640 674 [] https://torontoist.com/2010/12/historicist_ghosts_of_christmases_past/slide/20101225collegepark85/ 20101225collegepark85 0 0

To celebrate the holiday season, we present a sampling of a century’s worth of Christmas advertisements, illustrations, pictures, and stories. Light up a Yule log (real or video), sit back and enjoy.

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