Over the course of 24 hours in 1954, Hurricane Hazel would drop an estimated 40 billion gallons of water on Southern Ontario. It would transform usually peaceful streams into raging torrents of water that washed away anything in its path, including cars, homes and people. By the time the storm left, 81 people were dead and more than 4,000 would be left homeless. In this episode, we tell the story of Hurricane Hazel, one of the worst disasters to ever strike Toronto.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music:

The Westerlies - The Dover

Zachariah Hickson - Argonne 

Asher Fulero - Forest Lullaby

Emmet Fenn - Allegro 

Chopin - E minor Prelude 

Brian Bolger - A Fool's Theme

For 150 years, the Toronto Islands have been everybody's favourite place to get away from it all. But they're not just a vacation spot. They were the site of Babe Ruth's first professional home run. They are the home of Toronto's oldest ghost story. In fact, the weirdest fact about Toronto Island is that until 1852, it wasn't even an island. This week on Muddy York, learn more about the best urban park in Canada. Happy Holidays! We'll see you in the new year.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Music:

The Westerlies - The Dover

The Westerlies - Hard Times Come Again No More 

The Westerlies - The Light Within 

Aaron Kenny - Gaiety in the Golden Age

Jesse Gallagher - Divine Life Society 

Jimena Contreras - Frightmare

Jimena Contreras - Fruits of Life 

The Whole Other - Stark Goes Dark

Doug Maxwell - Sing Swing Badabing 

On December 1, 1919, Ambrose Small sold his theatrical empire and deposited a cheque for $1 million (worth at least $15 million today). The next day, he vanished. His disappearance became a media sensation that riveted Toronto at the start of the Roaring 20s. Learn more about this famous Toronto cold case in the latest episode of Muddy York.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠⁠⁠

Music:

Westerflies- The Dover

Jeremy Blake - Missing Persons

pATCHES - Those Things Are More Fun With other People

The Santa Claus Parade has been delighting children and grownups for more than 100 years. This week on Muddy York, learn more about the history of this Toronto institution, including a team of live reindeer, paper costumes, Punkinhead and the campaign to Save Our Parade.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠⁠⁠

Music:

The Westerlies - Dover

Quincas Moreira - Central Park

Aaron Kenny - Christmas Homecoming

Dj Williams - Oh Christmas Tree

Aaron Kenny - Gaiety in the Golden Age

Doug Maxwell - Holiday Brass Ensemble

On April 27, 1813, the United States attacked the town of York as part of the War of 1812. The Americans raided local homes and burned down public buildings, but we would have our revenge. When you hit Toronto, Toronto hits back!

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠⁠

Music:

WesterFlies- Dover

Brian Bulger - A Fool's Theme 

Aaron Kenney - American Frontiers

Zachariah Hickman - Argonne

Cooper Cannell - How Far We've Come

Instead of a new episode, we are happy to let you know about the newest member of the Muddy York team. He doesn’t provide as much history content, but he’s a lot cuter. Father and child are healthy and happy. Muddy York will be back with a brand new episode on November 7th.

Meridian Hall (better known to old folks as O'Keefe Centre) was Toronto's top performing arts and concert venue. It opened with the premiere of the broadway show - Camelot. It was also the site of scandalous Hollywood relationships, Soviet defections, and rock n' roll riots. Learn more about this Toronto landmark in this week's episode of Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠

Music:

The Westerflies - Dover 

Aaron Kenny - Gaeity in The Golden Age 

Aaron Kenny - Curious Kitten

Aaron Kenny - Cocktail Hour

The Westerflies - The Light Within 

Dan Lebowitz - Override Drive 

St. Lawrence Market has been a city hall, a jailhouse, a music hall and a great place to get a peameal bacon sandwich. National Geographic ranked it as one of the top 10 food markets in the world. Learn more about this landmark on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠

Music from this episode:

The Westerflies - Dover

The Westerflies - The Light Within

The Westerflies - When The Ash Settles

The Westerflies - Hard Times Come Again

Aaron Kenney - English Country Garden

Aaron Kenney - Geity in the Golden Age 

The Great Fire of 1849 destroyed 10-15 acres of central Toronto, including earlier versions of St. Lawrence Market and St. James Cathedral. This wasn't just a good fire, it was a great fire. Learn more about it on Muddy York, Toronto's #1 history podcast.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠

Music from this episode:

The Dover - Westerflies 

Zacharia - Argonne

Cooper Cannell - How Far We've Come

Dan Lebowitz - Twilight Train

The CNE begins in three days. This week on Muddy York, learn about its weird and wonderful history including butter sculpting, car polo, the Mayors Bathtub Derby and an Alice Cooper riot.

You can follow Muddy York on Twitter: ⁠⁠Toronto_History⁠⁠ and Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/muddyyorkhistory/⁠

Music from this episode:

The Dover - Westerflies

Metal Race - Josh Kirsch Media_Right Productions

Motorbike - TrackTribe

Greaser - TrackTribe

Sing Swing Badabing - Doug Maxwell_right productions

1940's Slow Dance - Doug Maxwell_right productions

Jesses Carnival Waltz - The Great North Sound Society

With Shot and Shell - The United States Marine Band

Mysterious Carnival - Sir Clubworth

Gaiety in the Golden Age - Aaron Kenny