Historic Toronto photos from Spadina Ave

Spadina Avenue is one of four parts of 'Spadina' in general, running north from Lower Spadina Avenue at the Gardiner Expressway and ending at Bloor Street, where it continues as Spadina Road. In the middle of Spadina Ave is Spadina Crescent which goes around the old Knox College now part of U. of T.

The name Spadina comes from the Ojibwa word ishpadinaa meaning a high place or ridge and first appeared on a published map in 1834.

The complete list of streets is available here. And don't forget the photos by date and photos by neighbourhood pages.

147 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Entertainment District

Corner of Spadina Avenue and Richmond Street, looking east 401 Richmond on our left

Photo from 54 years ago in 1972

197 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Wellington Place

Residence of Dr. W.T. Stuart (197 Spadina Avenue, corner of Phoebe Street)

Photo from 135 years ago in 1891 at Latitude: 43.650536° N, Longitude: -79.396708° W

285 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)

Standard Theatre - first purpose built Yiddish theatre in North America - Dundas and Spadina -Hebrew theatre sign

Photo from 96 years ago on June 12th, 1930 at Latitude: 43.653249° N, Longitude: -79.397850° W Categorized under: Downtown theatres

327 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)

Hebrew Men of England Synagogue opening - 327 Spadina Ave.

Photo from 105 years ago in 1921 at Latitude: 43.654609° N, Longitude: -79.398274° W Categorized under: Churches and other places of worship

464 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)

Fats Dominio performing live in Toronto at the El Mocambo in 1967

Photo from 59 years ago on May 2nd, 1967 at Latitude: 43.657715° N, Longitude: -79.399750° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

El Mocambo tavern sign along Spadina between International steam bath open 24 hours and Crescent Grill

Photo from 57 years ago on March 1st, 1969 at Latitude: 43.657785° N, Longitude: -79.400125° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

The Rolling Stones live in Toronto playing Honky Tonk Women at the El Mocambo in 1977

Photo from 49 years ago on March 5th, 1977 at Latitude: 43.657726° N, Longitude: -79.400173° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Blondie performing live at the El Mocambo - Debbie Harry singing in 1978 in front of distinctive palm tree

Photo from 48 years ago on August 2nd, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657679° N, Longitude: -79.400151° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Blondie performing live at the El Mocambo - Clem Burke (?) on drums, Debbie Harry singing and Chris Stein (?) on guitar

Photo from 48 years ago on August 2nd, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657679° N, Longitude: -79.400151° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Devo performing live at the El Mocambo - Mark Mothersbaugh playing distinctive Hagstrom 1 guitar with pedals attached including a Frogg Ring Modulator

Photo from 48 years ago on October 25th, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657679° N, Longitude: -79.400151° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Devo performing live at the El Mocambo - keyboards in 1978 - on the Q: Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo! Tour

Photo from 48 years ago on October 25th, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657679° N, Longitude: -79.400151° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Devo - interview and live performance at the El Mocambo in 1978

Photo from 48 years ago on October 25th, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657726° N, Longitude: -79.400173° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Elvis Costello live in Toronto at the El Mocambo in 1978 - Watching the Detectives

Photo from 48 years ago on March 6th, 1978 at Latitude: 43.657726° N, Longitude: -79.400173° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

Bram Tchaikovsky live on stage in Toronto at the El Mocambo in 1981 (after leaving The Motors)

Photo from 45 years ago on June 26th, 1981 at Latitude: 43.657749° N, Longitude: -79.400173° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

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

Photo from 44 years ago on June 22nd, 1982 at Latitude: 43.658154° N, Longitude: -79.400146° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

The Jitters performing live at the El Mocambo in 1985

Photo from 41 years ago in 1985 at Latitude: 43.657741° N, Longitude: -79.400237° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

The Jitters on the El Macambo Tavern marquee under the palm tree sign on Spadina Avenue

Photo from 41 years ago in 1985 at Latitude: 43.657731° N, Longitude: -79.399889° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

El Mocambo tavern interior painted blue - Think Bike workshop

Photo from 16 years ago on September 21st, 2010 at Latitude: 43.657731° N, Longitude: -79.399889° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

El Mocambo tavern sign - history and newly replaced, landmark sign in 2019

Photo from 7 years ago on June 9th, 2019 at Latitude: 43.657726° N, Longitude: -79.400173° W Categorized under: El Mocambo

480 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)

Horse drawn carriages at the Intersection of College Street and Spadina Avenue

Photo from 136 years ago in 1890 at Latitude: 43.657999° N, Longitude: -79.399996° W

502 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Chinatown (Spadina Ave)

Scott Mission on Spadina Avenue - founded by Annie and Morris Zeidman

Photo from 73 years ago on November 1st, 1953 at Latitude: 43.658688° N, Longitude: -79.400802° W

630 Spadina Ave, Toronto in University of Toronto (U of T)

Baby Clinic at Knox Church (built 1909), Spadina Avenue

Photo from 103 years ago on February 13th, 1923 at Latitude: 43.662613° N, Longitude: -79.402540° W

Knox Presbyterian Church on Spadina Ave

Photo from 42 years ago on September 21st, 1984 at Latitude: 43.662667° N, Longitude: -79.402540° W

Spadina Avenue and Harbord Street, looking north-west past Knox Presbyterian Church

Photo from 2 years ago on May 2nd, 2024 at Latitude: 43.662644° N, Longitude: -79.402540° W

648 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Harbord Village

Official opening of Royal Bank branch at Harbord and Spadina

Photo from 47 years ago in 1979 at Latitude: 43.663153° N, Longitude: -79.402635° W

665 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Huron Sussex

665-671 Spadina Avenue - used for U of T - Daniels Architecture Commons

Photo from 36 years ago in 1990 at Latitude: 43.664392° N, Longitude: -79.402324° W

671 Spadina Ave, Toronto in Huron Sussex

Bird Cage House on Spadina - built 1901 for Charles Fellows - triple-loped stained glass transom under a stone arch, two oval-shaped windows, urn on top of roof in broken pediment

Photo from 36 years ago in 1990 at Latitude: 43.664520° N, Longitude: -79.402407° W