Tag Archives: Bruce Bell

Bruce Bell: Music Hall dominated Toronto while Vaudeville ruled U.S.

Bruce Bell– A few years back my good friend and neighbour the late actress Billie Mae Richard and I were strolling around the neighbourhood when we found ourselves walking through a nondescript parking lot on the southeast corner of Victoria ...

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‘Intellectual enchantress’ drops hubby, city she detests

Bishop’s Block is on the northeast corner of Simcoe and Adelaide, a block west of University Ave. When first built in 1829 it was considered the finest apartment building of its day with stores on the ground floor and private ...

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Bell in Brief: Precious windows at Royal Bank Plaza made with gold

The Royal Bank Plaza on the northeast corner of Front and Bay streets was completed in 1979. The twin towers have more than 14,000 windows set into brushed aluminum frames. The golden-hued glass was manufactured by Canadian Pittsburgh Industries which used 2,500 ounces (71,000 grams) ...

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Bell in Brief: Killer coal dust once darkened our Downtown

The burning of coal at the gigantic Consumers Gas complex—some of which still survives in the Berkeley and Front area—blackened the rich marble and brick facades of almost every building in Toronto. It was also coal gas that killed thousands ...

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Bell in Brief: Local theatre made its first bow at Frank’s Hotel

Downtown Toronto’s first local theatrical performance with a cast made up entirely of local actors took place in 1820. That first play was a production of “The School for Scandal”by Richard Sheridan. It was put on in a back room ...

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Bell in Brief: Hutchinson Block still stands on Wellington

John Hutchison was born in Scotland in 1817 and moved with his parents to Montreal in 1828. He went on to be employed with the mercantile firm of Torrance and Co. and in 1847 he came to Toronto where he ...

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