Some of that footage is from other parks besides the Island. The wooden bridge across the water, for example, is in Edwards Gardens in Don Mills, as is that fountain in the latter part of the film. I agree that this footage is pre-1980...more like 1973. Nice to see!
@VinnyLLL Where do you presume the brief shot of the outdoor swimming pool was from? (And am I correct in stating that there is not an outdoor swimming pool on any of the Toronto Islands? [And that there never was one?])
@cjjrtoronto Don't know where the pool is - could be the Islands, or could be the Beaches (pretty sure there is/was one there). I can't tell because there isn't enough context in that quick clip, and admittedly I'm not totally up on what all was at the Islands during that time period.
The only ones I am sure about are those brief shots of Edwards Gardens, as I lived right near there during that time, and my family frequently visited there on Sundays.
Oh my used to watch this film endlessly Saturday afternoons on Global. Haven't seen in years. Great stuff! Oh well at least Ontario Place is open this summer. Thanks for posting!
There's NO WAY this is 1980 - no CN Tower Behind the ferry, no First Canadian Place ( 1975 ) - hell, plaid pants! Nope, early 70's - more like 1972 - 74 ... maybe the person found this on a tape from 1980.
@CusterFlux Personally,I would presume these scenes were filmed in either 1971 or 1972.I state this because (at the end) there appears on the screen the words "Parliament Buildings" and "Ontario"....and I (somewhat recently) learned that--up until he stepped down as Premier of Ontario in early 1971--the late John Robarts always described himself as "Prime Minister "of Ontario.It was (thus) Bill Davis who first ID'ed himself as Premier.I'll presume that it was he & his who also changed (contd.)
@CusterFlux (to continue from my previous post) the name of the building inside Queen's Park from the "Parliament Buildings" to the "Provincial Legislature". (That stated,maybe these scenes were actually filmed in the spring/summer of 1970...)
Oh my God, Center Island!
So many memories as a kid, going to Center Island on public school trips!
For some reason, I remember running across that wooden bridge on the way to the area with the rides and games and I believe there was a haunted house
bluenotejazz 2 weeks ago
...awwwwhhhh the days when toronto used to be a good place to live! BACK THEN!
Lemon020202 5 months ago
Awesome post! And to think, many of those rides are STILL there... including the swans!
Check for rust holes kids!! ;)
willvojtisek 2 years ago
@willvojtisek The swans are beauty to my eyes! Even these fake ones!
SnowbirdFlock 1 year ago
Great vid! I distinctly remember riding in those old white cars (that were driven on a rail). They were my favourite ride on center island!
thunderstick604 2 years ago
It's nice to watch this and see the rides at Centreville have not changed in close to 40yrs. Thanks for posting.
Ms325i 2 years ago
Great footage. It's awesome seeing how my city was before I was born. It doesn't look like the islands has changed much in the last forty years!
BadLactose 2 years ago
Some of that footage is from other parks besides the Island. The wooden bridge across the water, for example, is in Edwards Gardens in Don Mills, as is that fountain in the latter part of the film. I agree that this footage is pre-1980...more like 1973. Nice to see!
VinnyLLL 2 years ago
@VinnyLLL Where do you presume the brief shot of the outdoor swimming pool was from? (And am I correct in stating that there is not an outdoor swimming pool on any of the Toronto Islands? [And that there never was one?])
cjjrtoronto 1 year ago
@cjjrtoronto Don't know where the pool is - could be the Islands, or could be the Beaches (pretty sure there is/was one there). I can't tell because there isn't enough context in that quick clip, and admittedly I'm not totally up on what all was at the Islands during that time period.
The only ones I am sure about are those brief shots of Edwards Gardens, as I lived right near there during that time, and my family frequently visited there on Sundays.
VinnyLLL 1 year ago
Thank you Retrontario. I could hum this tune years after it stopped airing. the memory is as fresh as if I saw it yesterday.
Renoozlenoozle 2 years ago
My pleasure! ;-)
Retrontario 2 years ago
Oh my used to watch this film endlessly Saturday afternoons on Global. Haven't seen in years. Great stuff! Oh well at least Ontario Place is open this summer. Thanks for posting!
Rbatty2 2 years ago
There's NO WAY this is 1980 - no CN Tower Behind the ferry, no First Canadian Place ( 1975 ) - hell, plaid pants! Nope, early 70's - more like 1972 - 74 ... maybe the person found this on a tape from 1980.
CusterFlux 2 years ago
Yes that person was me - and it was on a tape from 1980.
Retrontario 2 years ago
I haven't heard that incidental music in 30 years! That exact piece used to be everywhere ... thanks!
Anybody got a copy of "World Beat News" music?
CusterFlux 2 years ago
My pleasure! Elsewhere on my account I do have a World Beat News open from the 80s...
Retrontario 2 years ago
@CusterFlux Personally,I would presume these scenes were filmed in either 1971 or 1972.I state this because (at the end) there appears on the screen the words "Parliament Buildings" and "Ontario"....and I (somewhat recently) learned that--up until he stepped down as Premier of Ontario in early 1971--the late John Robarts always described himself as "Prime Minister "of Ontario.It was (thus) Bill Davis who first ID'ed himself as Premier.I'll presume that it was he & his who also changed (contd.)
cjjrtoronto 1 year ago
@CusterFlux (to continue from my previous post) the name of the building inside Queen's Park from the "Parliament Buildings" to the "Provincial Legislature". (That stated,maybe these scenes were actually filmed in the spring/summer of 1970...)
cjjrtoronto 1 year ago
I got to bring my Grade 8s here for their grad picnic just DAYS before the strike hit.
golddustwoman83 2 years ago
Very little has changed. The swans, the old cars, the train and the haunted house are exactly as they were 40+ years ago when I was taken as a kid.
Barndancer61 2 years ago