Caption: A fairly modern 1980's view of the downtown Toronto skyline shows a nice variety of architectural styles in this selection of skyscrapers (before the present-day glass-clad everything style took over). TTC 4301, an A13-class PCC streetcar built new for Toronto in 1947, operates on the 504 King Street route, stopped westbound at John Street (note the blue illuminated street sign box, always a nice touch). In their final years in service, much of the TTC PCC fleet suffered through the indignity of large font numerals slapped over the original (smaller) painted out numbers. The water bumpers, while a neat concept, were also somewhat unsightly.

By this point in time, the old CP/Dominion Express freight sheds that used to be in the King/Simcoe area had been knocked down a number of years prior and replaced with the new Roy Thomson Hall, while the rest of the property remained parking lots until eventual redevelopment into Metro Hall (that parking lot gained notority in the opening scene of the film "Police Academy", filmed in Toronto). "Honest Ed" Mirvish, best known for his Bathurst & Bloor discount store, also owned a line of storefronts on this stretch of King Street including the Royal Alexandra Theatre, Ed's Warehouse (restaurant - roast beef and steak), Ed's Chinese, and Old Eds (although most closed over time). The tower crane in the background hints at greater things than parking lots to come in the next few decades for Toronto's downtown core.

Glenn Smith photo, Dan Dell'Unto collection slide.