The Toronto Optimists' Photo Gallery

Photos of the Toronto Optimists, the Seneca Optimists, the Optimists Alumni and many others!

Home    Login
Home > The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
Category Albums Files
Our RootsThe Optimists had its beginnings in 1952 as a Scout band. After leaving Scouts in 1955 and obtaining the Optimists Club as a sponsor, they became the Optimists Trumpet Band, also known as Opti-Corps. In late 1957, when they were joined by the instructors and many members of the Danforth Crusaders, they became the Toronto Optimists Drum & Bugle Corps. The Optimists merged with the Seneca Princemen in 1976 to become the Seneca Optimists. This section contains photos of the scout band, Opti-Corps and the Danforth Crusaders.
4 66
Toronto OptimistsThis category includes photos of the Toronto Optimists taken at performances (competitions, exhibitions, parades, etc.). There is an album for each year from 1958 through 1975. Sometimes it's difficult to identify the year and those photos have their own album.
21 2,066
Seneca OptimistsThis category contains photos of the Seneca Optimists taken at performances (competitions, exhibitions, parades, etc.). There is an album for each year from 1976 through 1978. Albums exist for casuals shots taken during 1976 and another for 1977. There is also an album containing an article about the corps that was publish by the Toronto Star in 1978. Sometimes it's difficult to identify the year and those photos have their own album.
8 460
Optimists' Feeder CorpsOver the years the Optimists had a number of feeder corps: the Bantam Optimists, the Optimist Cadets, the Optimist Lancers and the Cadet Lancers. This category includes separate albums for each of those feeder corps.
4 106
Other Corps (mostly Canadian)Here you will find photos of corps that we were part of the 50s, 60s or 70s Drum Corps scene. Corps for which there are more than 4 photos have their own album and are listed by name. If we have fewer than 4 photos those images will be posted in either the Various Canadian Corps or Various American Corps albums.
93 1,854
Those who have goneThis category contains photo memories of Toronto Optimists, Seneca Optimists and Optimists Alumni members and staff who have passed away. If we have a few shots for a particular individual, there is an album under their name. If we only have a single shot, the photo is included in the "We Remember" album. A corresponding category called "We Remember" can be found on our main website under the History section. A separate web page exists for each individual. Each page contains a photo and a few words about that member.
32 223
MemorabiliaThis is a "catch-all" for things like old articles, Christmas cards, advertising, old Programs and anything that doesn't seem to fit elsewhere.
5 260
Don DaberDon was involved with The Optimists from 1960 until his death in 2019. During that time he served as a photographer, the publicity director and the Corps Director. He was also the creator and editor of both Green Capsule Comments and Gold Capsule Comments. Don produced the artwork for a number of record albums as well as designing posters and doing the artwork for a variety of contests and programmes. Don's photos can be found in "The Old Days" category (Toronto Optimists, Seneca Optimists, Optimists Feeder Corps or Other Corps).
5 96

Uploads from Guests



Test for user uploads

0 files
Album viewed 1 times

 

 

 

1 albums on 1 page(s)

Random files - The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
1973_b_11.jpg
Toronto Optimists (1973)326 views
1978_slides_15_001b2.jpg
Blue Devils (Lamport Stadium, Toronto, 1978)48 views
1964_keating_t076_23-edit.jpg
Dave Harris, Alex Glover, Archie Van Dyke, ?, Toronto Optimists promo shot (Keating Park, 1964)185 views
al_tierney_1977.jpg
Al Tierney (1977)94 views
77_london_lions_834.jpg
Lions of London (1977)275 views
1973_eric_10a.jpg
Toronto Optimists (1973)246 views
1976_flying_dutchmen_drums_img213a.jpg
Marty Lidstone, Flying Dutchmen (1976)549 views
doug east york 67.jpg
Doug Mackenzie, solo, at East York Stadium, Toronto (1967)965 views

Last additions - The Old Days (Photos from our competitive years)
1968_lasalle_negs_015b.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Somewhere, 1968)9 viewsJun 06, 2025
1958_somewhere_st_marys_19b.jpg
L-R: a guy from Del; Paul Paterson, St Mary's mascot (he joined Del); Hans Boehnke (he joined Optimists); ? and ? of St. Mary's (East York, June, 1958)18 viewsJun 05, 2025
1958_slides_sheet_70_07_v2d.jpg
L-R: Lorne Ferrazzuti, Eric Burton, Mr Baggs and behind are members of De La Salle, Don Mills Sky Raiders, Toronto Optimists, St Mary's and Scout House (East York, 1958)12 viewsJun 04, 2025
1960_guelph_t040_09e.jpg
Toronto Optimists (Parade, Guelph, 1960)16 viewsJun 02, 2025
1977_eric_simcoegoldenlions_012a.jpg
Simcoe Golden Lions (Birchmount Stadium, Scarborough, 1977)25 viewsMay 30, 2025
1978_02_aug_013b.jpg
Long Island Kingsmen (prelims, US Open, Marion, OH, 1978)24 viewsMay 29, 2025
1973_lasalle_nationals_2_001c.jpg
LaSalle Cadets (Nationals prelims, CNE, Toronto, 1973)26 viewsMay 28, 2025
optimists_drums_b2.jpg
Toronto Optimists (1974 or 1975)20 viewsMay 27, 2025