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Friday, December 19, 2014

The gifts of holidays past in Toronto

vintage holiday gifts torontoIt's Christmas roughly 50 years ago, and you're shopping for gifts for your family. As always, Eaton's is a great place to start. That year, the department store chain, which was headquartered at Queen and Yonge, filled the newspapers with multi-page spreads advertising everything from winter tires to dolls. Maybe you'll get a Baby Pattaburp for the girl, or perhaps some rainbow binoculars for the boy.


Here's a look at what was on offer 50 years ago this Christmas.


toronto eatonsSam the Record Man got festive in 1964 with Johann S. Bach and drum and bugle band records. Language records were also popular. Note the reel-to-reel starting at $1.98.


toronto 1964 moviesHow about a movie tickets? My Fair Lady was playing at the University theatre on Bloor and Mary Poppins was at the Hollywood near Yonge and St. Clair. Elvis' Roustabout, in which he performed his own stunts and injured his head, was in its second month.


toronto eatonsEaton's had an auto centre at Bay and Gerrard. I'm not sure a set of tires would fit under the Christmas tree, however.


toronto eatonsThe gadget pages. Check out the foldaway hairdryer: "Tops in any gal's book."


toronto eatonsIt's interesting to note that in 1964 fashion was still advertised using stylized sketches.


toronto eatonsPhotography gear at Eaton's College St. and Don Mills. A Kodak Instamatic for only $15.75.


toronto eatonsMaybe Christmas 1964 is the year you'll finally ask Susan to marry you.


toronto eatonsHome appliances were firmly marketed at women in the mid-60s.


toronto eatons"Think how clever I could be if only I owned a beautiful, fully-automatic Bernina '65."


toronto eatonsSome excellent T.V. tray sets were up for grabs. With wheels and everything. Also: Teflon cookware.


toronto eatonsDusters were all the rage in 1964. Also hi-rise, pull-on girdles and fabric shoes.


toronto eatonsDesert Flower or Charles of the Ritz? There was always the novelty dog option.


toronto eatonsMore dusters, this time for kids.


toronto eatonsSomething for the girl. Baby Trixie's had a "vinyl face" and "black sleeping eyes." It was probably best to shell out the extra few bucks for the Baby Pattaburp.


Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.






by Chris Bateman via blogTO

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