Category Archives: Current Events

The CNE Midway, Freaky and Fabulous!

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on September 4, 2015

It’s been about a hundred years since the days of the pictures below, and it occurred to me that while people once flocked to the Midway to see Freaks and Curiosities, people now flock there to eat deep-fried butter and snickers bars, the Freak-Foods of the modern age. Having said that, it also seems strange that people would pay money to see obese people. Today, one would simply need to look through the crowds at the CNE, at the games, in the deep-fried line-ups to see many people just as large as the stars of Johnny J. Jones’ Congress of Fat People. Perhaps as a public service, the CNE should bring back the Sideshow.

card5front-Sm
CCT0005 CNE, Toronto c1913. Johnny J. Jones presents the Congress of Fat People (above) at the Midway. The “Congress” cast (below) featuring Big Boss Henry, Little Emma, and Baby Louis.
f1244_it0877
CAN-AudreyMiller&Cast(194?)f1257_s1057_it3706
ON-Toronto-f1244_it2374
f1244_it2516
ON-Toronto-CNE-f1244_it0279d
Posted in Canada, Canadian Celebrities, Canadian National Exhibition, Canadiana, Current Events, Entertainment, Historical, Pop Culture, Postcards, Toronto | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Canadian Flag turns 50! Here’s one way to celebrate!

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on February 15, 2015
Wendy-Tancock-Flag

Today, our beloved Canadian flag turns 50 years old. It’s modern design and simple colour scheme draws a sense of adoration from the global community, as a symbol of peacefulness and politeness (I might self-righteously say). So how should be celebrate that notable birthday?

  • Maybe you could just stare lovingly at the red and white and thank it for health-care, peace-keeping and the Underground Railroad.
  • Maybe you could thank it for the invention of Basketball (Thanks Mr. James Naismith) and Hockey (you heard me!)
  • Maybe you could watch a Rachel McAdams movie while listening to “Rude” by Magic (’cause it’s just so elfin’ good!)
  • You could practice drawing it.
  • Maybe you can read a Roberson Davies or Margaret Atwood book.
  • Maybe some of you still recovering from a night of romance and debauchery from Valentines Day might want to wrap yourselves in a flag while watching some Battlestar Galactica on DVD…

…Or, maybe you could take a note from one of our fearless leaders, who celebrated this way back in 1996…

CCT0118 - Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien moves an anti-poverty protester out of his way in Hull, Quebec on Feb. 15, 1996. The Prime Minister’s chokehold became known as the Shawinigan Handshake after his home town. / L'ancien premier ministre Jean Chrétien déplace un protestataire combattant la pauvreté hors de sa voie dans la coque, Québec le 15 février 1996. Le chokehold du premier ministre est devenu notoire comme prise de contact de Shawinigan après sa ville natale.
CCT0118 – Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien moves an anti-poverty protester out of his way in Hull, Quebec on Feb. 15, 1996. The Prime Minister’s chokehold became known as the Shawinigan Handshake after his home town. / L’ancien premier ministre Jean Chrétien déplace un protestataire combattant la pauvreté hors de sa voie dans la coque, Québec le 15 février 1996. Le chokehold du premier ministre est devenu notoire comme prise de contact de Shawinigan après sa ville natale.

Ah, good times, eh?!

Posted in Canada, Canadian Art, Canadian Celebrities, Canadian Literature, Canadiana, Current Events, Historical, Movies, Politics, Pop Culture, Sports, Television | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Toronto’s Subway Celebrates it’s 60th Birthday Today!

by Chadwick Gendron Posted on March 30, 2014

60 years ago today, Toronto launched it’s subway system with the first train pulling out of Davisville Station moving southbound on the Yonge Street line. The stations in the line at the time were: Eglington, Davisville, St. Clair, Summerhill, Rosedale, Bloor, Wellesley, College, Dundas, Queen, King and Union.

ON-Toronto-Red Subway train PC
guide1954mf
Posted in Current Events, Postcards, Toronto, Travel | Tagged , | 1 Comment