From Our Archives: Parties in Ontario During the Late 1960s
In the late 1960s, there was a sense of buoyancy in much of Canada due to the country's economic growth. This blog post looks back at scenes in Ontario among affluent and high-profile partygoers at the time. Below are photos are from Toronto Public Library (TPL)'s Digital Archive Ontario, a free site with over 100,000 digitized items related to Ontario's past.
Background
After the Second World War, there was unprecedented economic growth in North America. Many Canadians were increasingly prosperous. Growing financial equality and expanding opportunities signaled great things for the future. Governments expanded social services and wages reflected greater productivity. It could be argued that this was the golden age for the average worker and their families.
Photographs
All photos featured in this blog post come from our Toronto Star Photograph Archive, part of the Baldwin Collection of Canadiana at TPL. The newspaper captions from the time are also included — some of which reveal the casual sexism of the time.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Eileen Herlie (Gertrude) congratulates Richard Burton as Hume Cronyn (Polonius) looks on after last night's opening of Burton's modern dress presentation of Hamlet at the O'Keefe Centre. The Welsh-born actor has the title role." Courtesy Toronto Photograph Archive, 1964. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "The crest sparks zest. Enjoying themselves at last night's opening party for the Crest theatre's production of Oh What a Lovely War are Anna Cameron: Eric House and Barbara Chilcott. The party: held in the Park Plaza's Empress Room: is the last of the Crest season." Courtesy Toronto Photograph Archive, 1965. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Off to dinner party; at the home of Mrs. Egmont Frankel; Princess Margaret leaves the Royal York Hotel by car last night. Mrs. Frankel is honorary chairman of Princess Margaret Ball which the royal couple will attend tonight." Courtesy Toronto Photograph Archive, 1965. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "An elegant living room makes a perfect place to throw a party. A gold Samarkand rug lies on the floor to set the color scheme of the room [...] it took a year for Robert Dirstein to renovate the almost 100-year-old home and cost was over $10,000." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "TV personality Adrienne Clarkson decided on this elegant tea gown for last night's after-theatre party, attended by some of the theatrical world's biggest names." Courtesy Toronto Photograph Archive, 1967. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Toronto symphony orchestra soloist, Maurizio Pollini, chats with Mr. and Mrs. Seiji Ozawa and Mrs. Roger Pemberton at the On-Stage party that followed last night's opening Symphony concert at Massey Hall. Brilliant young Italian pianist Pollini was making his North American debut. Guest list at the party was headed by Lieutenant-Governor W. Ross MacDonald." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Last night was also the occasion for the National Ballet's Toe-A-Go-Go party held in the foyer of the O'Keefe Centre. Gary Burne and Vanessa Harwood were two of the many youngsters who first watched the Ballet's Cinderella and then turned to their own dance." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "A lot of new faces will appear in the Cabinet if he wins the leadership of the Liberal party, consumer Affairs Minister John Turner promised as he spent yesterday in Toronto campaigning with his wife." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Out of hot water: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau heads toward the dressing room after a dip in the sulphur baths at Harrison Hot Springs, B.C., where the Liberal party is holding a national policy conference this week." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1969. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "June Callwood, still shaken from being arrested Wednesday night during the Yorkville disturbances, talks to the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shuster at cocktail party last night. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shuster, the Pierre Bertons and artist Harold Town were co-hosts at party." Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1968. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "The sweet taste of success? Perry Connolly (right) has trouble with mouthful of champagne after taking drink from Canada's Cup during celebration at Royal Canadian Yacht Club yesterday. Connelly skippered yacht Manitou to victory over United States challenger; aided by Gord Fisher (left) and Dave Osler (centre); two of crew and fellow owners."' Courtesy Toronto Star Photograph Archive, 1969. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
Original Toronto Star caption: "Belles at both elbows. Seated between two beauties, Prime Minister Trudeau appears to be enjoying himself at a champagne and strawberry ball at Man and His World's French Pavilion last night. His date for the evening was Louise Marleau (right). The ball was sponsored by the Junior Associates of the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts." Courtesy Toronto Public Library, 1969. View on Digital Archive Ontario.
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