The El MocamboStill operating as a club today, with its distinctive palm tree sign, the El Mocambo was one of the first cocktail bars in Toronto after the passage of the Liquor Licence Act of 1946. It is most famous, though, for the 1977 Rolling Stones surprise show, complete with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's wife, Margaret Trudeau.The building at 464 Spadina Ave. was built in 1910 and as you can see from the photos below, has hosted many famous musicians over the years.
Alphabetical links: B C D E F S T |
List of all subjects. You can also see all the historic photos for a given neighbourhood. We also have a list of all the photos arranged by date.
And you can also go up a level to see the other photos we've put under the category of Live_music photos.
Historic photos of El Mocambo
| B (back to top) | ||
| 1978 |  | Blondie performing live at the El Mocambo - Clem Burke (?) on drums, Debbie Harry singing and Chris Stein (?) on guitar 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, August 2, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| 1978 |  | Blondie performing live at the El Mocambo - Debbie Harry singing in 1978 in front of distinctive palm tree 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, August 2, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| C (back to top) | ||
| 1972 |  | Chubby Checker live on stage at the El Mocambo club in Toronto in 1972 53 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, December 6, 1972 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| D (back to top) | ||
| 1978 |  | Devo - interview and live performance at the El Mocambo in 1978 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, October 25, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1978 |  | Devo performing live at the El Mocambo - keyboards in 1978 - on the Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! Tour 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, October 25, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| 1978 |  | Devo performing live at the El Mocambo - Mark Mothersbaugh playing distinctive Hagstrom 1 guitar with pedals attached including a Frogg Ring Modulator 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, October 25, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location (From Collations Flickr stream) |
| E (back to top) | ||
| 1969 |  | El Mocambo tavern sign along Spadina between International steam bath open 24 hours and Crescent Grill 56 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Saturday, March 1, 1969 Link to archive record - Map location (From York University Archives) |
| 1970 |  | El Mocambo tavern sign and others on Spadina Ave looking north to College St. 55 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Friday, September 25, 1970 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| 1978 |  | Elvis Costello live in Toronto at the El Mocambo in 1978 - Watching the Detectives 47 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Monday, March 6, 1978 Link to archive record - Map location |
| F (back to top) | ||
| 1967 |  | Fats Dominio performing live in Toronto at the El Mocambo in 1967 58 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Tuesday, May 2, 1967 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |
| S (back to top) | ||
| 1919 |  | Spadina Ave. looking north from south of College St. - Star Cafe on left, Knox College in centre 106 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Wednesday, May 7, 1919 Max temp: 22.2°C - Min temp: 7.2°C (weather details) Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| T (back to top) | ||
| 1985 |  | The Jitters on the El Macambo Tavern marquee under the palm tree sign on Spadina Avenue 40 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - 1985 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1985 |  | The Jitters performing live at the El Mocambo in 1985 40 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - 1985 Link to archive record - Map location (From the City of Toronto Archives) |
| 1977 |  | The Rolling Stones live in Toronto playing Honky Tonk Women at the El Mocambo in 1977 48 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Saturday, March 5, 1977 Link to archive record - Map location |
| 1982 |  | The Spoons standing outside the El Mocambo - Derrick Ross; Rob Preusse; Sandy Horne and Gord Deppe - a band from Burlington that has paid its dues - before their Sat June 26th, 1982 gig 43 years ago - Chinatown (Spadina Ave) - Tuesday, June 22, 1982 Link to archive record - Map location (From the Toronto Public Library) |