I was 16 in 1981 and was lucky to have seen Ozzy at Maple Leaf Gardens on the Blizzard of Oz tour . My brother and i lined up for hours outside Sam the Record Man to meet Ozzy and get his autograph . i still have my concert ticket that he signed . Great memories . i grew up in Mississauga and we hopped on the bus to Islington station and then hopped on the subway to Yonge st and then would walk along Yonge checking out all the cool head shops and the arcades . it was so much fun .
Boy do I miss the 80's.I was 15 in 81. What a simpler time. No smart phones, social media, tik-tok, Apps. Today the price of everything is through the roof, racial and political divisions are at an all time high. I never could have known how good things were.
I remember the fantastic record and clothing stores along Yonge St. in '81. With affordable prices and stuff you couldn't find elsewhere in Ontario. The SUN, STAR and Globe and Mail newspaper boxes, and City-TV in its fledgling years was pro-Canada with great movies and shows. Whatever happened to the CNE 'roll-out' concert stage?
Army surplus 3.03 British Enfield's all in a barrel $25 bucks each and ammo unlocked on the shelf beside it , never a friggin issue like you said, I remember it too.
Awesome video Mike, thank you so much. I was 18, just out of school, and ready to conquer the world. RUSH, BLACK SABBETH, IRON MAIDEN, OZZY, MOTORHEAD, VAN HALEN, ALICE COOPER, AC/DC, TRIUMPH, ANVIL and some more that I cant remember. Man, what I would give to go back.
I remember taking the train there to go to motorcycles shows in the late 70's. My god I wouldn't even go now let alone send a kid on a train with a couple buddies
@@wethepeople7629 Back then people had nothing but free time on their hands. You could get a good paying job the same day you applied. Women didn't work until the mid 1970's women didn't drive cars until the mid 1970's. Companies and workers worked together to reach a common goal unlike today where workers are exploited. Many companies had profit sharing. There were very few rich people but no poor people. People were much more competitive back then as working harder usually landed you a better job or a big pay raise. People were much more friendly back then in the major cities in Canada. Yes I'm from Canada and was born in Canada as was my parents and grand parents.
Honeymooned there in February of 76 (I know😊). Stayed at the Westbury hotel next to Maple leaf gardens. Hate myself for not going to a game. Very nice city then. Returned in 2000 to see Phantom of the opera at Pantages theater and visit hockey hall of fame. Now it would be to disturbing to go back and see the changes.
How can you forget The McKenzie Brothers as well as various music acts from 80 and 81? The movie based on Terrry Fox who passed away years later from cancer became a successful hit.
I don't see tent cities, protestors with foreign flags, robberies, gangs shooting in public, stolen cars... what went wrong? I saw an old lady at a bus stop the other day holding a sign saying "I miss my old Canada!" Something to think about when you vote in the next election.
Gotta give credit to the conservatives they helped. All sell out politicians really. All the politicians in these countries like Canada, NZ, AUS, USA, UK are all just a bunch of ...say what you want but NWO GLOBALIST WEF puppets. whats the point of making life horrible for the average person? I really dont get the motive of these "bankers" or whoever they are...
I love Toronto but my friend Bruce (rip) said it was kinda boring in the 80s. When you couldn't stand up and walk around inside bars etc. Not much happening north of Bloor, east of Yonge, or west of Ronce. I didnt get there until the mid 2000's but DAMN that was a really good era for me. You could still get a veggie dog for 50 cents? or $1? Unreal to think about now. Anyway, whatever. Cheers boyz.
Toronto was White and English speaking. You could walk most places in total safety. Today Toronto is what Singapore is today. Unrecognizable as Canadian.
I came over from Liverpool in /78 and liked it here for 10 years except working with many trash people. The country itself was spotless, open, inviting and I had lots of acquaintances. I'm still here and have NO friends left at all. And now it does suck let's be honest! No offence but that is some serious dissonance going on there and sounds a bit like 2 songs playing at once, Sincerely an ex pro player and current producer.
Terry Fox is not a hero. Justin Trudeau is Canada's official hero.
Sarcasm right?
@@BradArmstrong-f1v Fox didnt even finish his Marathon of hope. Loser. Justine Trudeau is saving the world from global warming. Winner.
They both did a lot of running. One ran across the country, the other ran the country into the ground.
Your sarcasm is not very respectful Terry Fox was a HUGE hero God Rest his kind soul!
@@BradArmstrong-f1v I hope so or we have one totally woke fool right here!
18 years old in 1981,I remember those days it was fantastic,know Canada is going down fast,can it be saved I hope 🤞 so,thanks for the video Mike.
not one tent on the sidewalk.. or rubbish blowing around. respect for community
It was a safe and great city back then. Good people.
