Comment 37330

By Hamil T. Onian (anonymous) | Posted January 22, 2010 at 22:31:34

I used to live in Hamilton.

When we were kids (like 8 yrs old), my Father would take us down to the Broadway Cinema and we'd watch old Popeye and Betty Boop B&W cartoons on Friday nights from 8-10pm. I saw Rocky Horror Picture show there for the first time in High School

Just down the street on James, I saw Star Wars for the first time at the Tivoli. When my Grandparents came from England to visit, we took them to the Tivoli to see a double-feature of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

We regularly went to Lionel Blair pantomimes at Hamilton Place, saw Dave Allen perform there, and in Grade 8 I saw my first concert there - Platinum Blonde.

After the shows, we would often walk over to Locke Street and have a sandwich at Loyal Georges, or La Papillon. On big nights, we'd go and sit at The Gown and Gavel, or Main Street Cafe.

The reason we went downtown as a family was for the arts. It was the shows, the music, the theatre.

It's completely reasonable to believe the current community of downtown enthusiasts (comprised significantly of artists and familiar friends) can build a movement that leads people back to the downtown core for the culture. It will take a lot of time though...and good leadership.

It'd be a real example of positive urban renewal if they could pull it off.

My money is on the hippies.

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