Toronto was a hidden gem in the 1980s. We had a vibrant art scene on Queen street west, a unique independent TV station in City TV, great clubs and lounges like Nuts & Bolts, Twilight Zone, Domino Club, Tasmanian ballroom, Club Fresh/RPM, and the best radio station in North America in CFNY. My family did business around the globe, so we had friends and relatives in London, L.A., Hong Kong, and New York, and they all loved Toronto in the 1980s.
Wow 90s brands, HMV, Sam the Record Man, Starter, Japan Camera, AOV, Price Chopper. All they gotta add is some Maestro stick to your vision playing in the background!
That was at the end of a punishing recession. Nobody was hiring, the secretarial and clerical class were wiped out, and indoor smoking remained the norm in a lot of places. It was also the last great time to buy real estate in the city.
When we would clear St. Mikes with our ambulance, Toronto Dispatch would hold us over on stand by in the downtown. Since I grew up in Toronto from 1960 to 1976, I knew my way around town without a map. Being a paramedic and covering toronto in the 1990's, best job ever.
Those were indeed better times for Toronto. It was about the time I moved to Toronto and everything was new and exciting. It was like going from Black and White to technicolor. The city was so alive and vibrant and sane. It's hard to put an exact finger on when it started to go down the toilet, but if I had to guess I'd say 2005 or thereabouts. And it's been getting steadily worse. At least downtown. I wish I could go back to those times, but it doesn't work that way.
Yup Yonge street was a tad brighter back in the day. Now all those stores you saw are gone. I avoid going downtown at all costs. Too much nonsense to deal with. Even the homeless population is more aggressive these days.
What an era. Living in Toronto in the 90’s now would be a leap toward having faith again in this city. The 1980’s and 90’s were the best moments to be called a proud Torontonian. Now, it is a city stuck in a realm of crime, inflation and overcrowding condominiums. Yonge Street isn’t the same anymore. Seeing HMV and Sam The Record Man was very nostalgic. God, I miss those days!
You know what 90's footage feels like? When you live downtown for years and then you go and visit the suburbs. Today's society is so fast moving compared to the 90's. Every time I watch this kind of footage I'm brought back to that time and things definitely did move a hell of a lot slower. Things weren't necessarily "better" in every aspect, but at least you could "breathe". I think that's why people were more or less not as cut throat with each other, at least in a public setting compared to today.
Is Zanzibar still there? hahaha- I'm from Western NY but have not been to-TO- in over ten years. I miss going up there but we have plenty of nonsense here. StayGroovy Folks'.
0:21 "You see, it is not I who am crazy. It is I who am MAD. Didn't you see the crowds?! You're not like the others. You like the same things that I like. Boiled football leather...dog breath. O my precious ice cream bar, people always trying to take you away from me. Why can't they leave us...ALONE?!"
This was PEAKKKK Toronto, man, the stores, the girls, the CLUBS, everything.
I would give up anything I own to go back to 1994.
Who would say Toronto was much better in 1994
Miss HMV!
I miss the 90’s best times ever. ❤
Amazing job on the upscaling. Looks like HD!
Toronto was a hidden gem in the 1980s. We had a vibrant art scene on Queen street west, a unique independent TV station in City TV, great clubs and lounges like Nuts & Bolts, Twilight Zone, Domino Club, Tasmanian ballroom, Club Fresh/RPM, and the best radio station in North America in CFNY.
My family did business around the globe, so we had friends and relatives in London, L.A., Hong Kong, and New York, and they all loved Toronto in the 1980s.
I remember this year well. I was 22 years old.
Back when Toronto was still COOL … and safe. (Heavy sigh)
We used to cruise the Yonge St strip in our cars in the early 80s. I was 30 and had a 7 yr old son by 94. Good times. ❤
Back when I loved this city.
Wow 90s brands, HMV, Sam the Record Man, Starter, Japan Camera, AOV, Price Chopper. All they gotta add is some Maestro stick to your vision playing in the background!
Beautiful footage once again ❤
The HMV flagship store at 333 Yonge was an amazing store.
That was at the end of a punishing recession. Nobody was hiring, the secretarial and clerical class were wiped out, and indoor smoking remained the norm in a lot of places. It was also the last great time to buy real estate in the city.
When we would clear St. Mikes with our ambulance, Toronto Dispatch would hold us over on stand by in the downtown. Since I grew up in Toronto from 1960 to 1976, I knew my way around town without a map. Being a paramedic and covering toronto in the 1990's, best job ever.
The 90s are starting to look like the 50s did to me in the 90s.
Wish I had a time machine.
One thing in Toronto never changes: the ferries
The Good Ol' Days
Those were indeed better times for Toronto. It was about the time I moved to Toronto and everything was new and exciting. It was like going from Black and White to technicolor. The city was so alive and vibrant and sane.
It's hard to put an exact finger on when it started to go down the toilet, but if I had to guess I'd say 2005 or thereabouts. And it's been getting steadily worse. At least downtown.
I wish I could go back to those times, but it doesn't work that way.
My Toronto
Yup Yonge street was a tad brighter back in the day. Now all those stores you saw are gone. I avoid going downtown at all costs. Too much nonsense to deal with. Even the homeless population is more aggressive these days.
I was 16 back in 1994, just a 90s teen looking like the Family matters sitcom character Urkel/Stefon sans glasses
What an era. Living in Toronto in the 90’s now would be a leap toward having faith again in this city. The 1980’s and 90’s were the best moments to be called a proud Torontonian. Now, it is a city stuck in a realm of crime, inflation and overcrowding condominiums. Yonge Street isn’t the same anymore. Seeing HMV and Sam The Record Man was very nostalgic. God, I miss those days!
I miss those days
You know what 90's footage feels like? When you live downtown for years and then you go and visit the suburbs. Today's society is so fast moving compared to the 90's. Every time I watch this kind of footage I'm brought back to that time and things definitely did move a hell of a lot slower. Things weren't necessarily "better" in every aspect, but at least you could "breathe". I think that's why people were more or less not as cut throat with each other, at least in a public setting compared to today.
Was just graduating from U of T then. Being downtown was always a great experience in those days..
A few yrs before the internet took over and everything changed.
Mangoes? 69¢???? Damn that's nice 😂
Parking $4 😅😅😅🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂
Like most of the videos on this channel, I wish it were 2 hours long.
Those footages looks more like 1970’s or 1980’s!
❤❤
Amazing!
That was cool. Like # 231!!!
Is Zanzibar still there? hahaha- I'm from Western NY but have not been to-TO- in over ten years. I miss going up there but we have plenty of nonsense here. StayGroovy Folks'.
Toronto❤
Why doesn't this have sound?
not a cell phone in sight...miss those days
0:21 "You see, it is not I who am crazy. It is I who am MAD. Didn't you see the crowds?! You're not like the others. You like the same things that I like. Boiled football leather...dog breath. O my precious ice cream bar, people always trying to take you away from me. Why can't they leave us...ALONE?!"
sooo cool
The year I was born
When people could afford three meals a day!
It would be fun to go back, maybe one day with technology
Ohhh grimy toronto
lol my Somali people probably just fled these times and settling in Toronto after the collapse of the Somali government 1991