Toronto Reference Library Blog

Since Ontario Place's future has been in the news lately, I thought, why not do a quick visual tour of its history? These photographs are from the Toronto Public Library's Digital Archive, courtesy of the Toronto Star Photograph Archives, which is housed at the Toronto Reference Library. The vintage postcards are digital scans of items from the Toronto Reference Library's Special Collections Department. While we have about 130,000 of their photos digitized and available online through the Digital Archive there are more photos that you can only see in person in the 5th floor Marilyn and Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre. The Digital Archive includes more than just photos so give it a browse. 

 New Year's Eve Party at Pod 1 Ontario Place, 1972. Toronto Star Photograph Archives.

Ontario Place was a happening spot in the 1970s. The funky, modern (cutting-edge actually) and modular design was partially inspired by, and also competitive with, Montreal Quebec's Expo '67 buildings and feel. Ontario Place opened in 1971 and among the many innovations were the Cinesphere, a Buckminster Fuller geoscopic dome and the first permanent IMAX theatre. The Forum used hyperbolic paraboloid roofing and had free concerts and performances along with grass seating. There was a colourful kids zone. The modular geometric shops and restaurants provided shopping delights. Landfill (including three sunk metal ships) was used to protect the architecture and in turn the landfill became islands where more buildings and services could go. Architect Eberhard Zeidler described his intentions in this Toronto Star article and also his book Building Cities Life.

Photographs from the Construction Period

Ontario Place aerial view construction, 1969. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Aerial view of Ontario Place looking eastward, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

 Aerial view of Ontario Place, 1972. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Aerial View Ontario Place, 1973. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Cinesphere being built. Workmen hang high in the lattice work of geodesic aluminum dome they are building to roof the theatre at Ontario Place, 1970. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Ontario Place pods during construction, 1970. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Cinesphere construction in progress at Ontario Place, 1970. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Construction of pods for retail and restaurants, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

The Forum during construction Ontario Place, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

The Forum during construction of the hyperbolic paraboloid positioned on cement bastions Ontario Place, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

The Forum after construction free concert event, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Photographs from the Grand Opening

Fireworks over Cinesphere Ontario Place opening night, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Ontario place is the province's new 94-acre man-made showplace Admission $1 for adults 50 cents for children free for senior citizens, 1971. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Design focus: At the heart of Ontario Place is the Cinesphere; an 800-seat cinema with an 80-foot-by-60-foot screen, 1980. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Cinesphere Ontario Place at night, 1984. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Photographs of Changes and Additions

There have been several changes and additions over time to Ontario Place.

Newest toy at Ontario place; the 370-foot long; $400,000 water slide attracted mostly youngsters when it opened officially yesterday ... It costs $2 for 30 minutes of fun - and most agreed it was a bargain. 1978. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Children's Village Ontario Place water feature fountains, 1986. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

The wilderness adventure ride is one of the new attractions at Ontario Place, 1986. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Photographs of the Molson Amphitheatre

And the beloved Forum was torn down and replaced by Molson Amphitheatre (with many objections including the original architects of Ontario Place).

Molson amphitheatre model of proposed amphitheatre to replace Forum, 1994. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

Molson amphitheatre, 1995. Toronto Star Photograph Archive.

And then there was a long period of decline. And a long period of increasing financial loses. And then closure in 2012. Since then there have been attempts at revitalization and even talks of studies and re-purposing but ... it's a gamble to know what the future holds for Ontario Place.

Here are some other blogs that look at Ontario Place's visual history:

• Torontoist, Remembering Ontario Place's Origins.
• Torontoist, Opening the Cinesphere.
• Taylor's Ontario History, Ontario Place Historic Toronto.
• Toronto Guardian, Vintage Photographs of Ontario Place in its Prime.
• The Chive, The Sad Condition of the Abandoned Ontario Place.

Vintage Postcards

In addition to the photographs in the Toronto Public Library Digital Archives, the Special Collections Department has a substantial collection of vintage postcards that are available for use only in the Martha and Charles Baillie Special Collections Centre on the 5th floor of the Toronto Reference Library. Below is a small sample of some Ontario Place postcards. I have to say a lot of these are very evocative for me, having been born and raised here and known Ontario Place in the mid 1970s. I especially recall free concerts and performances at the Forum but also the fun of the children's area. 

Vintage postcard circa 1970s, aerial view. Showpiece of Ontario ... Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario. Photo by George Hunter.

Vintage postcard circa 1970s. Exciting Ontario Place and the Toronto Skyline. Photo by George Hunter.

Vintage postcard circa 1970s. Exciting Ontario Place, Toronto Canada. A bridge and floating pods night view. Photo by E. Otto.

Postcard circa 1980s. Toronto Skyline from Ontario Place. View of bridge. Photo by Marty Sheffer.

Postcard circa 1970s. Ontario Place showing geometric colourful retail and restaurant pods.

Postcard circa 1970s. Ontario Place at night with groovy lighting. Photo by Ray Stringer.

Postcard circa 1970s. Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Cinesphere. Photo by E. Ludwig for John Hinde Studios.

Postcard circa 1970s. Night view of the illuminated Cinesphere. Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario. Photo by Russ Spencer.

Postcard circa 1970s. Night view of Ontario Place, Toronto Cinesphere and fireworks.

Postcard circa 1970s, Children's Village under the orange tents Ontario Place, Toronto, Canada. Photo by Marty Sheffer.

Postcard circa 1970s. Children's Village water features and fountains. Ontario Place, Toronto, Ontario. Photo by Marty Sheffer.

Postcard circa 1970s. The Ontario Place Forum. Photo by Ramon Stringer.

Other Materials About Ontario Place

The Humanities and Social Sciences Department on the second floor of the Toronto Reference Library also has some quirky Ontario Place Content.

Arlene Gemmil from the Department of Geography at York University published Discussion Paper 25 Ontario Place: The Origins and Planning of an Urban Waterfront Park in 1982 (close enough to the time to allow in-person interviews but also some analysis based on use patterns). 

There is also a bound volume of Press Support (copies of newspaper articles) for Ontario Place 1975:

And lastly, just as the original Ontario Place font and design elements spoke to the 1970s era, this pamphlet celebrating the 20th anniversary in 1991 reflects its era's graphic design.