When Toronto wore the label 'Toronto the Good'. Thanks for the post. Love it.♥
The good old days ......yes they were 😮
Today is just a horror movie !
Never to return... those days are gone forever.
If you think things can’t be fixed fast you haven’t read history.
thanks justin
I want my country back.
I was 16 in 1981 and was lucky to have seen Ozzy at Maple Leaf Gardens on the Blizzard of Oz tour . My brother and i lined up for hours outside Sam the Record Man to meet Ozzy and get his autograph . i still have my concert ticket that he signed . Great memories . i grew up in Mississauga and we hopped on the bus to Islington station and then hopped on the subway to Yonge st and then would walk along Yonge checking out all the cool head shops and the arcades . it was so much fun .
wow !! thanks for sharing !
Thanks Mike! This touches my heart so much. I turned 18 years old that year. Wonderful memories.
so many great memories.... TO in the 80s was the Best!
Wonderful Time !❤😢
I kept looking for myself in all those familiar street scenes.
Aspiring to be "world class" has not made us a better city.
Boy do I miss the 80's.I was 15 in 81. What a simpler time. No smart phones, social media, tik-tok, Apps. Today the price of everything is through the roof, racial and political divisions are at an all time high. I never could have known how good things were.
Thanks for sharing
Good job Mike. That video was a trip
Glad you enjoyed it
Well done. Toronto the good. What happened? Was a clean, safe place. Almost no gun violence. Failed leadership all around. Thanks for the memories.
What happened? It's called far left nut job liberals who line Socialism and Communism.😊
In 1981 Pierre Trudeau was PM, interest rates were 22% making homes unaffordable. Now 43 years later……. Somethings never change.
I remember the fantastic record and clothing stores along Yonge St. in '81. With affordable prices and stuff you couldn't find elsewhere in Ontario. The SUN, STAR and Globe and Mail newspaper boxes, and City-TV in its fledgling years was pro-Canada with great movies and shows. Whatever happened to the CNE 'roll-out' concert stage?
As do I remember them good times ;0) thanks for sharing
love the music
mike do u know who the artist is?
Why dont you show a canadian tire store where you could freely buy a rifle like a hockey stick before they let the terrorists in.
They bring their own now.
Army surplus 3.03 British Enfield's all in a barrel $25 bucks each and ammo unlocked on the shelf beside it , never a friggin issue like you said, I remember it too.
And gun violence was very rare
I bought my first rifle at Simpson's on Queen St. They actually had a hunting and fishing department
Turned 19 that year, in Windsor Ont. Nice to see you still around..
The worlds biggest book store brings back memory. I love Toronto and remember it back in the 80's.
Thanks for posting the photos of the Toronto I remember as a kid.
No worries 👍
I miss those times, when life was fun everyday.
When Vancouver was Vancouver too.
Man i miss the 80's
Awesome video Mike, thank you so much. I was 18, just out of school, and ready to conquer the world. RUSH, BLACK SABBETH, IRON MAIDEN, OZZY, MOTORHEAD, VAN HALEN, ALICE COOPER, AC/DC, TRIUMPH, ANVIL and some more that I cant remember. Man, what I would give to go back.
Check out my toronto 1978 video. Great memories
Thanks for including the pinball machines in the video. I was playing pinball 12 hours a day everyday in the 1980's.
I remember taking the train there to go to motorcycles shows in the late 70's. My god I wouldn't even go now let alone send a kid on a train with a couple buddies
Awesome photos. Perhaps expand to 1982 for more as the city went nuts that year when Italy won the World Cup. Love to see those pics again.
Lotsa handsome Canadian guys back then!
And women. Good looks have collapsed.
Love that! Thanks Mike❤
I was 5 in 1981. Great ole’ times!
Turned 43 that year.
@@parkerbohnn
Amazing!
Are you from Canada? If so how were things back then compared to now?
@@wethepeople7629 Back then people had nothing but free time on their hands. You could get a good paying job the same day you applied. Women didn't work until the mid 1970's women didn't drive cars until the mid 1970's. Companies and workers worked together to reach a common goal unlike today where workers are exploited. Many companies had profit sharing. There were very few rich people but no poor people. People were much more competitive back then as working harder usually landed you a better job or a big pay raise. People were much more friendly back then in the major cities in Canada. Yes I'm from Canada and was born in Canada as was my parents and grand parents.
Please bring back Mike in the Night.
Would have been a great place to visit. Now Snake Plisken wont go there.
