Old Footage of Downtown Toronto in 1986

Published by Toronto Mike on November 16, 2009 @ 17:18 in Toronto News ~ Toronto Focus

Toronto YouTube user Retrontario frequently uploads fantastic retro-Toronto-centric gems. These clips never fail to bring back a ton of memories for me, so I feature them from time to time.

I love this footage from Global TV circa 1986. It's simply a drive around downtown Toronto to the smooth sounds of Guido Basso's trumpet and flugelhorn. They called this "Night Ride" and you can see the old Sam the Record Man and A&A Records signage in all its glory.

I also love these scenes because I can spot my old arcade hangouts from the mid-80s. I loved those arcades when you could actually play a game for a quarter.

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11 comments

11 Responses to "Old Footage of Downtown Toronto in 1986"

VegasGeoff
November 16, 2009 / 21:16

When I was a kid, I had pretty bad sleeping issues, and Night Ride (and Night Walk) were my nightly entertainment. It was mesmerizing.

CQ
November 16, 2009 / 21:49

I don't mean to interrupt... lol, but Night Walk was the better episode!

Toronto Mike
November 16, 2009 / 21:53

Yo CQ, I am really happy for you and I'm gonna let you finish, but Night Ride had the best vintage Toronto street scenes of all time

VegasGeoff
November 16, 2009 / 21:55

Night Walk was probably my favorite, too. Especially loved when he would jump on the subway and film the action in the first car.

VegasGeoff
November 16, 2009 / 21:57

If only we had the O Canada version that followed this nightly. The one with the slobbery baby at the end

Horonymous
November 16, 2009 / 22:44

Easy way for Global to fill their CanCon requirement. But at least they were putting a few Canadians to sleep.

LEW
November 17, 2009 / 02:52

sniff - this is the year I left, and have yet to return; please don't tell me if anything has changed.

Romy
November 17, 2009 / 05:00

a sniff from me too LEW - that area of Toronto was my life at that time ... sitting here in England, I really miss it.

Trish
November 17, 2009 / 10:07

Awesome, Mike. I used to spend Saturday nights at Sam's and A&As. Great to see them again. I jumped when I saw "The Colonial". But I always thought "Night Ride" was a CITY TV thing. Who'd have thought Global was so cool back then?

Retrontario
November 17, 2009 / 18:35

Hey VegasGeoff, you can see the slobbery baby O Canada at the end of the Global TV sign-off from 1984 I have posted on my account at youtube.

VegasGeoff
November 18, 2009 / 04:23

Retrontario, you are the man. Thanks so much.

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