Category Archives: Historical

The CNE Midway, Freaky and Fabulous!

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

New CCT Postcards Coming This Week!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Posted in Alberta, Architecture, British Columbia, Canada, Canadian Art, Canadian Wlidlife, Canadiana, Entertainment, Historical, Manitoba, Music, Ontario, Ottawa, Politics, Pop Culture, Postcards, Sakatchewan, Ships, Toronto, Travel, Vancouver | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

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

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

Our Nation’s Capital: Otta-wow!

CCT0151-Looking to Rideau Street on right and the Chateau Laurier on left, from Sappers and Dufferin bridges. Ottawa, Ontario c1912
CCT0151-Looking to Rideau Street on right and the Château Laurier on left, from Sappers and Dufferin bridges. Ottawa, Ontario c1912

CCT0152-Ottawa Exhibition on Parade 1938.
CCT0152-Ottawa Exhibition on Parade 1938.

CCT0128-Large Letter Ottawa Postcard c1930
CCT0128-Large Letter Ottawa Postcard c1930

Greetings from Ottawa, Canada c1951
Greetings from Ottawa, Canada c1951

CCT0055-Ottawa Peace-Tower
CCT0055-Peace Tower and Parliament Buildings. Ottawa, Ontario c1945.

CCT0014-Ottawa April 22, 1968. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Canada's bachelor leader, sprints away from a crowd of female admirers who had been caught up in Trudeaumania! The women surrounded the Prime Minister on his third day in office, outside of the Parliament Buildings.
CCT0014-Ottawa April 22, 1968. Pierre Elliot Trudeau, Canada’s bachelor leader, sprints away from a crowd of female admirers who had been caught up in Trudeaumania! The women surrounded the Prime Minister on his third day in office, outside of the Parliament Buildings.

And here’s some more…

Greetings from Ottawa, Large Letter Postcard 1906.
Greetings from Ottawa, Large Letter Postcard 1906.

Parliament Buildings and Sappers Bridge c1900.
Parliament Buildings and Sappers Bridge c1900.

Ottawa mileage chart 1954.
Ottawa mileage chart 1954.

Chateau Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario.
Château Laurier, Ottawa, Ontario.

Ottawa postcard.
Ottawa postcard.

Back cover of Ottawa postcard folder.
Back cover of Ottawa postcard folder.

The Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario.
The Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, Ontario.

Posted in Architecture, Canada, Canadiana, Historical, Ottawa, Politics, Postcards | Tagged , , | Leave a comment