Thanks..for bringing back memories. Great times..
You bet
Glad ur back bradda ❤
Now its full of people we didn't want or need .
European expansion built it all . But then we're shown the door
Honeymooned there in February of 76 (I know😊). Stayed at the Westbury hotel next to Maple leaf gardens. Hate myself for not going to a game. Very nice city then. Returned in 2000 to see Phantom of the opera at Pantages theater and visit hockey hall of fame. Now it would be to disturbing to go back and see the changes.
thanks for sharing David !
This is brilliant! We need to remember how things used to be.
Interest rates on a mortgage was 18%. And gasoline had doubled from 1978 to 1981.
A Remember When! Best times!
Demographics= destiny
Was 20, a clean city, could pop in and out quick, a lot of healthy good looking people. There was room to grow and explore.
Yea that was the golden years .
Times change but unfortunately for Toronto, not for the better!
so sad , but so true
How can you forget The McKenzie Brothers as well as various music acts from 80 and 81? The movie based on Terrry Fox who passed away years later from cancer became a successful hit.
Licensing issues on images
Ahh. No bike lanes. 😊
I went to that Kraftwerk concert , awesome...
Oh you're from Canada. That explains so much.
Born there in 55 .. Left for BC in 81
I was 14, and wish I could go back. The Toronto I knew and grew up in is gone forever. Now it's just one big mess.
I miss young st.
Randy Rhoads What a Legend!
CFNY baby!
I don't see tent cities, protestors with foreign flags, robberies, gangs shooting in public, stolen cars... what went wrong? I saw an old lady at a bus stop the other day holding a sign saying "I miss my old Canada!"
Something to think about when you vote in the next election.
I used to live on Duffrin and St Clair
You got the Maple Leafs and the Blue Jays but you didn't get the Argos
o man im so sorry . john Candy was a part owner
Canada was the greatest country on earth. Until Trudeau ruined it
Gotta give credit to the conservatives they helped. All sell out politicians really. All the politicians in these countries like Canada, NZ, AUS, USA, UK are all just a bunch of ...say what you want but NWO GLOBALIST WEF puppets. whats the point of making life horrible for the average person? I really dont get the motive of these "bankers" or whoever they are...
It was already headed in that direction.
@@marcosreal11 How so, please elaborate
@@BradArmstrong-f1v Too much debt, high prices especially in housing, elitism, etc.
Profound description Marco, from a current resident of "the Big Smoke"
Wow beautiful 🌟what happened?
when Canada was Canada is right.......now Canada is India part 2
There was plenty of parking back then, very cheap $2-$3, even free in some spots.
O yes the silver years
No cell phones or homeless people and best of all no immigrants ❤️❤️❤️
Thats the only toronto I knew ,,,,,we have been massively screwed by our so called "betters"
I love Toronto but my friend Bruce (rip) said it was kinda boring in the 80s. When you couldn't stand up and walk around inside bars etc. Not much happening north of Bloor, east of Yonge, or west of Ronce. I didnt get there until the mid 2000's but DAMN that was a really good era for me. You could still get a veggie dog for 50 cents? or $1? Unreal to think about now. Anyway, whatever. Cheers boyz.
On a new planet now.
Toronto was White and English speaking. You could walk most places in total safety. Today Toronto is what Singapore is today. Unrecognizable as Canadian.
Toronto Mayors Rowlands then Hall began the political downfall of our once fair city…
I came over from Liverpool in /78 and liked it here for 10 years except working with many trash people. The country itself was spotless, open, inviting and I had lots of acquaintances. I'm still here and have NO friends left at all. And now it does suck let's be honest! No offence but that is some serious dissonance going on there and sounds a bit like 2 songs playing at once, Sincerely an ex pro player and current producer.
Oh.... The good old days before sparkly socks
Yup there gone when trudope came to office 9 years ago I didn’t have much and I got most of it left lmao
Go downtown TO now and you think you're in a different country.
I just seen John Candy
I miss him 😢
👍🏼
You could leave your car parked on Younge Street with the top down and not worry about it
santana amigos
Could have picked a better year. Inflation 12.5% .Mortgage rates hit 21.75%. Unemployment on it's way to 12%. Not great memories of 1981.
don't know if toronto started to suck since the internet got popular, or that the internet exposed how toronto always sucked.
I was 17 in 1981 , born , grew up in Toronto, I find the city now unrecognizable, was great city, now it’s ruined, why I don’t live there anymore
I lived on duffrin and st clair
I was close, Annex area, went to Oakwood CI ‘79 to ‘83
Good old Toronto 😊
The country started to go to 💩 in the mid nineties!