Toronto Boom Town

Toronto Boom Town

| 10 min
Free
streaming

Also available

This short documentary studies the contrast between the sedate Toronto of the turn of the century and the thriving, expanding metropolis of 1951. Aerial views give evidence of the conversion of the old Toronto into the new--the city with towering skyscrapers, teeming traffic arteries, vast industrial developments and far-reaching residential areas housing over a million people.

Toronto's mid-century progress is also Canada's, as manifested in the building of Canada's first subway, and in the bustle of the nation's greatest trading centre--the Toronto Stock Exchange.

Embed this code on your site

Toronto Boom Town, Leslie McFarlane, provided by the National Film Board of Canada

Video player width

by Reset
Credits
  • director
    Leslie McFarlane
  • script
    Leslie McFarlane
  • producer
    Sydney Newman
  • photography
    Jean-Marie Couture
    John Foster
  • editing
    Nicholas Balla
    Marion Meadows
  • narrator
    Elwood Glover
  • music
    Eldon Rathburn

  • Mhowe

    As a Torontonian born and bred... I absolutely love this film about the history of my city. Looking back from 65 years further on from when this film was made and smiling at the same problems and situations portrayed then that still exist today is very enlightening and slightly ironic. :)

    Mhowe, 15 Aug 2016
  • qfranke

    Why is it that to watch any movie on this site I have to go to google to find a youtube version. If you are not going to sow a movie WHY PRETEND THAT IT'S AVALIABLE!!!!!!

    qfranke, 20 Nov 2010
  • SheckyGrey

    Two major "Hockey Night in Canada" connections here. The film is written and directed by Leslie McFarlane, the ghost writer for dozens and dozens of Hardy Boys books and the father of Hockey Night in Canada personality Brian McFarlane. The country bumpkin character of Mr. McConahie is played by Murray Westgate, best know as Hockey Night in Canada's Esso spokesperson, wishing viewers each week "Happy Motoring."

    SheckyGrey, 14 Sep 2010

The NFB is committed to respecting your privacy

We use cookies to ensure that our site works efficiently, as well as for advertising purposes.

If you do not wish to have your information used in this way, you can modify your browser settings before continuing your visit.

Learn more